HI SR104

Request the Department of Land and Natural Resources to conduct a study on coral reef herbivore populations around Oahu in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, prioritizing depleted uhu (parrotfish) and kala (surgeon fish) species.

Direct analysis of alternative policies to substantially replenish coral reef herbivore populations around Oahu within a decade, addressing current inadequate statewide fishing rules.

Require submission of findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the Legislature by December 1, 2024.

Identify herbivores as essential to reef recovery and resilience, particularly as coral bleaching events are predicted to occur annually in Hawaii before 2040.

Note that Oahu's herbivore populations are at five percent below potential—the lowest in the State—and are targeted by unsustainable nighttime spearfishing.