Legislature(2019 - 2020)BARNES 124
04/24/2019 01:00 PM House RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HR8 | |
| Presentation(s): Fisheries Taxes in Alaska, Department of Revenue | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | HR 8 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HR 8-2019: INT'L YEAR OF THE SALMON
1:02:51 PM
CO-CHAIR LINCOLN announced the first order of business would be HOUSE
RESOLUTION NO. 8, Recognizing 2019 as the International Year of the
Salmon and supporting an associated global initiative identifying the
importance of wild salmon.
1:03:33 PM
THATCHER BROUWER, Staff, Representative Geran Tarr, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Representative Tarr, introduced HR 8. Mr.
Brouwer said HR 8 recognizes 2019 as the International Year of the
Salmon and supports an associated global initiative identifying the
importance of wild salmon. Further, the resolution identifies
significant cultural and economic impacts salmon have on the West
Coast and describes that some salmon runs are thriving, and some are
not, and require costly recovery and rehabilitation efforts. The
International Year of the Salmon is a project launched by the North
Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission and the North Atlantic Salmon
Conservation Organization. Mr. Brouwer said early in 2019, he became
aware of the International Year of the Salmon and of the continuing
salmon research and outreach resulting from the global initiative.
For example, 21 international scientists conducted a five-week
scientific expedition in the Gulf of Alaska, and are now analyzing the
data that was collected. The scientists are using DNA to identify
stock-specific rearing of all five species of salmon to determine
their abundance and condition. Other projects include dam removal in
Maine and river cleanup projects in Northern Ireland. The overall
theme of the initiative is: Salmon and people in a changing world.
Supporting HR 8 is a way for the state to recognize the importance of
salmon to our state, and around the world, and encourage greater
research of salmon and factors that impact their survival.
Recognizing that salmon are a shared resource along the West Coast, HR
8 was introduced in conjunction with measures in Washington and
Oregon. The health of salmon populations across the Northern
Hemisphere varies but even the strongest salmon populations are facing
threats from both humans and the changing environment; scientists
still have a lot to learn about salmon lifecycles in order preserve
critical subsistence, sport, and commercial fisheries. By passing HR
8, the legislature acknowledges 2019 is the International Year of the
Salmon and directs attention to research and events of the global
International Year of the Salmon (IYS) initiative.
1:07:15 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN asked whether Washington and Oregon have
allocated additional revenue for wild salmon research.
MR. BROUWER clarified Washington and Oregon have not yet passed their
related resolutions. He expressed his understanding neither of said
resolutions have accompanying fiscal notes or allocated funds. In
response to Representative Tuck, he said the "salmosphere" encompasses
the Northern Hemisphere, from Atlantic salmon runs on the East Coast
and Pacific salmon runs on the West Coast, to the Bering Sea and in
Europe.
CO-CHAIR TARR stated the resolution could be the beginning of
collaboration between jurisdictions on ways to share research into
salmon in the Pacific Northwest.
REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS questioned whether HR 8 should address the
perils of farmed salmon to wild salmon.
MR. BROUWER deferred to the sponsor.
1:11:29 PM
An audio recording of a portion of the 4/23/19 House Special Committee
on Fisheries meeting was played from 1:11 p.m. to 1:18 p.m.
1:18:31 PM
MARK SAUNDERS, Director, International Year of the Salmon, Pacific
Region, North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission, informed the
committee the commission was formed 26 years ago, and its members are
Canada, the U.S., Japan, South Korea, and Russia. The commission was
formed to coordinate enforcement and science in shutting down the high
sea driftnet fishery. Currently, the commission works on salmon
conservation in partnership with the North Atlantic Salmon
Conservation Organization. He said 2019 is the focal year of the
International Year of the Salmon, which is a five-year initiative that
seeks to address threats to salmon from people and a changing
environment, to generate knowledge, and to act. Mr. Saunders praised
the legislative action that has been taken in Alaska, Washington, and
Oregon, and noted there is a shared interest from British Columbia,
Canada, as well. He advised Atlantic [Ocean] countries and other
Pacific Rim countries are engaged in the initiative. The decline in
the productivity of salmon in their marine environment began in the
early 1990s and has worsened; the situation is not unique and is more
dire for the Atlantic salmon. On the West Coast, there are also
declines in Chinook stock and low abundance of pink. Mr. Saunders
said he was looking forward to working with Alaska to develop the
International Year of the Salmon and its call to action, and stated
his organization's full support for HR 8.
1:22:32 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN asked whether there has been participation in
international collaborative research by Russia, Japan, and South
Korea.
MR. SAUNDERS said yes; all are parties to the North Pacific Anadromous
Fish Commission and thus participate in the commission's internal
support of his task to promote the International Year of the Salmon.
This year, the initiative is seeking resources to build connections
and by 2022, hopes to have a five-country, five-vessel survey of the
entire North Pacific so as to understand the changes in the North
Pacific and provide information that can be used to predict and
improve forecasting. Japan, South Korea, and particularly Russia,
have been involved in high seas ecosystems and are interested in the
western North Pacific.
1:24:43 PM
ROBERT D. MECUM, Deputy Regional Administrator, Alaska Region,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) informed the
committee of his years of experience in fisheries research and
management. Mr. Mecum said NOAA supports and participates in the
coordination and development of the IYS initiative. In Alaska, salmon
are essential to the Alaska way of life and Alaska is integral to the
world's production of salmon; the Alaska salmon fishery is the most
valuable commercial fishery in the U.S. Sustaining Alaska's wild
salmon populations is essential to preserving long-standing cultures.
The theme of the IYS initiative is: Salmon and people in a changing
world. The life history of salmon exposes them to many environmental
and adverse factors that affect health and abundance. The IYS
initiative seeks to raise awareness of what is possible to preserve
salmon and restore their habitat; envisions an expansion of salmon
research on the high seas and in nearshore waters; supports one full
year of education, outreach, and public engagement; provides a
platform for understanding of the species; promotes conservation,
restoration, community support, and ocean literacy; provides NOAA an
opportunity to report on the species and habitat focus area programs.
Mr. Mecum said salmon affect more people than any other fish species;
therefore, it is important to understand the affects of a changing
climate on the ocean, salmon freshwater habitat, distribution, and
productivity for the benefit of management agencies, the fishing
industry, Tribes, recreational users, and the public. Speaking on
behalf of NOAA, he urged the committee to support HR 8.
1:28:33 PM
TYSON FICK said he is a commercial gillnetter and owner of Taku River
Reds, which currently sells fish all across the U.S. He spoke in
support of HR 8, noting salmon have been central to his life - for all
of his life - and noted his experience working on [fishing industry]
legislative issues, for the North Pacific Fisheries Management
Council, and for other commercial fisheries organizations, and said HR
8 provides an opportunity for fishing interests to work together.
During his time at the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute he shared
with others the history of the Alaska State Constitution, which is
unique and presents an opportunity to share Alaska's success. There
is also an opportunity to learn from the mistakes of others; for
example, Idaho is spending $16 billion to restore comparatively small
salmon runs. However, in 1959, Alaska harvested less than 30 million
salmon, last year there were approximately 120 million harvested, and
the forecast for this year is 200 million. Mr. Fick pointed out [HB
8] is an opportunity to agree on [fisheries issues].
1:33:04 PM
A short video was shown from 1:33 p.m. to 1:34 p.m.
1:34:26 PM
JILL WEITZ, Campaign Director, Salmon Beyond Borders, said her
campaign has worked for the last five years to unite all sectors of
Southeast Alaska - commercial fishing, sportfishing, municipalities,
business owners, tour operators, and lawmakers - to defend and sustain
the transboundary Taku, Stikine, and Unuk rivers, which are the three
largest salmon-producing rivers in Southeast Alaska. The campaign has
been involved with IYS to bring together states and regions to focus
on the region's salmon. In Southeast Alaska, salmon connects
residents to indigenous and non-indigenous communities and lands. She
referred to a tour of northwest British Columbia during which Salmon
Without Borders learned: each community is different; each community
has different traditions; everyone has a salmon story. In 2018, IYS
was launched at an event attended by representatives from the Pacific
Ocean and Atlantic Ocean basins, leaders from Canada, the U.S.,
Russia, South Korea, and Japan who demonstrated support for IYS and
its goals. Ms. Weitz advised Alaska has what the Pacific Northwest
does not and thus must work to sustain its resources for the future;
IYS creates an opportunity for collaboration, and she said it is an
honor to work for salmon, which are a symbol of resilience, of
function, and of Alaska.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK asked if the [International Year of the Salmon] is
an organization.
MS. WEITZ explained it is a global initiative organized in North
America by the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission and the North
Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization. In further response to
Representative Tuck, she said 2019 is the actual year of the salmon;
this year will be spent raising awareness for IYS and generating
funding for ongoing and new research. In the future, IYS will report
on its progress.
1:39:25 PM
CO-CHAIR LINCOLN opened public testimony; after ascertaining no
members of the public wished to testify, public testimony was closed.
[HR 8 was held over.]