00                 CS FOR SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 12(RES)                                                              
01 Supporting the halibut by-catch utilization project of the Alaska Food Coalition.                                       
02 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
03       WHEREAS fishermen operating trawl vessels are prohibited from retaining                                         
04 accidentally caught halibut; and                                                                                        
05       WHEREAS these fishermen are required by federal regulation to dump halibut by-                                  
06 catch, even dead halibut, at sea; and                                                                                   
07       WHEREAS these fishermen, who would receive no personal profit, gain, or benefit,                                
08 except the intrinsic satisfaction derived of noble action, desire, at the expense of their labor                        
09 and time, to retain and donate halibut by-catch to charitable food relief agencies; and                                 
10       WHEREAS Kodiak processors are willing to handle and process otherwise at-sea-                                   
11 discarded halibut by-catch for charitable purposes; and                                                                 
12       WHEREAS the Alaska Food Coalition, a network of charitable food relief                                          
13 organizations, has established a plan, has acquired funds, and is ready to distribute the halibut                       
14 by-catch to assist Alaskans in need;                                                                                    
15       BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature supports the Alaska Food                                       
16 Coalition in its efforts to see that the dead halibut by-catch, which is otherwise an unutilized                        
01 resource, is put to use to support our Alaska families in need; and be it                                               
02       FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature commends Kodiak                                              
03 fishermen and processors for their efforts and willingness to see that halibut by-catch is                              
04 responsibly disposed of through charitable donations; and be it                                                         
05       FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests the                                    
06 National Marine Fisheries Service and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to                                   
07 support the by-catch utilization project of the Alaska Food Coalition and to issue the                                  
08 necessary permits for implementation of the project.                                                                    
09       COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to Susan J. Salveson, Assistant Regional                                
10 Administrator, Alaska Region, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and                                   
11 Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce; Kenneth D. Hansen,                                    
12 Assistant-Special-Agent-in-Charge, Alaska Region, National Marine Fisheries Service,                                    
13 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce;                                  
14 David Benton, Chair, North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Alvin Burch, Executive                                   
15 Director, Alaska Draggers Association; Mitch Kilborn, Manager, Western Alaska Fisheries;                                
16 Matt Moir, Manager, Alaska Pacific Seafoods; Greg D. Hathaway, Manager, Trident                                         
17 Seafoods Corporation; and Trevor Jones, Chair, Alaska Food Coalition.