00                             HOUSE BILL NO. 26                                                                          
01 "An Act relating to aquatic farm permitting involving geoducks and to geoduck seed                                      
02 transfers between certified hatcheries and aquatic farms."                                                              
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
04    * Section 1. AS 16.40.100 is amended to read by adding a new subsection to read:                                   
05            (g)  The commissioner may not use the absence of wild geoduck stock within a                                 
06       management area described in AS 16.40.145 as the reason for denial of an aquatic                                  
07       farm permit under this section.                                                                                   
08    * Sec. 2. AS 16.40 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                     
09            Sec. 16.40.145. Geoduck seed transfer between a certified hatchery and an                                  
10       aquatic farm. Consistent with AS 16.40.140(b) - (d), a hatchery certified under                                 
11       AS 16.40.100 may transfer geoduck seed to an aquatic farm located in a fisheries                                  
12       management area established under this title that is contiguous to the Gulf of Alaska.