H.B. 1969 Summary

• Department of Land and Natural Resources shall prepare and periodically update a seafood management study in coordination with the Office of Planning and Department of Agriculture, focusing on wild seafood as a viable food source pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes section 226-55.

• Study must consider establishing objectives and policies for seafood sustainability, researching wild seafood's agricultural and economic impact on food self-sufficiency, collecting wholesale and retail sales data, classifying wild seafood as a food commodity, and incorporating findings into the state agricultural functional plan.

• "Wild seafood" is defined as naturally-born or hatchery-raised fish and shellfish harvested through commercial, recreational, or subsistence fishing, excluding net-pen aquaculture or farm-raised fish.

• Department of Land and Natural Resources shall submit the completed seafood management study, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days before the 2019 regular session.

• Appropriation of funds from general revenues for fiscal year 2018-2019 to be expended by the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources (amount not specified in text).