STAND. 0CM. REP. NO. -24
Honolulu, Hawaii
APR01 , 2024
RE: H.R. No. 178
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2024
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.R.
No. 178 entitled:
“HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE STATE’S CONGRESSIONAL
DELEGATION TO ADVOCATE FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF EXISTING
INTERNATIONAL LAWS TO REDUCE GHOST NETS ENTERING THE STATE
FROM INTERNATIONAL WATERS AND TAKE OTHER ACTIONS TO REDUCE
MARINE DEBRIS FROM FISHING GEAR,”
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to request the State’s
Congressional delegation to advocate for the enforcement of
existing international laws to reduce ghost nets entering the
State from international waters and take other actions to reduce
marine debris from fishing gear.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Friends of
Hanauma Bay.
Your Committee finds that discarded or lost fishing nets in
the ocean, otherwise known as ghost nets, entangle, injure, and
kill hundreds of thousands of marine animals and coral reefs every
year. Because ghost nets are non-biodegradable, these fishing
debris can pollute the ocean for up to six hundred years after
initially entering the ocean.
2024—2517 HR178 HSCR HMSO
 STAND. COM. REP. NO.
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Your Committee further finds that international waters are
the most common location for fishing vessels to dump ghost nets,
and one hundred fifteen thousand pounds of ghost nets wash in from
international waters to the reefs of Papahãnaumokuakea Marine
National Monument (Papahanaumokuakea) annually, harming coral
reefs and marine wildlife. Your Committee notes that there is a
backlog of ghost net accumulation of approximately one million
pounds in PapahanaumokuAkea, despite ongoing clean-up efforts by
government agencies and non-profit organizations.
Your Committee also finds that the International Maritime
Organization’s London Dumping Regime and International Convention
for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships Annex V specifically
prohibit discharge of synthetic ropes and fishing gear. The
International Law of the Sea allows states to take action against
vessels entering their ports if there is evidence that they have
abandoned or negligently lost fishing gear, although gear is not
marked in such a way as to trace ownership. Your Committee
believes that the United States Congress should take action to
reduce ghost nets entering in Hawaii.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your
Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 178 and
recommends its adoption.
Respectfully submitted on
behalf of the members of the
Committee on Water & Land,
~ L/~YAMA~
2024—2517 HR178 HSCR HMSO
 State of Hawaii
House of Representatives
The Thirty-second Legislature I-I5ct~ rr€’7—7—~f
Record of Votes of the Committee on Water & Land
BillJResolution No.: Committee Referral: Date:
Hc~-i~€, ~Jf4~~~-
D The committee is reconsidering its previous decision on the measure.
The recommendation is to: Pass, unamended (as is) 0 Pass, with amendments (HD) C Hold
C Pass short form bill with HD to recommit for future public hearing (recommit)
WAL Members Ayes Ayes (WR) Nays Excused
1. ICHLYAMA, Linda (C) /
2. POEPOE, Mahina (VC)
3. CHUN, Cory M.
4. GANADEN, Sonny
5. HASHEM, Mark J. /
6. MIZUNO, May Besario /
7. MORIKAWA, Dee
8. TAKAYAMA, Gregg
9. SOUZA, Kanani
TOTAL (9) 0 0 0
The recommendation is: ~~~Adopted ~ Not Adopted
If joint referral, did not support recommendation.
~ ommitte cro rn(s)
a
Vice Chair’s or designee’s signature:
Distribution: Original (White) Committee
— Duplicate (Yellow) — Chief lerk’s Office Duplicate (Pink) — HMSO