Bill Text: HI SR17 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Encouraging The United States Navy To Eradicate Octocoral And Other Invasive Species From Pearl Harbor.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-1)

Status: (Passed) 2024-05-31 - Certified copies of resolution sent, 05-31-24 [SR17 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-SR17-Amended.html

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THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	17
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

ENCOURAGING THE UNITED STATES NAVY TO ERADICATE OCTOCORAL AND OTHER INVASIVE SPECIES FROM PEARL HARBOR.

 

 

     WHEREAS, two invasive species of octocoral, or Unomia stolonifera and Capnella spicata, are two of many invasive species that threaten Pearl Harbor's maritime ecosystem; and

 

     WHEREAS, octocoral takes over marine habitats extremely quickly because it is a "soft coral" that does not form a calcium exoskeleton like reef-building corals, allowing it to rapidly grow and spread colonies, smothering Hawaiian coral reef ecosystems; and

 

     WHEREAS, in areas where octocorals dominate the marine habitat, there is a lower density and diversity of fish; and

 

     WHEREAS, the United States Navy reported the presence of octocoral near Pearl Harbor in late 2020 during surveys that were not focused on these octocorals and recent surveys have documented these species in a much larger area and indicate that they were most likely present before 2019; and

 

     WHEREAS, a strong unified response is required to remove and eradicate octocorals and other invasive species from the waters of Pearl Harbor; and

 

     WHEREAS, the United States Navy is the principal caretaker of Pearl Harbor and its waters; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, that the United States Navy is encouraged to take responsibility for the eradication of octocoral and other invasive species from the waters of Pearl Harbor; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the United States Navy is encouraged to allocate resources to eradicate octocoral and other invasive species from the waters of Pearl Harbor, including West Loch, Middle Loch, and East Loch; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the United States Secretary of the Navy.

 

Report Title: 

United States Navy; Octocoral; Invasive Species