2016-02-05                     House Journal                      Page 1583
HB 300                                                                                                                        
HOUSE BILL NO. 300 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                                                   
the Governor, entitled:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
    "An Act relating to management of enhanced stocks of fish;                                                                  
    authorizing the operation of nonprofit shellfish hatcheries; relating                                                       
    to application fees for salmon and shellfish hatchery permits; and                                                          
    providing for an effective date."                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the House Special Committee on                                                          
Fisheries and the Finance Committee.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1.  Fiscal, Dept. of Fish & Game                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
The Governor's transmittal letter dated February 4, 2016, follows:                                                              
                                                                                                                                
"Dear Speaker Chenault:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska                                                                   
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to management of                                                                
enhanced stocks of fish; authorizing the operation of nonprofit                                                                 

2016-02-05                     House Journal                      Page 1584
shellfish hatcheries; and application fees for salmon and shellfish                                                             
hatchery permits.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
The bill would authorize the Commissioner of Fish and Game to                                                                   
permit the construction and operation of shellfish hatcheries by                                                                
nonprofit corporations for the purpose of enhancing shellfish fisheries.                                                        
The bill would also make several other related amendments to State                                                              
law relating to shellfish hatcheries.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
The Board of Fisheries is statutorily tasked to manage fish stocks in                                                           
the state; fish stocks include invertebrate species, such as shellfish.                                                         
Currently, under AS 16.40.100 - 16.40.199 the Commissioner may                                                                  
permit the construction and operation of shellfish hatcheries for the                                                           
purpose of supplying shellfish to an aquatic farm, but may not permit                                                           
the construction and operation of shellfish hatcheries for the purpose                                                          
of enhancing shellfish fisheries. The bill is largely modeled after                                                             
AS 16.10.375 - 16.10.480, which authorizes the Commissioner of Fish                                                             
and Game to permit the construction and operation of salmon                                                                     
hatcheries for the purpose of enhancing salmon fisheries.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
The bill would also make conforming amendments to the                                                                           
determination of authorized gear to allow use of legal gear to harvest                                                          
shellfish, to allow donations of shellfish to a food bank, and to exempt                                                        
from State corporate income tax income from a nonprofit corporation                                                             
holding a permit to operate a shellfish hatchery for enhancement of                                                             
shellfish stock.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
In addition, the bill would update the application fee for a salmon                                                             
hatchery permit.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Enhancement of the State's shellfish fisheries would benefit the state's                                                        
economy by providing a method to increase the available harvest of                                                              
shellfish for public use in an environmentally safe manner.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Bill Walker                                                                                                                     
Governor"