Lawmakers to be schooled on sharks

Shark experts will be schooling lawmakers Thursday about shark feeding in relation to commercial tours.

The information briefing, conducted by the Senate committees on Energy and Environment and Water, Land, Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs, will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Capitol auditorium.

• On the agenda:
• Presentation by the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology about shark behavior and human interactions.
• Presentation by Hawaii Shark Encounters about their shark tour operations.
• Presentation by Surfrider Foundation from the perspective of ocean recreation users.
• Presentation by Save Our Surf from the perspective of ocean recreation users.
• Presentation by the Royal Order of Kamehameha concerning the Native Hawaiian perspective of sharks.
• Presentation by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Aquatic Resources Division regarding the state's jurisdiction over near shore waters.
• Presentation by the U.S. Coast Guard regarding enforcement activities in federal waters.
• Presentation by the NOAA Fisheries Service regarding federal jurisdiction.