05/06/1997 02:31 PM House RES

 SCR 10 - SUPPORTING USE OF FURBEARER RESOURCE                               
                                                                               
 Number 1809                                                                   
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIRMAN OGAN announced the final item of business was Senate              
 Concurrent Resolution No. 10, supporting continued use of Alaska's            
 renewable furbearer resources.  He called on Beth Hagevig to                  
 present the resolution on behalf of the sponsor.                              
                                                                               
 Number 1834                                                                   
                                                                               
 ELIZABETH HAGEVIG, Researcher for Senator Gary Wilken, read a                 
 portion of the sponsor statement into the record:                             
                                                                               
 "Senate Concurrent Resolution 10 calls for the Alaska State                   
 Legislature's endorsement of continued harvest and use by Alaskans            
 of the state's renewable furbearer resources, consistent with the             
 principles of sustained yield. ... We in Alaska are blessed with              
 many renewable resources, including abundant furbearer populations.           
 Not only is trapping an important management tool for helping to              
 maintain healthy furbearer populations, it is also a traditional              
 activity for many Alaskans and helps promote self-reliance by                 
 providing income, food and clothing.  Trapping ties Alaska to its             
 pioneer roots and helps to keep alive the very values that build              
 this state."                                                                  
                                                                               
 Number 1914                                                                   
                                                                               
 DICK BISHOP, Executive Director, Alaska Outdoor Council, came                 
 forward to testify in support of SCR 10.  He said this resolution             
 is appropriate for reasons mostly documented in materials he had              
 provided to the committee.                                                    
                                                                               
 TAPE 97-51, SIDE B                                                            
 Number 0006                                                                   
                                                                               
 (NOTE:  MALFUNCTION CAUSED TAPE TO FLIP EARLY.  NOTHING IS MISSING.           
 LOG NUMBERS REFLECT ELAPSED TIME, NOT POSITION ON TAPE.  THERE IS             
 BLANK TAPE AT END OF SIDE A AND BEGINNING OF SIDE B.)                         
                                                                               
 MR. BISHOP recommended sending the resolution to the U.S. Fish and            
 Wildlife Service.  He referred to a letter he had written to that             
 agency, which documents reasons the council believes trapping                 
 should be continued on wildlife refuges.  He said it is important             
 for the legislature to emphasize that they recognize and respect              
 the values that Alaskans attach to trapping.  He referred to other            
 materials he had provided, which indicate that animal rights                  
 protectionists have mounted a campaign to discourage or eliminate             
 trapping.  He said the council disagrees with that and believes               
 trapping is a legitimate use that should be continued.                        
                                                                               
 MR. BISHOP advised that roughly 86 percent of the U.S. Fish and               
 Wildlife national refuge system is in Alaska.  If that agency or              
 the Department of Interior restrains trapping in some fashion, the            
 effects fall mostly in Alaska, on Alaskans.  He pointed out that              
 those refuges routinely surround communities in outlying Alaska.              
 Therefore, it is especially important to emphasize trapping as a              
 traditional pursuit and means of livelihood.                                  
                                                                               
 Number 0139                                                                   
                                                                               
 RANDALL ZARNKE, Alaska Trappers Association, testified via                    
 teleconference from Fairbanks in support of SCR 10, stating that              
 the association has several hundred members.  They are encouraged             
 by the powerful sentiments expressed in the resolution and the                
 powerful message that will be conveyed by adopting it.  He said               
 trapping is important statewide and cited examples.  He said it               
 also helps build and maintain a relationship between humans and the           
 land on which they live.  He emphasized that the species are not              
 threatened or endangered, due in no small measure to professional             
 management by state biologists.  He said for these reasons and                
 others, they encourage support of SCR 10.                                     
                                                                               
 Number 0239                                                                   
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE NICHOLIA asked to whom the resolution will be sent.            
                                                                               
 MS. HAGEVIG said although they had not amended the resolution to              
 say, they had in mind various newspapers in the state and, as Mr.             
 Bishop mentioned, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.                         
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE NICHOLIA stated that, coming from a long line of               
 trappers, she believes it is a good resolution.                               
                                                                               
 Number 0296                                                                   
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIRMAN HUDSON made a motion to move SCR 10 out of committee              
 with individual recommendations.  He asked unanimous consent.                 
 CO-CHAIRMAN OGAN asked if there was any objection.  There being               
 none, SCR 10 moved from the House Resources Standing Committee.