Bill Text: HI HB2041 | 2018 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Aquaculture.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 13-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2018-04-23 - Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 827). [HB2041 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2018-HB2041-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2041 |
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TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018 |
H.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
S.D. 2 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO AQUACULTURE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
PART I
SECTION
1. The legislature finds that there is
significant commercial opportunity in the aquaculture sector, and Hawaii is
uniquely suited for this opportunity. Aquaculture
provides increasingly more fish than capture fisheries, so aquaculture is
better equipped to meet the growing global demand for seafood. The value of global aquaculture production in
2014 totaled $165,800,000,000. Furthermore,
the demand for aquaculture production is federally recognized. The United States imports ninety-one per cent
of its seafood, leading to a $14,000,000,000 trade deficit. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration's "Marine Aquaculture Strategic Plan" for 2016-2020
prioritizes efforts to expand sustainable aquaculture production in the United
States by at least fifty per cent by the year 2020. Moreover, seafood and aquaculture technology
start-ups raised $193,000,000 in 2016, which represents a two hundred
seventy-one per cent increase over 2014-2015 amounts. Investors and entrepreneurs are becoming aware
of the tremendous opportunity within the aquaculture industry.
The legislature further finds that Hawaii has a number of competitive advantages in the aquaculture industry, such as abundant natural resources, sophisticated infrastructure within the public and private sectors for developing aquaculture, and expertise in a wide variety of aquaculture species and technologies. The State also has political stability, geographic isolation for biosecurity, and a geographic location between the two largest seafood importers.
Further, the natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority operates a world-class aquaculture facility known as the Hawaii ocean science and technology park. The State has invested over $120,000,000 since 1974 to develop the Hawaii ocean science and technology park. Given Hawaii's year-round growing climate, the biosecurity of its remote location, and the easy access to pristine seawater at various temperatures, over thirty companies from around the world have located their aquaculture operations at the Hawaii ocean science and technology park.
The legislature concludes that establishing an aquaculture incubator at the natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority would serve to develop Hawaii's aquaculture industry in innovative ways, as well as bring entrepreneurs and investors to Hawaii's aquaculture market. Existing structures at the Hawaii ocean science and technology park can be repurposed to create a facility and program for the aquaculture incubator. The aquaculture incubator would foster collaboration between innovative new aquaculture companies, provide business and scientific mentorship from existing industry experts, provide access to the Hawaii ocean science and technology park's seawater infrastructure, and allow new companies to commercialize their products and secure financing. The incubator will also attract investor capital to Hawaii's aquaculture industry, as well as create high wage-earning jobs in Hawaii.
The purpose of this part is to appropriate funds to establish an aquaculture incubator at the natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority to bring together entrepreneurs and investors to develop Hawaii's aquaculture industry.
SECTION 2. 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 2018-2019 to establish an aquaculture incubator at the natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority to bring together entrepreneurs and investors to develop Hawaii's aquaculture industry.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this part.
PART II
SECTION 3. The legislature finds that the State has a public interest in diversifying its economy and promoting the development of innovative companies in both the blue tech economy and the aquaculture industry.
The legislature further finds that the global aquaculture industry is poised for a sustained period of growth and expansion. Hawaii is home to both pioneering industry research efforts and commercial activities that have made significant contributions to the global aquaculture industry. To capitalize on commercial opportunities, Hawaii must undertake a concerted and collaborative effort to raise its visibility in the global aquaculture industry.
The legislature recognizes that the Hawaii aquaculture 2020 initiative is a statewide collaborative effort to bring Hawaii's diverse resources in aquaculture into a focused industry effort to grow Hawaii's aquaculture industry. The legislature also finds that public and private stakeholders in Hawaii's aquaculture industry support this strategic initiative in order to build scale in important industry inputs like feed sources and processing capacity and to clarify permitting issues. This strategic initiative should also support the attraction and growth of innovative companies that will create the biological, engineering, and operational solutions that will be demanded by a commercial scale global industry. Beginning these efforts now will allow Hawaii to prepare to showcase its aquaculture assets and successes when Hawaii hosts the Aquaculture America conference in February 2020, at the Hawaii convention center.
The legislature further recognizes that Aquaculture America is the largest aquaculture trade show in the western hemisphere, with nearly two hundred booths and over two thousand attendees in recent years. The United States Aquaculture Society joins with the National Aquaculture Association and the Aquaculture Suppliers Association to produce the annual Aquaculture America meetings.
The purpose of this part is to provide the funding necessary to support the planning and participation of the Hawaii aquaculture industry in the Aquaculture America 2020 conference to be held in Honolulu.
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 2018-2019 to be expended for the planning and participation of the Hawaii aquaculture industry in the World Aquaculture Society's Aquaculture America 2020 conference to be held in Honolulu in February 2020.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this part.
PART III
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2112.
Report Title:
Aquaculture Incubator; DOA; Aquaculture America 2020 Conference; Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates moneys for the Department of Agriculture to establish an aquaculture incubator at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority and to support the planning and participation of the Hawaii aquaculture industry in the Aquaculture America 2020 conference. Effective 7/1/2112. (SD2)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
