Legislature(1999 - 2000)
03/29/1999 05:05 PM House FSH
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES
March 29, 1999
5:05 p.m.
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION: STELLER SEA LIONS
TAPE (S)
99-8 SIDES A & B
99-9 SIDES A & B
CALL TO ORDER
CHAIRMAN BILL HUDSON called the House Special Committee on
Fisheries meeting to order at 5:05 p.m.
PRESENT
Members present at the call to order were Representatives Hudson,
Dyson, Harris, Morgan, Kapsner and Smalley. Also present was
Representative Austerman.
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION
TIM REGAN, Steller sea lion recovery coordinator for the National
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), presented an overview of the
issues: the decline of sea lions; listing under the Endangered
Species Act (ESA); and NMFS' biological opinion. He showed a chart
demonstrating a serious decline of sea lions. NMFS makes a
distinction between a western and eastern stock of sea lions; the
western stock was listed as endangered, and NMFS must ensure that
none of its actions jeopardize the existence of an endangered
species. Under the ESA, the agency has two objectives that need to
be addressed: 1)whether groundfish fisheries jeopardize the
continued existence of the species, and 2) whether it will destroy
or adversely modify habitat. If one or the other is true, the
agency is obligated to develop reasonable and prudent alternatives.
MR. REGAN read the definitions of "jeopardy" and "adverse
modification," then provided an overview of the different
components of the biological opinion and NMFS' conclusions. He
said the Atka mackerel fishery did not jeopardize or adversely
modify habitat; the decision was based mostly on recent
conservation actions by the North Pacific Fishery Management
Council (NPFMC). The Bering Sea/Aleutians Island pollock fishery
had a positive finding of both jeopardy and adverse modification.
According to research by NMFS and others, pollock is the primary
food for sea lions.
MR. REGAN showed charts indicating much of the commercial pollock
harvest was taken from within Steller sea lion critical habitat
areas (around rookeries and haul-outs), presumably decreasing the
availability of food. In response to a question, Mr. Regan stated
that the lawsuit filed by a consortium of environmental
organizations did not trigger the biological opinion. NMFS was
already concerned about the issue and recognized the immediate need
to do a biological opinion.
DR. ANDREW TRITES with the University of British Columbia began his
presentation by outlining some causes for the decline of Steller
sea lions. Possible causes include killer whale (orca) predation,
viruses, and El Ni$o, but there is wide consensus that it has to do
with food. There appears to be a stunting of growth in the animals
over the last 20 years. There are two basic schools of thought on
the food issue: overfishing versus overabundance. The former
groups believe the decline is caused by lack of food, ostensibly
from overharvest of fish. Some are in the "global stock reduction"
camp, meaning they believe there is just not enough fish in the
ocean, resulting in declines in marine mammals, birds, et cetera.
The other camp believes there is enough fish, but not in the right
areas, so that "localized depletion" of certain important prey
species is causing the decline. The overabundance camp believes
there is too much pollock and not enough fatty fish such as
capelin, herring and sandlance, which are more important to Steller
sea lions' diet.
DR. TRITES believes more evidence is pointing to the idea of
overabundance. He stated that not all fish are created equal and
that there is a difference in the nutritional value of fish. He
was conducting studies on a small group of sea lions. When the
Steller sea lions were on a pollock-only diet, they lost weight;
when they were placed on a herring-only diet, they gained weight.
He believes that possibly there is some type of enzyme in pollock
that requires more energy to metabolize it. He discussed evidence
that the Bering Sea ecosystem shows signs of change. The last time
there was such a shift, crab stock declined and pollock increased.
There could be a reversal in the works. In response to a question
regarding farmed salmon, Dr. Trites told the committee he tried to
feed farmed salmon to captive Steller sea lions at the Vancouver
aquarium, but they wouldn't eat the farmed salmon. Therefore, Dr.
Trites had to buy wild salmon instead.
PAUL McGREGOR, representing the At-Sea Processors Association,
outlined his organization's concerns, primarily in the Bering Sea
and the processing of pollock offshore. Their companies are in
joint venture with several Community Development Quota (CDQ)
groups, some of which now own equity in their vessels. He
discussed the lawsuit filed by environmental groups, which he
thinks will go after other fisheries like herring. The pollock
fishery does not "take" Steller sea lions, nor does it destroy
their habitat; he does not think there is a direct link between the
two. Maybe five or six Steller sea lions are taken incidentally in
other fisheries each year. In response to a question, Mr. McGregor
explained their association's involvement with Dr. Trite's research
and funding of pollock surveys.
CHRIS BLACKBURN, representing the Alaska Groundfish Databank,
provided a written statement [attached to log notes].
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
NOTE: The meeting was recorded and handwritten log notes were
taken. A copy of the tape(s) and log notes may be obtained by
contacting the House Records Office at 130 Seward Street, Suite
211, Juneau, Alaska 99801-2197, (907) 465-2214, and after
adjournment of the second session of the Twenty-first Alaska State
Legislature, in the Legislative Reference Library.
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