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When Big Island Sen. Lorraine Inouye heard the Department of Land & Natural Resources would seek to ban the feeding of sharks in state waters, she approved but did not think that sounded like enough. Big Isle’s Inouye
pushes state ban
on shark feedingThe legislation would allow exceptions for religious practices
By Diana Leone
dleone@starbulletin.comSo, the North Hilo-North Kona lawmaker is introducing a bill that also would prohibit feeding sharks as a commercial activity.
The bill acknowledges that the Land Board will hold a series of hearings this year on proposed administrative rules to ban shark feeding in state waters.
Inouye said she believes the Legislature can pass the restrictions faster than the Land Board. She also noted that her bill, Senate Bill 2613, would prohibit the advertising or soliciting of "the feeding of sharks as part of a commercial activity in the territorial waters of the state."
"I know this is going to kill the business," Inouye said. "My gut feeling: I think this is bad. In Hawaii we have so many attractive things to see or visit. I don't think this is right. You're even putting people in cages; I just think that's not right."
North Shore Shark Adventures, apparently the only business in the state offering shark sightings, offers customers a chance to view sharks from inside a submerged cage.
Its owner, Joe Pavsek, had said his company's operation would not be affected by DLNR's proposed ban because it takes people beyond the three-miles-from-shore boundary of state waters to show them sharks.
The only exceptions allowed in Inouye's bill are "feeding of sharks for traditional Hawaiian cultural or religious practices" or fishers who throw waste fish overboard that attract sharks inadvertently.
"I think we should be involved," said Inouye, who plans to hear the bill in the Water, Land, Energy and Environment Committee. "It's a safety issue."
State officials could not be reached for comment.