Hawaii Explores Outsourcing Green Fee Project Management to External Fisheries Group
Hawaii state officials are considering a proposal to enlist the Portland, Oregon-based Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission to help manage its green fee-funded marine conservation projects. This move comes as the state's green fee program, designed to combat climate change and protect the environment, enters its second year with over $100 million in annual funding. The proposed five-year, $5.4 million agreement would see the interstate group assist Hawaii's Aquatic Resources Division with drafting work proposals, evaluating candidates, awarding contracts, and monitoring project progress and costs. The outsourcing aims to alleviate the workload on state officials in distributing the substantial annual revenues. However, it also raises questions about the potential influence of an outside agency on the program's direction. The Board of Land and Natural Resources is set to review this proposal. Despite the significant funding, there is still a lack of clarity on how much of the nearly $130 million appro...
