Legislature(2003 - 2004)
03/15/2004 09:05 AM House FSH
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SCR 19-SUPPORTING FISHERIES EDUCATION Number 0070 CHAIR SEATON announced that the first order of business would be SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 19, Relating to the support of fisheries education, training, and research and encouraging collaborative efforts between the state, the University of Alaska, and other educational institutions to provide fisheries education programs. Number 0121 CHERYL SUTTON, Staff to the Joint Legislative Salmon Industry Task Force ("Task Force"), Alaska State Legislature, explained that Senator Gary Stevens had introduced this resolution at the recommendation of the Task Force. She said no educational institutions in the United States offer a seafood business degree. In Alaska it is believed the future of the industry is wrapped up in fisheries education, training, and related support industries; that is exactly what SCR 19 recommends. She said this resolution urges the education providers in Alaska to collaborate in developing and providing fisheries education programs. Ms. Sutton pointed out that there are zero fiscal notes attached. She urged members to support SCR 19. Number 0281 REPRESENTATIVE WILSON asked what the University of Alaska has said about this proposal. MS. SUTTON deferred to Representative Ogg, given his long history with the university. Number 0343 REPRESENTATIVE OGG explained that he'd served on the University of Alaska Board of Regents and attended the School of Fisheries [and Marine Sciences] advisory council meetings, usually held twice a year. This has been an ongoing issue with the University of Alaska, he pointed out. There have been times when the university would create a fisheries program, but then students found no job available upon graduation. Representative Ogg said the educators believed a fisheries program would be a good way to proceed, but no one would sign up for the program; he believes that is because the program wasn't designed in such a way that students would come out of it with the necessary education to be employable. REPRESENTATIVE OGG noted that currently there is a School of Fisheries and Oceanography. A new dean was just hired from Mississippi, the first change since 1987, so he expressed hope that there will be positive changes. Representative Ogg said since 1987 there have been 135 undergraduates in the fisheries program, and last year there were only 3. The school's focus has shifted more toward oceanography and away from fisheries. There has been constant pressure from the fishing industry to try to get the school to address and focus on Alaska's fishing industry, however. He said he believes SCR 19 is a strong statement to the university to focus on a program such as this. Number 0496 REPRESENTATIVE WILSON suggested some kind of quality-control certification through the university would be helpful. REPRESENTATIVE OGG replied that many fishermen don't see that kind of certification as a way of increasing income. Many things fishermen need to do to ensure quality control are simple and don't require attending a class to learn. He explained that the university's focus is on developing businesses in fisheries. MS. SUTTON emphasized that the fisheries program should be designed so students have employable skills when classes have been completed. CHAIR SEATON acknowledged the arrival of Representative Guttenberg. He also noted that Representative Chenault was in the audience and offered him a seat at the table. REPRESENTATIVE WILSON agreed that the fisheries program should result in employment for the students. Number 0776 CHAIR SEATON said he hopes the University of Alaska School of Fisheries and Oceanography is at a turning point. In the past, the school has focused on research and oceanography, but this resolution recommends moving toward some vocational components with respect to fisheries. It is important that students who graduate have employable skills, in high-paying quality jobs within this industry, he said. Chair Seaton commented that he believes this resolution comes at a perfect time to dovetail with the hire of the new dean of the School of Fisheries and Oceanography. Number 0915 REPRESENTATIVE GUTTENBERG asked if these comments or specific recommendations came from the Task Force. He said the University of Alaska has a process for determining needs for new programs, and he believes these changes usually come from the industry itself; for example, the nurse-shortage problem was brought to the attention of the university from the health care industry. He asked if there is supporting documentation from the Task Force on these recommendations. CHAIR SEATON responded that the committee doesn't have the supporting documentation, but the Task Force has that information. Specifically, there was input from people from the fishing community, the processing community, the Board of Fisheries, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), many of whom served both on the subcommittee and committee; all saw this as a need to address. Chair Seaton emphasized that this issue came not only from the industry, but from the legislature as well. Number 1038 REPRESENTATIVE OGG commended former Representative Adelheid Herrmann for her unswerving advocacy in addressing this issue. He told members this is important for the future of Alaska, particularly the fishing industry. CHAIR SEATON agreed that former Representative Adelheid Herrmann was a force behind this resolution. Number 1111 REPRESENTATIVE WILSON read the following portion of the sponsor statement: Currently, there are no educational institutions in the United States that offer a seafood business degree; therefore, this resolution recommends that the education providers in this state collaborate to develop and provide fisheries education programs in Alaska. REPRESENTATIVE WILSON moved to report SCR 19 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal notes. There being no objection, SCR 19 was reported from the House Special Committee on Fisheries.
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