Bill Text: HI HCR121 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Encouraging The United States Navy To Eradicate Octocoral And Other Invasive Species From The Waters Of Pearl Harbor And To Provide The Department Of Land And Natural Resources With Regular Updates On The Status Of Eradication And The Extent Of The Spread Of Invasive Octocoral.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-03-25 - Report adopted. referred to the committee(s) on JHA as amended in HD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Ganaden, Kapela, Woodson excused (3). [HCR121 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2024-HCR121-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.C.R. NO. |
121 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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HOUSE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
ENCOURAGING THE UNITED STATES NAVY TO ERADICATE OCTOCORAL AND OTHER INVASIVE SPECIES FROM THE WATERS OF PEARL HARBOR AND TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES WITH REGULAR UPDATES ON THE STATUS OF ERADICATION AND THE EXTENT OF THE SPREAD OF INVASIVE OCTOCORAL.
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 octocorals, and recent surveys have documented octocoral in a much larger area, indicating 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 has conducted pilot eradication projects in certain areas of Pearl Harbor to test the efficacy of various eradication efforts; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Land and Natural Resources has not been informed of the outcomes of these projects, including any data collected; and
WHEREAS, this information is essential to informing the State's response if the invasive species are found outside 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 House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, the Senate concurring, that the United States Navy is encouraged to eradicate octocoral and other invasive species from the waters of Pearl Harbor and to provide the Department of Land and Natural Resources with regular updates on the status of eradication and the extent of the spread of invasive octocoral; 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 certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the United States Secretary of the Navy and Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.
United States Navy; Octocoral; Invasive Species
