Legislature(2015 - 2016)CAPITOL 120
04/14/2015 05:00 PM House FISHERIES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmations: Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES
April 14, 2015
5:59 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Louise Stutes, Chair
Representative Neal Foster
Representative Bob Herron
Representative Craig Johnson
Representative Dan Ortiz
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Charisse Millett
Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)
Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission
Benjamin Brown - Juneau
Verne Rupright - Wasilla
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
BENJAMIN BROWN
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As appointee to the position of the
Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission, discussed his
qualifications and answered questions.
VERN RUPRIGHT
Wasilla, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As appointed to the position of the
Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission, discussed his
qualifications and answered questions.
MARTIN LUNDE, Representative
Southeast Alaska Seiners Association
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of Appointees Brown
and Rupright.
ACTION NARRATIVE
5:59:38 PM
CHAIR LOUISE STUTES called the House Special Committee on
Fisheries meeting to order at 5:59 p.m. Representatives Herron,
Johnson, Ortiz, and Stutes were present at the call to order.
Representatives Foster arrived as the meeting was in progress.
5:59:58 PM
^CONFIRMATIONS: Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission
CONFIRMATIONS: Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission
CHAIR STUTES brought before the committee the appointments of
Benjamin Brown and Verne Rupright to the Commercial Fisheries
Entry Commission. [Packets contain biographical information on
both appointees.]
CHAIR STUTES advised that both appointees will offer their
testimonies and public testimony will then be opened.
6:00:40 PM
BENJAMIN BROWN related a brief biography, as a life-long
Alaskan, and included his law studies in Boston, service in each
branch of state government, private practice of law, current
position as a Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission
commissioner, and has lived in Juneau since 2001. He noted that
things appear to be in transition across state government and he
expects it to be an interesting 4-year term. He offered that
whatever challenges are presented, he will meet them fairly and
honestly to the best of his ability.
6:02:45 PM
VERN RUPRIGHT offered a brief biography, including military
service, work on the pipeline, obtained a law degree, private
practice of law, work in state government, and recalled his 6-
year term as mayor of Wasilla prior to his appointment by
Governor Walker.
6:05:10 PM
CHAIR STUTES asked whether he would relocate to Juneau, if
confirmed.
MR. RUPRIGHT responded that he would relocate to Juneau and
would treat it as a "slope job," as his is a two-year
appointment.
CHAIR STUTES opened public testimony.
6:06:13 PM
MARTIN LUNDE, Representative, testified in support of both
appointees, praising the knowledge, skills, and expertise both
Commissioner Brown and Commissioner Appointee Rupright are
expected to bring to the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission's
(CFEC) work in preserving Alaska's fishery resource by serving
the fishermen who earn their living harvesting Alaska's
fisheries. He said that Commissioner Brown not only has a
background in law, but time on the ground in maritime and
fisheries law. Thereby, he pointed out, Commissioner Brown's
experience enables him to address the decisions and intricate
workings of the state's special limited entry system and other
branches of government. He advised the Southeast Alaska Seiners
Association supports the appointment of Mr. Rupright, in that he
wasted no time in tackling issues concerning the CFEC, and with
his years of leadership experience and managing personnel is the
person to help lead the people within the agency. In addition
to his organizational management and project planning, his years
of practicing law provides the backdrop for competent and
deliberate decisions.
CHAIR STUTES closed public testimony after ascertaining no one
further wished to testify.
6:09:31 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ORTIZ noted that Mr. Brown served at the pleasure
of Governor Parnell, and asked what had been the most
challenging part of the job.
MR. BROWN responded that the extension of the sunset of the
Weathervane scallop program in that it is a specific portion of
law, and he was not successful. Also, generally speaking, every
case before the commission is fact intensive and specific with
many older cases, he advised.
REPRESENTATIVE ORTIZ asked how many different fisheries are
served by CFEC.
MR. BROWN answered that the CFEC limited entry to 68 fisheries,
and 67 are still limited because the sunset came into effect for
the Weathervane scallop vessel based limited entry system.
REPRESENTATIVE ORTIZ questioned whether he perceives any
fisheries more difficult than others for permitting purposes.
MR. BROWN replied that CFEC recently received proposals from
fishermen, in particular a Southeast fishery, asking to use a
different gear-type. He opined there may be a provision in the
law allowing CFEC to do that, but he is not sure. For an
example in how things are changing, he explained, an action
recently taken by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council
allows the use of pots to harvest sable fish in the Gulf due to
a greater efficiency in preventing bycatch and preventing whales
from stealing sable fish off of the long lines.
6:12:34 PM
CHAIR STUTES asked Mr. Rupright about his experience in the area
of fisheries.
MR. RUPRIGHT related his only experience was in 1985 while
trying to develop up, and revive, the clamming operation in
Kachemak Bay.
CHAIR STUTES pointed out that this is a new learning curve for
him.
MR. RUPRIGHT answered that he was familiar while growing up, and
has been around fisheries in Alaska for 40 years.
6:13:29 PM
CHAIR STUTES announced that the House Special Committee on
Fisheries reviewed the resumes and recommend the names be
forwarded to a joint session for consideration. Hearing no
objection, she advised this does not reflect the intent by any
members to vote for or against these individuals during this
session or further sessions for the purposes of confirmation.
[Hearing no objection, the names of Benjamin Brown and Verne
Rupright were advanced.]
6:14:15 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Fisheries meeting was adjourned at 6:14
p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Don Stiles Resume - Fisherman's Fund.pdf |
HFSH 4/14/2015 5:00:00 PM |
Stiles |
| Benjamin Brown Resume - CFEC.pdf |
HFSH 4/14/2015 5:00:00 PM |
Brown CFEC |
| UFA Support for Ben Brown for CFEC 3 6 2015.pdf |
HFSH 4/14/2015 5:00:00 PM |
Brown CFEC |
| Verne Rupright Resume - CFEC.pdf |
HFSH 4/14/2015 5:00:00 PM |
Rupright CFEC |
| Brown Rupright Support SEAS.PDF |
HFSH 4/14/2015 5:00:00 PM |
CFEC |