Hawaii-2018-HR61-Introduced

WHEREAS, marine managed areas are essential tools for combatting climate change and sea level rise, preserving Hawaii's nearshore resources, and protecting the State's economy and coastal communities; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Land and Natural Resources defines a marine managed area as any area of the marine environment established by law or regulation to protect or enhance part or all of the natural and cultural resources therein; and

WHEREAS, studies of similar areas in Hawaii and worldwide have shown large increases in biomass, density, size, and diversity of marine organisms in the marine managed areas; and

WHEREAS, marine managed areas promote healthy diverse ecosystems, which are more likely to survive disturbances caused by people, weather, or climate-related changes; and

WHEREAS, in a study of sixty fishing sites in the main Hawaiian Islands, no-take areas, which are a type of marine managed area, had over twice the biomass, higher diversity, and larger fish than partially protected and open access sites; and

WHEREAS, marine managed areas have also been shown to result in sustainable fisheries, to promote marine education and recreation, and to stimulate the economy through ecotourism and education; and

WHEREAS, marine managed areas, particularly those that contain healthy coral ecosystems, can be critical in increasing protection against natural hazards by reducing wave energy and buffering shorelines against waves, storms, and floods, and helping to prevent loss of life, property damage, and erosion; and

WHEREAS, when reefs are damaged or destroyed, the loss of this natural barrier can significantly increase damage to coastal communities from wave action and violent storms; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii's nearshore marine areas are home to a wide variety of marine species, many of which are endemic to Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the marine species of Hawaii play an important role for the State's inhabitants, providing residents and visitors physical, cultural, environmental, and spiritual sustenance; and

WHEREAS, widespread and varied uses of marine species often leads to their removal from their natural habitats for such purposes as processing for food or sale as pets; and

WHEREAS, as interest in the marine species of Hawaii increases, the number of species being removed from their native marine habitats increases as well and if current take levels increase, the marine species found in the nearshore waters of Hawaii will become more vulnerable to extinction, which could harm the local environment and people of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, to protect local marine habitats and wildlife for the benefit of Hawaii's people and economy, the State has recognized the need to identify specific areas that are in need of more effective management and the best management practices for those areas and, accordingly, the State has made a commitment to effectively manage thirty per cent of Hawaii's nearshore ocean waters by 2030, including by supporting community-based marine management; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2018, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to convene a working group to identify high priority areas for potential designation as marine managed areas; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group should include native fishermen, specific community members from each affected geographical area, and marine scientists; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor and the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Department of Land and Natural Resources; Working Group; Marine Protected Areas

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	61
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018
STATE OF HAWAII