Bill Text: HI SCR185 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Molokini Shoal Marine Life Conservation District; Commercial Use Permits

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-03-15 - (S) Referred to WTL/EDT. [SCR185 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-SCR185-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	185
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting reconsideration and reissuance of commercial use permits for the molokini shoal marine life conservation district after consultation with and THE PROVISION OF advance notice to commercial tour operators.

 

 

     WHEREAS, the ocean tourism industry is a vibrant and important industry to the State of Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, the National Ocean Economics Program reported that Hawaii's direct ocean economy generated $5,400,000,000 in 2004 which represents about 10.7 per cent of the State's gross domestic product; and

 

     WHEREAS, this industry employs almost one hundred thousand people with total wages exceeding $2,500,000,000, making Hawaii the lead state for employment in the ocean economy sector; and

 

     WHEREAS, the health of the ocean tourism industry is dependent upon the health of Hawaii's unique yet fragile ocean environment; and

 

     WHEREAS, the ocean and its resources must be managed to accommodate not only commercial operators, but all the people of Hawaii, including those with recreational and cultural interests in our resources; and

 

     WHEREAS, a limited number of commercial tour operators have the privilege of conducting tours to the Molokini Shoal Marine Life Conservation District using permits issued by the Division of Aquatic Resources, Department of Land and Natural Resources, which are typically issued for a set amount of time and subject to certain terms and conditions; and

 

     WHEREAS, those terms and conditions are important for the maintenance of a pristine ocean environment at Molokini, and must be adjusted from time to time in order to respond to legitimate concerns regarding the future health of our ocean resources; and

 

     WHEREAS, these terms and conditions may also have a significant economic impact on the operation of the tours, the conduct of the passengers, employment and sales contracts, working conditions, advertising materials, and the fulfillment of expectations by those who pay to participate in tours; and

 

     WHEREAS, thorough discussions with affected operators prior to the establishment of new permit terms and conditions may alleviate unnecessary impacts on their operations, while still addressing the resource protection concerns that fall under the primary responsibilities of the Department of Land and Natural Resources; and

 

     WHEREAS, advance notice of new permit terms and conditions may also provide operators adequate time to adjust their operations to further alleviate any impacts; and

 

WHEREAS, recently commercial use permits with additional conditions were issued to commercial tour operators with no advance notice, little consultation, and resulted in jeopardizing existing tour contracts; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2010, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to reconsider and reissue the commercial use permits for the Molokini Shoal Marine Life Conservation District after consultation with and the provision of advance notice to commercial tour operators; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to ensure that Molokini Shoal Marine Life Conservation District commercial use permittees are provided at least ninety days written notice of any changes in conditions for commercial use permits; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to consult with commercial use permittees on any changes in permit conditions and seek input from the permittees on the advisability, practicality, and ease of implementation of the proposed permit conditions; and

 

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

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Molokini Shoal Marine Life Conservation District; Commercial Use Permits