HB 2414 Summary

• Prohibits knowingly capturing, taking, possessing, abusing, harassing, entangling, or killing any shark within Hawaii state marine waters, with criminal penalties of $500 for first offense, $2,000 for second offense, and $10,000 for third or subsequent offense.

• Imposes additional administrative fines up to $10,000 per shark violated, plus seizure and forfeiture of captured sharks and any commercial marine license, vessel, or fishing equipment used in violation.

• Defines "harass" as approaching any shark within 150 feet, and applies penalties per shark involved in violation.

• Exempts from prohibition: research by nationally qualified educational institutions, sharks in captivity, department actions for public safety, sharks taken outside state waters under federal fishery management, accidentally caught sharks, and defensive actions against death or bodily harm.

• Eliminates permit requirement for nationally qualified educational institutions to conduct scientific and educational research activities on sharks.