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SB1072
THE SENATE
S.B. NO.
1072
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating
to invasive species
.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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SECTION
1.
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The legislature finds that
Anemonia
majano
, or the majano anemone, is an invasive species that was detected in Kaneohe
Bay during the follow-up monitoring of a previous non-native coral removal
site.
�
Majano anemone, originally
introduced as a hitchhiker on the released non-native corals, has spread to
blanket an area of about nine hundred fifty square yards.
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This invasive anemone severely threatens
Kaneohe Bay's delicate coral reef ecosystem, particularly the endemic finger
coral
Porites compressa
.
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Known
for its rapid growth and spread throughout various substrates, aggressive
competition for space, and ability to smother native coral species, the majano
anemone has previously outcompeted stony corals in the Philippines and Vietnam,
resulting in phase shifts to corallimorpharia-dominated communities.
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Left unchecked, the majano anemone could
significantly degrade reef health and fish habitat, harm marine biodiversity,
and disrupt vital ecosystem services relied upon by the coastal communities in
Hawaii.
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The
legislature further finds that the department of land and natural resources' division
of aquatic resources has proposed a multi-phase removal strategy tailored to
the biology of the majano anemone that involves chemical control and physical
removal and smothering practices.
�
Supporting
these efforts may prevent further damage and spread of the majano anemone,
ensuring that the State's coral reefs and marine ecosystems remain health and
vibrant.
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The
purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to support the efforts of the division
of aquatic resources in the removal of the majano anemone from Kaneohe Bay.
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SECTION
2.
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There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $200,000 or so much thereof
as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to support the division
of aquatic resources in removing majano anemone from Kaneohe Bay, including
personnel, materials and equipment, data management and analysis, and outreach
and community engagement.
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The sums
appropriated shall be expended by the
department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.
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SECTION 3.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
Kaneohe
Bay; Majano Anemone; Invasive Species; DLNR; Division of Aquatic Resources;
Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates funds to support the efforts of the Division
of Aquatic Resources in the removal of the majano anemone from Kaneohe Bay.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.