STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1530-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2973

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2973, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FISHING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit the use of jug line fishing and other jug rig variant fishing methods in state waters.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Conservation Council for Hawaiʻi; Kaimana Ocean Safari; Hawaiian Monk Seal Preservation Ohana; Save The Sea Turtles International; One Ocean Research; For the Fishes; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and one individual.

Your Committee finds that protecting Hawaii's marine life is vital to maintaining ocean ecosystems in the present and for the future. Your Committee further finds that jug line fishing and jug rig variant fishing methods are non-selective fishing practices that pose significant threats to marine life. These methods frequently result in the hooking, entanglement, or injury of non-target species, including sharks and protected green sea turtles, and present a severe risk to endangered species, such as the Hawaiian monk seal and hawksbill sea turtle. Your Committee also finds that the continued use of jug lines and jug rig variant fishing methods is incompatible with responsible resource management and the State's obligation to protect marine wildlife for present and future generations.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting provisions that would have prohibited the use of jug line fishing and other jug rig variant fishing methods in state waters;

(2) Requiring the Division of Aquatic Resources of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to begin the rulemaking process no later than July 1, 2026, to regulate or ban jug line fishing and jug rig variant fishing methods;

(3) Changing its effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2973, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2973, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair