Bill Text: HI HB989 | 2013 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Aquatic Life; Illegal Taking; Formula for Calculating Fines

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2013-03-07 - Referred to WTL/JDL, WAM. [HB989 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2013-HB989-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO.  79

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

 

RE:   H.B. No. 989

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Water & Land and Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 989 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FISH,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to modify the formula for calculating the penalties for the unlawful taking of aquarium fish or specimen of aquatic life.

 

     Specifically, the measure would require multiplying each separate species unlawfully taken by the quantity of that species taken, and then assessing a fine based on the species of fish or aquatic life.

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council, Sustainable Aquarium Industry Association, Quality Marine, Coral Fish Hawaii, and eight individuals.  Written comments were submitted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

 

     Your Committees find that, currently, the penalties for the unlawful taking of aquarium fish or aquatic life are based upon the number of species of aquarium fish or aquatic life unlawfully taken and do not take into account the actual quantity of aquarium fish or aquatic life unlawfully taken.  Therefore, a fisher who unlawfully takes many specimen of the same species of aquatic life is only penalized for one violation.  Your Committees also find that, by counting each specimen of fish or aquatic life unlawfully taken as a violation, fishers that practice irresponsible and illegal collection of marine life will be penalized in proportion to their violation and thus will have an incentive to adhere to the regulations.  Your Committee also finds that there is a need to deter irresponsible fishing and that stricter regulations are needed to responsibly manage stocks of marine life in the State.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water & Land and Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 989 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water & Land and Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs,

 

 

____________________________ FAYE P. HANOHANO, Chair		____________________________ CINDY EVANS, Chair