Bill Text: HI SB623 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating To Aquaculture.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-11-30 - Carried over to 2018 Regular Session. [SB623 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2018-SB623-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	623
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to aquaculture.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that, according to a 2010 study, approximately sixty-three per cent of seafood consumed in Hawaii is imported.  Seafood is an important staple in the diets of many Hawaii residents.  Seafood consumption is further enhanced by millions of visitors every year that seek high-quality, fresh, and tasty seafood dishes while on vacation in Hawaii.  Together, Hawaii visitors and residents consumed $664,000,000 worth of seafood in 2005.  Production of more local seafood will increase revenues and high-wage and skilled jobs and reduce reliance on imported seafood, while enabling the State to have greater control of product quality.  Additionally, increased local seafood production is in line with the State's food self-sufficiency initiative and Governor Ige's goal to double local food production by 2020.

     The legislature further finds that the United States imports eighty-six per cent of its seafood and the seafood trade deficit has grown to $10,400,000,000 annually.  United States aquaculture accounts for just fifteen per cent of seafood consumption.  The high level of imports exposes the United States to the vulnerability of volatile prices in the international market, as well as variability in the food safety practices and health standards of exporting countries.

     The legislature also finds that the projected growth of the world population will reach over nine billion by 2050.  Providing adequate food and a balanced diet to this growing population is challenging when faced with the world's already depleted natural resources.  Fish has become increasingly popular in the United States as the result of national dietary changes toward heart-healthy proteins as well as in developing countries where millions of people in a new middle class have begun to appreciate fish as a delicacy.  As demand for seafood is skyrocketing, fishery resources are dwindling.  Overfishing worldwide has created irreversible damages to the marine ecosystem, depleting ninety per cent of all large fish, including tuna, swordfish, marlin, cod, halibut, skates, and flounder.

     The legislature finds that the challenge of global seafood demand outpacing supply presents Hawaii with an opportunity to build aquaculture into a strong industry, like tourism.  It is also in the best interest of the nation to produce more seafood domestically.  Aquaculture is a growth industry at its early stage with rapid technology advancement.  If Hawaii successfully captures this opportunity, the State can attract pioneers in the industry, including entrepreneurs, experts, and venture capitalists, and make Hawaii the Silicon Valley of the seafood industry.

     The purpose of this Act is to require and appropriate funds for the department of agriculture to implement an aquaculture development program.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The department of agriculture shall implement an aquaculture development program, including but not limited to outlining a strategic framework, identifying elements unique to Hawaii, identifying and creating programs, establishing pilot projects, establishing a five-year timeline, and developing a pipeline to provide a skilled workforce.  This program shall identify priority demonstration, research, outreach, and industry development strategies leading to sustainable economic development and environmental, conservation, and social well-being in Hawaii.

     (b)  The aquaculture development program shall include the following essential elements:

     (1)  Applied research, including scientific study and research, that seeks to solve practical problems;

     (2)  Demonstration and extension, including projects that implement the applied research results and show operators how the research can be applied in real world scenarios, followed by adoption of the technique or activity in a commercial setting through a network of extension efforts to distribute and promote the new knowledge;

     (3)  Education and training of K-12 teachers and students about aquaculture, opportunities for aquaculture as a career, and benefits of aquaculture to the sustainability and economic growth of the State; and

     (4)  Communication, including developing a framework to deliver accurate, reliable, science-based information about aquaculture in Hawaii to educate the general public and attract new investors to the industry.  Communication may include media such as newsletters, brochures, posters, articles, web sites, podcasts, and video books to present a balanced and accurate view of aquaculture and its role in the State's economic and social future.

     (c)  The aquaculture development program shall focus on key areas tied directly to aquaculture as follows:

     (1)  Providing economic and marketing outreach to increase the profitability and environmental sustainability of the State's aquaculture businesses, including by:

         (A)  Investigating international trade issues, identifying major drivers of seafood trade into the United States, and analyzing the economic impact of trade on the domestic seafood industry;

         (B)  Conducting economic analyses of using public waters for aquaculture, including an assessment of ecological and socio-economic impacts;

         (C)  Supporting comprehensive research and outreach targeting behavioral and consumer sciences, consumer perception and preferences, food safety, labeling and certifications, seafood demand studies, and promotion of local seafood;

         (D)  Developing niche markets domestically and overseas for the species grown in Hawaii when supply reaches export levels;

         (E)  Developing optimal business models for diverse species, which would include hatcheries and grow-out for freshwater, low-salinity, and marine species and systems; and

         (F)  Providing training on business planning and aquaculture business assessments related to capital investments, financing, insurance, and risk;

     (2)  Creating a balanced permitting framework that supports the economic development of the aquaculture industry while protecting the environment and addressing local social concerns, including by:

         (A)  Identifying policies that will ensure uniform state governance;

         (B)  Facilitating the development of model state laws and guidance to address typical legal and regulatory barriers to the aquaculture industry; and

         (C)  Conducting extensive outreach programs for aquaculture stakeholders to increase awareness of the legal responsibilities of state agencies as managers of public trust lands and waters, the challenges of balancing multiple uses of coastal lands and waters, and the legal authority of local governments to regulate land uses in certain zones;

     (3)  Increasing domestic production of currently farmed and promising new species that support improvements in nutrition, reproduction, larval rearing, and genomics to enhance growth, improve health, and adapt to changing conditions, including by:

         (A)  Improving hatchery production to produce reliable shellfish seed, macroalgae seedlings, and finfish juveniles to accelerate industry growth;

         (B)  Developing sustainable alternative and emerging species, including through reproductive biology, nutrition and feeding, health, husbandry practices, and other species-specific research;

         (C)  Identifying species already grown in similar climates and environments and collaborating with government agencies or academic institutions who administer aquaculture development in those areas to transfer operational knowledge to the State;

         (D)  Improving the efficiencies of existing species grown in the State; and

         (E)  Guiding the use of sustainable alternative and emerging species;

     (4)  Linking industry needs to basic and applied research efforts, including by:

         (A)  Establishing demonstration centers to develop and refine aquaculture systems and disseminate applied information to end users;

         (B)  Developing new and optimizing existing integrated multi-trophic systems for marine aquaculture development and ensuring that outreach is a significant and well-funded aspect of each project;

         (C)  Improving the efficiency of technology and input use in production;

         (D)  Improving the economics of commercial scale production;

         (E)  Developing cost-saving technologies for production, harvest, and processing;

         (F)  Establishing demonstration centers where systems and culture practices can be refined, validated, and demonstrated to the private sector; and

         (G)  Fostering commercially based collaborative research and development where the private sector can test production technologies on a small scale to evaluate investment risks for commercial scale production; and

     (5)  Providing technical assistance and outreach to aquaculture producers to ensure the safety and quality of sustainably cultured seafood products to meet public demand, including by:

         (A)  Assessing rising concerns about bacteria and viruses, such as Vibrio species and norovirus, in a changing environment;

         (B)  Improving the understanding of aquaculture interactions with wild stocks and the natural environment relative to diseases and other factors affecting product quality and sustainability;

         (C)  Strengthening consumer confidence and building markets by working with seafood handlers to improve seafood quality and safety and providing information to consumers;

         (D)  Guiding development of product diversity; and

         (E)  Providing technical assistance and outreach to develop value-added aquaculture products.

     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 2017-2018 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 for implementation of the aquaculture development program.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2017.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Department of Agriculture; Aquaculture Development Program; Appropriation

 

Description:

Requires the department of agriculture to implement an aquaculture development program.  Makes an appropriation.

 

 

 

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