HI HB2383

Imposes a temporary moratorium on leasing state marine waters for construction, expansion, or transfer of open ocean commercial finfish mariculture facilities until June 30, 2014.

Existing leases or permits issued before the Act's effective date remain valid under original terms but are not transferable and cannot be renewed before July 1, 2014.

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to submit a report to the legislature by twenty days before the 2013 regular session covering adequacy of current management practices, monitoring procedures, and whether the moratorium should be made permanent.

Cites concerns about escaped farmed fish, pollution, antibiotic use, chemical treatments, and impacts on wild marine species and native Hawaiian fishing rights as justification for the moratorium.

Amends Hawaii Revised Statutes to clarify the definition of mariculture to include floating structures that are not anchored, while excluding Hawaiian fishponds.