00                 CS FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 6(FSH)                                                               
01 Relating to the labeling of fish and shellfish to identify the country of origin and to                                 
02 distinguish between wild and farmed fish and shellfish.                                                                 
03 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
04       WHEREAS Americans deserve wholesome foods and information about the contents                                    
05 and production of their food supply; and                                                                                
06       WHEREAS Alaska's fish production is distinct from farmed fish production because                                
07 Alaska fish are wild, free-ranging, and, therefore, naturally wholesome and healthy; and                                
08       WHEREAS there are numerous outstanding issues regarding public policy, fair trade,                              
09 and the social and economic consequences of farmed fish production; and                                                 
10       WHEREAS more and more consumers are expressing a preference for, and                                            
11 requesting, wild fish over farmed fish; and                                                                             
12       WHEREAS both the Alaska State Legislature and the United States Congress have                                   
13 passed labeling laws specifically to inform consumers about fish and shellfish and other food                           
14 products; and                                                                                                           
15       WHEREAS the United States Department of Agriculture has exempted processed                                      
16 food items from federal country of origin labeling requirements; and                                                    

01       WHEREAS many Alaska fish and shellfish readily available to Americans are                                       
02 canned, smoked, cured, or cooked without significantly changing the nature of the fish or                               
03 shellfish;                                                                                                              
04       BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature supports the timely labeling of                                
05 fish and shellfish in the marketplace to identify the country of origin and to distinguish                              
06 between wild and farmed fish and shellfish; and be it                                                                   
07       FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature supports adding labeling                                     
08 requirements for canned, smoked, cured, or cooked fish and shellfish to identify the country                            
09 of origin of the fish and shellfish and to distinguish between wild and farmed fish and                                 
10 shellfish.                                                                                                              
11       COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable George W.  Bush, President                             
12 of the United States; the Honorable Don Evans, United States Secretary of Commerce; the                                 
13 Honorable Mike Johanns, United States Secretary of Agriculture; and the Honorable Ted                                   
14 Stevens and the Honorable Lisa Murkowski, U.S.  Senators, and the Honorable Don Young,                                  
15 U.S.  Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.