H.B. 1723 Summary

• Establishes a working group within the Department of Land and Natural Resources to identify high-priority nearshore marine areas needing protection for potential designation as marine protected areas.

• Working group shall identify areas requiring critical protection (no-take zones), high protection (species and size-restricted no-take zones), herbivore replenishment, or other assistance as determined by administrative rules.

• Working group composition includes the Board of Land and Natural Resources chairperson (as chair), representatives from business and economic development, aquatic resources, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, University of Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, native Hawaiian cultural practitioners, and the fishing community.

• Members serve without compensation but receive expense reimbursement and are exempt from Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 84 ethics requirements solely for working group participation.

• Working group must submit findings and proposed legislation to the legislature no later than 20 days before the 2019 regular session and dissolves on June 30, 2019.