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State officials are drafting a plan that would step up interisland inspections to prevent the spread of agricultural and marine pests.
The draft plan takes a comprehensive look at screening not only agricultural-related products, but also household goods, and improving inspections of ocean vessels carrying alien marine pests.
Public hearings about the draft 2017-2027 Hawaii Interagency Biosecurity Plan are scheduled statewide, including one on Oahu from 6 to 8 p.m. today at McKinley High School cafeteria.
| BIOSECURITY HEARINGS
Here is the schedule of public hearings for the proposed 2017-2027 Hawaii Interagency Biosecurity Plan for the state of Hawaii — a comprehensive plan that includes various state and federal agencies to control invasive species.
>> Oahu: 6-8 p.m. today at McKinley High School cafeteria, 1039 S. King St.
>> Kauai: 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Wilcox Elementary School cafeteria, 4319 Hardy St., Lihue
>> Maui: 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Pomaikai Elementary School cafeteria, 4650 S. Kamehameha Ave., Kahului
>> Molokai: 6-8 p.m. Saturday at Kaunakakai Elementary School cafeteria, 30 Ailoa St.
>> Hilo: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 12 at Hilo High School cafeteria, 556 Waianuenue Ave.
>> Kailua-Kona: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 13 at Kealakehe High School cafeteria, 74-5000 Puohulihuli St.
>> Lanai: 9-11 a.m. Oct. 15 at Lanai High & Elementary School cafeteria, 555 Fraser Ave.
The draft plan may be viewed at the state Department of Agriculture website: 808ne.ws/2drlgf8.
Written comments on the draft plan are being accepted until Oct. 21 and may be emailed to Joy DeBruyn at H.T. Harvey & Associates at jdebruyn@harveyecology.com.
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The draft plan said farmers and environmentalists are worried about the spread of the little fire ant, coffee berry borer, coconut rhinoceros beetle, rapid ohia death and coqui frogs to all islands and that the lack of inspectors, inspection facilities and enforcement laws increases the risk of these alien species spreading.
“It’s time to get elected officials to realize the gravity of these risks,” said state Agriculture Chairman Scott Enright.
The little fire ants are estimated to cost the state $211 million a year, and the state could sustain more than $2 billion in economic damage if the brown tree snake ever establishes itself in Hawaii.
The draft plan said that while the state faces increasing critical threats from invasive species moving from one island to the next, the number of permanent inspectors in 2016 is 121 or 26 positions below what it was in 2008, when a recession prompted a reduction in force.
Meanwhile, the amount of air cargo since 2008 has increased by 34 percent and ship cargo by 21 percent, the draft said.
The state departments of Agriculture, and Land and Natural Resources — the primary state agencies in charge of biosecurity — receive 0.4 percent and 1 percent respectively of the $13.7 billion state operating budget in fiscal 2016-2017, officials noted.
The draft plan also calls for the development of an inspection facility on Kauai for high-risk commodities and hiring a full-time person at the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to oversee ballast water and other marine threats such as ships’ hulls carrying alien species.
The draft plan calls for laws to require proper hull care for vessels longer than 5 feet.
State agricultural officials said they’re looking at a pilot certification and compliance project that would allow nurseries to ship their goods interisland without an inspection.
Enright said his department will be assessing comments after the hearing and presenting a final report to Gov. David Ige for his review before moving forward with a plan.
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