Bill Text: HI SB16 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Aquarium Fish Permits.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-16 - Referred to WTL/AEN, WAM. [SB16 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2025-SB16-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
16 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to aquarium fish permits.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to support Hawaii's aquaculture industry by:
(1) Exempting aquaculture research from section 188-31, Hawaii Revised Statutes;
(2) Amending the definition of "aquarium purposes"; and
(3) Defining "aquaculture research".
SECTION 2. Section 188-31, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§188-31 Permits to take aquatic life for aquarium purposes. (a) Except as prohibited by law, the department, upon receipt of a written application, may issue an aquarium fish permit, not longer than one year in duration, to use fine meshed traps, or fine meshed nets other than throw nets, for the taking of marine or freshwater nongame fish and other aquatic life for aquarium purposes.
(b) Except as prohibited by law, the permits shall be issued only to persons who can satisfy the department that they possess facilities to and can maintain fish and other aquatic life alive and in reasonable health.
(c) It shall be illegal to sell or offer for sale any fish and other aquatic life taken under an aquarium fish permit unless those fish and other aquatic life are sold alive for aquarium purposes.
The department may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 for the purpose of this section.
(d) For the purposes of this section:
(1) "Aquarium
purposes" means to hold salt water fish, freshwater nongame fish, or other
aquatic life alive in a state of captivity as pets, [for scientific study,
or] for public exhibition or display, or for sale for these purposes; and
(2) "Aquarium fish permit" means a permit issued by the board for the use of fine mesh nets and traps to take salt water fish, freshwater nongame fish, or other aquatic life for aquarium purposes.
(e)
This section shall not apply to activities conducted for aquaculture
research. Aquaculture research
activities shall be conducted in accordance with applicable rules adopted by
the department.
For the purposes of this subsection, "aquaculture research" means the cultivation of and experimentation with aquatic organisms in a controlled environment for scientific, educational, or conservation purposes, including but not limited to breeding, growth, and health studies. "Aquaculture research" does not include activities conducted for the commercial sale or public exhibition of aquatic life."
SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Aquaculture; Aquarium Fish Permit; Aquaculture Research
Description:
Exempts persons engaging in aquaculture research from the aquarium fish permit requirement. Defines aquaculture research.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
