Legislature(2013 - 2014)CAPITOL 120
03/25/2014 10:00 AM House FISHERIES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HCR25 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HCR 25 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES
March 25, 2014
10:03 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Paul Seaton, Chair
Representative Eric Feige
Representative Lynn Gattis
Representative Bob Herron
Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Craig Johnson
Representative Kurt Olson
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 25
Urging the Governor to request that the North Pacific Fishery
Management Council analyze the option of including community
fishing associations as entities that may be granted catch
shares in any trawl bycatch management program for the Gulf of
Alaska.
- MOVED HCR 25 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HCR 25
SHORT TITLE: CATCH SHARES IN NPFMC GROUNDFISH PLAN
SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST OF FISHERIES
03/14/14 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/14/14 (H) FSH
03/25/14 (H) FSH AT 10:00 AM CAPITOL 120
WITNESS REGISTER
HENRY MITCHELL
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the discussion of HCR 25.
ALEXUS KWACHKA
Kodiak, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCR 25.
ERNEST WEISS
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCR 25.
ALAN PARKS
Homer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCR 25.
CHUCK MCCALLUM, Director
Gulf of Alaska Coastal Communities Coalition
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCR 25.
JOHN WHIDDON
Kodiak, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the discussion on HCR 25.
DAVE KUBIAK
Kodiak, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCR 25.
EMIL CHRISTIANSEN, Secretary
Old Harbor Native Corporation
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCR 25.
FREDDIE CHRISTIANSEN, Secretary
Old Harbor Native Corporation
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCR 25.
THERESA PETERSON
Kodiak Outreach Coordinator
Alaska Marine Conservation Council (AMCC)
Kodiak, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCR 25.
ACTION NARRATIVE
10:03:00 AM
CHAIR PAUL SEATON called the House Special Committee on
Fisheries meeting to order at 10:03 a.m. Representatives
Herron, Feige, Kreiss-Tomkins, and Seaton were present at the
call to order. Representative Gattis arrived as the meeting was
in progress.
HCR 25-CATCH SHARES IN NPFMC GROUNDFISH PLAN
10:03:37 AM
CHAIR SEATON announced that the only order of business would be
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 25, Urging the Governor to
request that the North Pacific Fishery Management Council
analyze the option of including community fishing associations
as entities that may be granted catch shares in any trawl
bycatch management program for the Gulf of Alaska.
10:04:04 AM
CHAIR SEATON opened public testimony on HCR 25.
10:04:07 AM
HENRY MITCHELL stated he has been involved in North Pacific
fisheries for over 30 years. He originally worked for the
Bering Sea Fisherman's Association from 1980 to 1996 and
currently works for Coastal Villages [Region Fund], but he is
speaking on behalf of himself. He said he served on the North
Pacific Fisheries Management Council (NPFMC) in the early 1990s
when the community development quota system was developed. He
recalled that at the time he made motions to include the Gulf
communities; however, the council preferred not to do so. He
said he believes local communities in the Gulf of Alaska would
benefit by the NPFMC passing community quotas. He urged members
to pass HCR 25.
10:05:44 AM
ALEXUS KWACHKA stated his support for HCR 25. He said he
personally has lived through two rationalization programs in
Kodiak that directly affected him in the halibut and sablefish
and crab programs. He supported this as a means of adding
another tool for the NPFMC. He emphasized the importance of
anchoring quota in communities in perpetuity and remarked that
losing access to fisheries in Alaska would be a tragedy. He
encouraged members to move this resolution forward.
10:06:36 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON asked for further clarification on the
rationalizations and which communities were negatively impacted.
MR. KWACHKA answered that he has more familiarity with the
halibut and sablefish fisheries, but in his view, Kodiak lost
out in the crab program, which has resulted in a huge reduction
in the fleet; direct economic loss to the community; and a major
impact on local businesses. Consequently, the halibut and
sablefish fleet size was drastically reduced. He reiterated the
importance of keeping these fisheries as community-based
fisheries in order to gain more local control.
10:08:37 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON asked him to identify two communities
negatively impacted by rationalization.
MR. MITCHELL answered that some of the communities on the
[Aleutian] Chain, in particular, were left out of the programs.
He said Sand Point and Chignik in some regards has been
substantially impacted by being left out of many of the
programs. He said that if the NPFMC had adopted a community
development regime for the Gulf of Alaska communities, many of
them would be much better off today.
10:09:41 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON asked what leverage would the governor
have in encouraging the [NPFMC] to have this option.
MR. MITCHELL said that the governor has influence through
relationships with council members, and the governor could
encourage the council to pass regulations that will benefit
communities.
10:10:36 AM
CHAIR SEATON related that the committee has asked the governor
via HCR 25 to put protections for Alaskan coastal communities.
He clarified the legislative intent is to ask the governor as
chief executive of the state to inform the council to protect
coastal communities.
10:11:24 AM
ERNEST WEISS said he works for the Aleutians East Borough, has
lived many years in King Cove, and he now lives in Anchorage.
He addressed the member's question regarding rationalization,
stating that King Cove was severely impacted by the crab
rationalization program. He offered his support for HCR 25, the
NPFMC, and the option for community fishing associations (CFAs)
for the Gulf of Alaska trawl bycatch management program
currently being developed. He said that inclusion of CFAs could
mitigate some of the potential negative impacts inherent in a
catch share program by anchoring quota in the communities and
keeping entry-level opportunities open for fishermen. In
addition, the CFAs could enhance some of the community
protections already being considered as part of this program.
He has regularly participated in the NPFMC process and commends
the state on its leadership in this bycatch action. The current
structure can be found in the [NPFMC's] October motion, which
contains innovative elements that will give some protection to
coastal communities, including consolidation limits, limited
duration of shares, requirement for active participation, and
including the community as part of the co-op. He supported
these community protections but also strongly believes including
the CFAs could enhance existing elements to reduce bycatch and
benefit coastal communities. He urged members to move HCR 25.
10:13:39 AM
ALAN PARKS said he is from Homer and is in his 38th year of
fishing in Alaska and that his teenage children fish with him in
the summer. He said he supports HCR 25. He has been through a
number of privatization programs that are in place - the crab
rationalization program and the halibut/sablefish IFQ
[Individual Fishing Quota] program. He expressed concern about
his son's opportunities to enter these fisheries, since entry
level opportunities are limited primarily due to costs.
However, the type of community-centered fisheries supported in
HCR 25 could provide a road map for shaping future fisheries and
allow people to be part of a healthy economic and social
environment in coastal communities. He urged members to move
HCR 25. He offered his belief that the CFAs are a means to best
benefit Alaska's communities.
10:16:45 AM
CHUCK MCCALLUM, Director, Gulf of Alaska Coastal Communities
Coalition, stated that he regularly participates in the NPFMC's
public process. He encouraged members to pass HCR 25. It takes
a concerted and extraordinary effort for communities, whose
interests are at stake, to effectively engage in the public
process at the [NPFMC] and be heard. He asked members to add
their voice to this effort. This resolution, HCR 25, does no
more than to ask for more information on how giving an
allocation of fishing quota might be a better way to protect
communities by promoting a good jobs-based fishing economy for
everyone in the Kodiak Island Borough and the broader region of
the Gulf of Alaska fisheries.
MR. MCCALLUM said the state has included in the current [NPFMC]
motion what it believes may adequately address the issues of
community protections; however, he believed that those static
approaches are very likely to fail in significant and
unpredictable ways while the inherently dynamic and adaptive
involvement of a community fishing association (CFA) is much
more likely to effectively promote and maintain the healthy mix
of fishing related jobs that the community needs. He
acknowledged that fishermen often don't see any upside for them
in this and imagine innumerable ways that the CFAs might be a
problem, but without getting a clear motion on the table and
analyzing it, it won't be possible to put those fears to rest.
Please pass this resolution, he said.
10:18:50 AM
JOHN WHIDDON stated he serves on the Kodiak City Council, but is
representing himself today. The fishery work group, which he
co-chairs, and a joint work session he participated in between
the Kodiak Island Borough and the city council last week
discussed the CFA issue. He said he manages a processing plant
in Kodiak and is engaged in the trawl fishing industry, although
he also participates with a mix of vessels including pot boats,
longliners, and seiners. He suggested that the committee
consider a balanced point of view, noting the lack of 100
percent consensus for CFAs in Kodiak. He surmised that of the
34 vessels currently fishing, most would say they aren't in
favor of CFAs since they are concerned about outcomes.
Certainly some coalition members are 100 percent in favor of
CFAs; however, it's important to strike a balance, he said. He
agreed that CFAs could be part of the solution set to ensure
that the Kodiak economy is strong, but all three sectors - the
trawl sector, the fish and harvesting sector, and the processing
sector - must each be healthy to have a healthy community. He
said the sectors have a symbiotic relationship. He maintained
that the CFAs are only one approach to consider, but it may
ultimately need to be a combination of solutions. For example,
one thing to consider in terms of ownership issues is that
corporate ownership of vessels in some ways circumvents and
negates any impact of the [NPFMC] motions. He maintained that
in Kodiak, diversity resides around the [CFA] issue. If this
approach would positively impact the trawl industry, he will
support it; however, if it will result in a net loss to the
trawl industry, another approach might need to be considered.
10:22:16 AM
DAVE KUBIAK stated he has been in Kodiak since the 1960s, and is
currently a salmon permit holder, has some halibut IFQs, and has
jigged for codfish. He urged members to pass HCR 25 to include
CFAs as part of the rationalization plan for the Gulf of Alaska
trawl fleet. He described a number of problems the fisheries
face such as absentee ownership, fewer locally-based vessels,
high lease fees, rapid vessel consolidation, consolidation of
quota ownership, lower crew pay, and fewer crew jobs that have
resulted from rationalization in the world.
MR. KUBIAK said the CFAs could represent a means of countering
many of the consequences through local control over a portion of
rationalized fishing rights, which could be done by CFAs joining
a cooperative. Proponents of CFAs view the associations as a
method to ensure local fishermen, skippers, and crews can
continue to participate and communities will stay healthy.
Further, CFAs will effectively anchor quota to communities in
perpetuity, which will support new generations of fishermen, he
said. The initial allocation amplifies the community benefit,
he said. He pointed out that the value of quota arises as soon
as a fishery is rationalized. Any deleterious effects of
allocation against the current participants will be ameliorated
by this since he assumed it would be accomplished through a
private non-profit approach, who would likely take out
administrative fees. He urged members to vote to move this
forward so CFAs can be further examined by the NPFMC.
10:25:18 AM
EMIL CHRISTIANSEN, Secretary, Old Harbor Native Corporation,
stated his support for HCR 25. He said he has been fishing for
55 years - he started fishing when he was six with his dad. He
said he has seen changes and "seen people do things that have so
much affect against the villages, that we need to stop this and
we need to look at the future of our children and the State of
Alaska." He asked for support for HCR 25, for the future of the
coastal fishing communities.
10:26:24 AM
FREDDIE CHRISTIANSEN, Secretary, Old Harbor Native Corporation,
said he was born in Kodiak, raised in Old Harbor, and has fished
for 48 years. He disagreed with the comment with respect to the
community of Kodiak having a diverse view. The six villages on
Kodiak Island have lost access to the resource adjacent to the
communities. He objected to all the fish being processed in
Kodiak since it comes from the villages. He found this
unacceptable. He could recount his experiences with the IFQ
program that was implemented in the Bering Sea but not in the
Gulf of Alaska. In all of his time spent with fishing
organizations, he has not experienced or observed the state
taking the responsibility to care for the communities. The
villagers have their "backs against the wall" and are very
disappointed with the current process.
CHAIR SEATON related his understanding that Mr. Christensen
supports passage of HCR 25.
MR. CHRISTIANSEN agreed.
10:28:30 AM
THERESA PETERSON, Kodiak Outreach Coordinator, Alaska Marine
Conservation Council (AMCC), stated support for HCR 25. She
said what the current options lack is an opportunity to anchor
quota to the communities. The state has done a great job to
date with bringing the motion forward and considering a new
program design. She said the HCR is on the right track.
CHAIR SEATON closed public testimony on HCR 25.
10:29:38 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FEIGE moved to report HCR 25 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
note. There being no objection, HCR 25 was reported from the
House Special Committee on Fisheries.
10:30:01 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Fisheries meeting was adjourned at 10:30
a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HCR025A.pdf |
HFSH 3/25/2014 10:00:00 AM |
HCR 25 |
| HCR 25 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HFSH 3/25/2014 10:00:00 AM |
HCR 25 |
| Community Fishing Association Information.pdf |
HFSH 3/25/2014 10:00:00 AM |
HCR 25 |
| Alaska Journal of Commerce Article - Stakeholders ponder protections under Gulf rationalization.pdf |
HFSH 3/25/2014 10:00:00 AM |
HCR 25 |
| SWAMC Resolution 14-02 Support Analysis of CFA.pdf |
HFSH 3/25/2014 10:00:00 AM |
HCR 25 |
| 2014 House Bush Caucus to Governor RE CFAs.pdf |
HFSH 3/25/2014 10:00:00 AM |
HCR 25 |
| Magnuson-Stevens Act language regarding Community Fishing Associations.pdf |
HFSH 3/25/2014 10:00:00 AM |
HCR 25 |
| GOA trawl Motion NPFMC October, 2013.pdf |
HFSH 3/25/2014 10:00:00 AM |
HCR 25 |