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Committee backs funding stream for marine life conservation carrying‑capacity studies
Summary
The House Committee on Water & Land advanced SB841 to establish a funding source for ongoing carrying‑capacity studies in marine life conservation districts after DLNR said studies would help inform rules and that cost would likely be $300,000 to $1 million per year.
The House Committee on Water & Land voted to pass SB841 with amendments after hearing Department of Land and Natural Resources testimony saying ongoing carrying‑capacity studies would inform rules for marine life conservation districts.
DLNR aquatic resources staff told the committee the department “stands on our testimony in strong support,” and said the bill would fund studies that help the agency justify rules and policies for MLCDs. David Sakoda of DLNR’s Division of Aquatic Resources said $300,000 a year would be a “minimum” to support a study focused on visitor and user experience but that adding an ecological component could increase costs “significantly.” Sakoda testified the range is “300,000 to a million a year.”
Committee members asked whether the program could use existing special funds tied to ocean stewardship. DLNR staff identified a dollar‑per‑passenger commercial levy (referred to in testimony as the stewardship/special fund) and said the program had generated gross receipts in 2024 and that after statutory allocations and administrative costs the fund currently yielded roughly $1.7–$1.8 million per year and could be used in part for carrying‑capacity studies.
Members also pressed DLNR on stakeholders to include in studies. DLNR said it would consult “all users, both the commercial operators as well as recreational users, especially local residents” and had no objection if the committee substituted “current permitted operators” for “nonprofit community organizations” in the bill language. Committee staff agreed to reflect the estimated cost range and the suggestion to name permitted operators in the committee report.
The committee adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass SB841 with technical amendments and to add estimated cost language in its report. The bill was deferred to the end of session dates per standard committee procedure.
Why it matters: DLNR says regular carrying‑capacity work would create an ongoing adaptive‑management tool for MLCDs and help the agency tailor rules to both ecological limits and user experiences. Funding scope — and whether it covers ecological monitoring in addition to visitor surveys — will determine how comprehensive the studies are.
What’s next: The committee passed the bill with amendments; it will be scheduled for subsequent committee handling per legislative procedure.
