THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	237
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

Requesting that northern largemouth bass be permitted to be imported by the state for the purpose of promoting bass sportfishing.

 

 

        WHEREAS, freshwater fishing, particularly bass fishing is a popular sport in the United States; and

 

        WHEREAS, high school fishing is one of the fastest-growing sports across the nation; and

 

        WHEREAS, bass fishing is recognized as a high school sport in Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, Texas, and Vermont; and

 

        WHEREAS, the State has an existing population of largemouth bass fish for which the Department of Land and Natural Resources issues fishing licenses; and

 

        WHEREAS, nationally, bass fishing supports more than 828,000 jobs and generates more than $48,000,000 annually in retail sales; and

 

        WHEREAS, local bass fishing led to the launch of the Let's Go Fishing show in 1969 and has been featured on the popular Animal Planet show, Top Hooker, in 2017; and

 

        WHEREAS, Hawaii has an established history with bass fish beginning with the first observation on the island of Hawaii in 1856, followed by observations on Oahu, Maui, and Kauai in 1897; and

 

        WHEREAS, a Kauai Economic Development Board survey compiled in 2000 reported that anglers rated Hawaii as the second most popular destination to visit for freshwater fishing; and

 

        WHEREAS, Oahu has a pre-established bass hatchery located at Wahiawa Middle School, which is supplied by the Department of Agriculture's Division of Aquatic Resources; and

 

        WHEREAS, the Division of Aquatic Resources receives federal funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services' Sport Fish Restoration Program fund; and

 

        WHEREAS, the Sport Fish Restoration Program provides grants to the states for fishery projects, boating access, and aquatic education to ensure the continuation of sport fish opportunities, including freshwater sportfish; and

 

        WHEREAS, the State and the people of Hawaii would benefit from a diverse bass fish population; now, therefore,

 

        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2021, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Agriculture and its Division of Aquatic Resources are hereby requested to complete the process necessary to place the Northern Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides salmoides) on a list of conditionally approved animals that may be imported into the State with a permit; and

 

        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that once the species is granted a place on the conditionally-approved list, the Division of Aquatic Resources is requested to complete the process to obtain a permit to import Northern Largemouth Bass; and

 

        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Division of Aquatic Resources ensure a fresh stock of Northern Largemouth Bass be imported for use in state-supported bass hatcheries; and

 

        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Agriculture and its Division of Aquatic Resources are requested to accomplish these tasks prior to the Regular Session of 2022; and

 

        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Division of Aquatic Resources is requested to provide a report of its progress, findings, and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the Regular Session of 2022; and

 

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

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:  

Northern Largemouth Bass; Bass Fishing; Import