Bill Text: HI HB1846 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Marine Resource Stewardship; Appropriations ($)

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-27 - Referred to WAL, FIN, referral sheet 2 [HB1846 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2016-HB1846-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1846
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to community-based marine resources stewardship.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the nearshore marine resources of the State have declined over several generations, impacting native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices, residents' lifestyle, and the visitor industry.  Land-based sources of pollution, invasive species, overuse, and poor management have all played a part in our nearshore ocean's decline.  The people of Hawaii should be able to partake in the ocean as past generations once did.  This situation necessitates the implementation of innovative and effective approaches, policies, and regulations informed by the values of the people of Hawaii.

     Hawaii's people have a long tradition of resource stewardship and strong stewardship values that are essential to reversing resource declines.  Community-based co-management of nearshore marine areas, or communities working with government, is recognized as an effective tool to increase opportunities for stakeholder involvement, re-invigorate Hawaii's history and culture of malama ‘aina, increase voluntary compliance with regulations, and ultimately improve resource conditions and availability for future generations.  In more than two dozen coastal areas across the State, local communities long to engage in marine co-management to see their resources sustained and traditional practices preserved.  These communities include families, fishermen, kupuna, youth, government, and many others with deep and caring ties to each of those areas.  As such, these efforts are devised to bring users and other interests together, and not to further divide them.  These efforts promote tradition and culture not as artifacts to be preserved in books and museums, but as solutions to be practiced as keys to a sustainable future.

     Research and experience demonstrate that community-based co-management of marine resources can be a successful policy and management strategy because:

     (1)  It recognizes and honors the unique resources, habitat, condition, people, and tradition of each place;

     (2)  Community members have a high level of identification with and commitment to their place;

     (3)  Community members are respected as local leaders and directly involved in decisions and management with shared norms, trust, communication, and connection between networks and groups of stakeholders;

     (4)  Co-management fosters a sense of kuleana through genuine sharing of responsibility and authority with government in policy development, decisionmaking, and setting standards of conduct; and

     (5)  The engaged community has a shared commitment to compliance and achieving successful resource enhancement and sustainable use.

     The legislature finds that the department of land and natural resources is mandated with the authority under chapter 188, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to implement policies and management strategies, including community-based co-management, to preserve and protect Hawaii's marine resources and traditional practices.  To successfully implement appropriate programs to grow and maintain the active participation and trust of communities, the department needs consistent technical staff capacity to engage with communities, stakeholders, and deliver government services effectively.

     The legislature further finds that the increase in ocean use necessitates the development of innovative partnerships, policies, regulations, rules, and strategies in the department of land and natural resources to ensure the department meets its mandate.  To accomplish community-based co-management of marine resources, the department needs essential staff members and programs that can engage with interested communities to:

     (1)  Coordinate traditional stewardship practices with the departmental systems and processes;

     (2)  Develop community-driven rules and standards of conduct that meet the State’s regulatory requirements; and

     (3)  Implement a collaborative and effective approach to compliance with community-based standards and rules.

     The purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Establish permanent positions in the department of land and natural resources; and

     (2)  Provide a grant-making program within the department, to support community-based co-management of the State's marine resources, ensure compliance with state and federal mandates, and support effective rulemaking and compliance with adopted standards and rules for sustainable resource use and protection.

SECTION 2.  The department of land and natural resources shall develop an open and competitive grant application and review process to support community-based co-management of the State's marine resources, ensure compliance with state and federal mandates, and support effective rulemaking and compliance with adopted standards and rules for sustainable resource use and protection.  Grant awards may be awarded to an individual community and shall:

     (1)  Not exceed $10,000 per year;

     (2)  Be subject to prior approval by the board of land and natural resources; and

     (3)  Be managed by a qualified nonprofit or governmental fiscal sponsor that charges no more than ten per cent overhead rate for financial management.

SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for program operating costs and to establish three permanent full-time equivalent (3.00 FTE) positions in aquatic resources (LNR401) within the department of land and natural resources, which includes a community-based subsistence fishing area planner, a marine regulation and policy specialist, and an aquatic invasive species program specialist, to support community-based co-management of nearshore marine resources and to implement effective rulemaking.

SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for aquatic resources (LNR401) for funding a grantmaking program to support planning, stakeholder outreach, and related activities by communities engaged in nearshore marine resource co-management programs with the department of land and natural resources as provided for in section 2.

     SECTION 5.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for funding program operating costs and to establish two permanent full-time equivalent (2.00 FTE) in conservation and resource enforcement (LNR405) within the department of land and natural resources, which includes a makai watch coordinator and a marine regulation and policy specialist to work with communities and state enforcement officers to help ensure compliance with resource use and protection standards and regulations.

SECTION 6.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for the department of land and natural resources in funding conservation and resource enforcement (LNR405) to convert twelve positions from temporary to permanent and for personal services, training, equipment, motor vehicles, vessels, and other current expenses for community fisheries enforcement units to support enforcement as well as community engagement, outreach, and awareness of marine regulations.

SECTION 7.  The sums appropriated by this Act shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 8.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2016.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Marine Resource Stewardship; Appropriations

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources for positions and programs in support of community-based co-management of nearshore marine resources.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.