00 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 12
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, wastefully 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 wasted
11 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 halibut by-catch, which is otherwise a wasted resource,
01 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.