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Committee advances package of marine bills after extensive testimony on aquarium trade and fishing methods
Summary
Committee moved several marine‑resource bills forward with amendments and referrals after extensive testimony. DAR supported increased fines for aquarium trade but warned of enforcement and judicial capacity issues; many community and conservation groups called for a statewide ban and stronger enforcement.
A cluster of bills addressing aquarium collection, fishing methods and marine protected area management received hours of testimony and were advanced by the committee with a mix of amendments, referrals and narrowed scopes.
DAR testified it supports higher monetary penalties for illegal aquarium collection but cautioned that elevating offenses from petty misdemeanor to misdemeanor could create judicial bottlenecks and lengthen prosecutions; the division described ongoing chapter‑91 rulemaking that would limit permitted collectors to a small number of permittees who completed an environmental review process. Office of Hawaiian Affairs and multiple conservation, community and native Hawaiian groups urged a statewide ban on commercial aquarium collection, arguing that a ban is more enforceable and that the aquarium trade causes ecological, socioeconomic and cultural harms.
The committee discussed the proposed fines (first offense $200 per specimen, escalating to $1,000 for third and subsequent offenses) and the effect of counting each specimen as a separate offense. DAR explained the fines would apply per specimen under the draft language and noted the courts would make determinations in contested cases; subsequent civil penalties could be considered by the board following criminal proceedings.
On fishing method bills, SB 2973 (prohibiting jug‑line rigs) received support from conservation advocates who documented endangered species mortality tied to indiscriminate jug rigs; the committee adopted clarifying amendments to exempt store‑bought floats used with rod‑and‑reel and moved the bill to Judiciary for further work. For Marine Life Conservation District (MLCD) bills, the committee sought to narrow SB 2975 to Oahu (to target a specific overused MLCD) and passed SB 2084 to create a data‑driven carrying‑capacity program, while acknowledging the need for substantial budget and scientific resources to implement such studies.
Committee action advanced several marine measures with amendments intended to balance conservation goals, enforcement feasibility and commercial interests; the record shows strong community demand for stricter protections and a separate push for a full legislative ban on commercial aquarium collection.
