Legislature(2003 - 2004)
01/29/2003 08:32 AM House FSH
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES
January 29, 2003
8:32 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Paul Seaton, Chair
Representative Peggy Wilson, Vice Chair
Representative Cheryll Heinze
Representative Ralph Samuels
Representative Ethan Berkowitz
Representative David Guttenberg
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Pete Kott
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT
Representative Gary Stevens
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
OVERVIEW OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES ENTRY COMMISSION (CFEC),
INCEPTION OF LIMITED ENTRY FISHING SYSTEM, BY MARY McDOWELL,
COMMISSIONER.
TAPES
03-1, SIDE(S) A & B
CHAIR PAUL SEATON called the meeting of the House Special
Committee on Fisheries to order at 8:32 a.m. Present at the
call to order were Representatives Seaton, Wilson, Heinze,
Samuels, and Berkowitz. Representative Kott was excused, and
Representative Guttenberg arrived as the meeting was in
progress. Also present was Representative Stevens.
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION
MARY McDOWELL, Commissioner, Commercial Fisheries Entry
Commission (CFEC), presented an overview of CFEC's program. She
explained that CFEC implements and administers the limited entry
program, is responsible for annual licensing of commercial
fishermen and fishing vessels, and provides research and data
collection with respect to fisheries. She said by law, CFEC is
an autonomous agency, but for budget purposes it falls under the
umbrella of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Ms.
McDowell gave a historical overview of the state's involvement
with fisheries management, which included the voters' approval,
in 1972, of the "limited entry amendment" to Article VIII,
Section 15, of the Alaska State Constitution, which says the
state may:
... limit entry into any fishery for purposes of
resource conservation, to prevent economic distress
among fishermen and those dependent upon them for a
livelihood and to promote the efficient development of
aquaculture in the State.
This amendment was followed, in 1973, by the legislature's
passing of the Limited Entry Act, which is a set of statutes
that established the framework and process of the limited entry
program and created CFEC to administer the program. Ms.
McDowell explained that the legislature specifically designed
the limited entry program to empower fishermen and to prevent
the concentration of ownership and control of fisheries by
canneries or by a few entities. She said that under the U.S.
Constitution, the program cannot discriminate against non-
Alaskans; however, the program is carefully constructed so that
it protects Alaskans in the fishery. She mentioned that nearly
78 percent of all limited entry permits are held by resident
Alaskans. She also commented on complaints received regarding
permits leaving the state, and said that generally, "out-
migration" is a misperception.
MS. McDOWELL outlined the general principles of CFEC, its
functions, duties, and fee structure, as well as addressing
the fundamental tenets of regulating and transferring of
permits. She mentioned that CFEC is waiting for a ruling from
the Alaska Supreme Court on the Carlson v. State lawsuit, which
involves determining what fees residents versus nonresidents can
be charged. She also mentioned current issues being addressed
by CFEC such as the discussion of fleet consolidation, and
optimum number determinations such as the one currently being
done for the Bristol Bay salmon drift gillnet fishery.
MS. McDOWELL, in response to questions from the committee,
referred to the following documents in the committee packet:
"Limited Entry Facts"; "Limited Entry Procedure"; "Alaska's
Limited Entry Program: Is It Working for Alaskans?";
"BRU/Component: Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission"; "Permit
and Harvest Statistics for Alaska's Limited Entry Salmon
Fisheries, 1993 - 2002"; and excerpts from "Executive Summary:
Changes in the Distribution of Alaska's Commercial Fisheries
Entry Permits, 1975 to 2001." She pointed out that the packet
also contains information on permit and fishing activity, and
crewmember counts by census area, all accessible on CFEC's web
site, www.cfec.state.ak.us.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
There were no announcements.
COMMITTEE ACTION
The committee took no action.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Fisheries meeting was adjourned at 9:48
a.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 State Capitol, Room 3,
Juneau, Alaska 99801 (mailing address), (907) 465-2214, and
after adjournment of the second session of the Twenty-Third
Alaska State Legislature this information may be obtained by
contacting the Legislative Reference Library at (907) 465-3808.
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