HB1347 would repeal Hawaii’s existing prohibition on the use or possession of unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, on, in, or near state marine waters for the purpose of taking aquatic life, and replace it with a regulated permitting system. The bill directs the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to develop, implement, and administer permits for drone-assisted fishing, including application procedures, approval criteria, permit conditions, fees, and penalties for noncompliance. Permits would be valid for one year and renewable annually.
The measure also sets minimum fee amounts: $100 per annual permit, a $25 first-time processing fee, and a $10 reissuance fee for lost or damaged permits. DLNR would be authorized to enforce the new rules through citations, fines, and seizure/forfeiture of drones used without a valid permit. The department would also be required to keep records and submit an annual report to the Legislature. The bill includes a detailed implementation timeline for stakeholder consultation, rulemaking, public education, system testing, and launch of the permitting program.
If enacted, HB1347 would amend Chapter 188 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes by repealing section 188-23.5 and adding a new section establishing a drone-fishing permitting framework. It would shift state policy from a general prohibition with limited permit authority to an affirmative regulatory regime managed by DLNR. The bill would affect anglers, fishing businesses, drone users, and enforcement personnel, while also creating new administrative duties, fee collection authority, and forfeiture enforcement mechanisms under state law.
The bill text reflects a generally supportive and permissive stance toward drone-assisted fishing, emphasizing that the practice can have benefits when responsibly regulated rather than banned. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no documented opposition or support from hearings or floor action in the supplied materials. Based on the bill language alone, the measure appears intended as a policy modernization effort rather than a punitive restriction.
The main point of contention is the policy choice between prohibition and regulation. Supporters of the bill’s approach would likely favor allowing drone-assisted fishing under controlled conditions, while opponents may be concerned about impacts on marine resources, fairness in fishing practices, enforcement burdens, or the adequacy of safeguards. The bill also raises practical questions about permit fees, DLNR’s administrative capacity, and how strictly violations and forfeitures would be enforced, but no specific stakeholder objections are included in the provided record.