00 Enrolled SJR 12                                                                                                         
01 Supporting the halibut bycatch utilization project of the Alaska Food Coalition.                                        
02                                          _______________                                                                
03 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                             
04      WHEREAS fishermen operating trawl vessels are prohibited from retaining                                          
05 accidentally caught halibut; and                                                                                        
06      WHEREAS these fishermen are required by federal regulation to dump halibut                                       
07 bycatch, even dead halibut, at sea; and                                                                                 
08      WHEREAS these fishermen, who would receive no personal profit, gain, or benefit,                                 
09 except the intrinsic satisfaction derived of noble action, desire, at the expense of their labor                        
10 and time, to retain and donate halibut bycatch to charitable food relief agencies; and                                  
11      WHEREAS Kodiak processors are willing to handle and process otherwise at-sea-                                    
12 discarded halibut bycatch for charitable purposes; and                                                                  
13      WHEREAS the Alaska Food Coalition, a network of charitable food relief                                           
14 organizations, has established a plan, has acquired funds, and is ready to distribute the halibut                       
15 bycatch to assist Alaskans in need;                                                                                     
16      BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature supports the Alaska Food                                        
17 Coalition in its efforts to see that the dead halibut bycatch, 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 bycatch 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 issuance of a Prohibited Species Donation Permit using halibut bycatch from                                 
08 vessels with observers.                                                                                                 
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.