Legislature(2003 - 2004)
04/07/2003 01:15 PM House RES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE
April 7, 2003
1:15 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Hugh Fate, Chair
Representative Beverly Masek, Vice Chair
Representative Carl Gatto
Representative Bob Lynn
Representative Carl Morgan
Representative Kelly Wolf
Representative David Guttenberg
Representative Beth Kerttula
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Cheryll Heinze
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARING
Commissioner, Alaska Department of Fish & Game
Kevin Duffy - Juneau
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
PREVIOUS ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
KEVIN DUFFY, Commissioner
Alaska Department of Fish & Game
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointed commissioner of the
Alaska Department of Fish & Game.
DON JOHNSON
Soldotna, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on the appointment of Kevin Duffy
as the commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish & Game; he
asked if Commissioner Duffy's intention was to hire a deputy
commissioner for the commercial fisheries as had been indicated
to the sport fishing industry.
PAUL SHADURA, President and Executive Director
Kenai Peninsula Fishermen's Association
Kenai, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the appointment of
Kevin Duffy as the commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish
& Game
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 03-25, SIDE A
Number 0001
Representatives Fate, Gatto, Lynn, Wolf, and Kerttula were
present at the call to order. Representatives Masek, Morgan,
and Guttenberg arrived as the meeting was in progress.
Representative Heinze was excused.
CHAIR HUGH FATE called the House Resources Standing Committee
meeting to order at 1:15 p.m.
CONFIRMATION HEARING
Commissioner, Alaska Department of Fish & Game
CHAIR FATE announced that the committee would consider the
confirmation of the appointment of Kevin Duffy as commissioner
of the Alaska Department of Fish & Game.
Number 0108
KEVIN DUFFY, Commissioner, Alaska Department of Fish & Game
(ADF&G), explained that he had met several members of the
committee both in his previous roles and in his current role,
and that he'd recently engaged in some very "spirited" chats
with committee members. He pledged to work with those members
on issues in ADF&G such as improving the department's science or
collaborative efforts to ensure that ADF&G has a scientifically
based, sound system in which the department works in a
collaborative fashion with the Board of Game and the Board of
Fisheries to provide the best information for those bodies to
make allocation decisions. Commissioner Duffy said he thought
it is the role of ADF&G to implement those decisions based on
the regulatory structure that is generated based on those
decisions by the boards. He said there is no doubt that being
the commissioner of ADF&G is a challenging task that covers a
whole range of issues, but he does look forward to the
responsibility and the challenges associated with being the
commissioner.
COMMISSIONER DUFFY told members that he'd been with [ADF&G] for
over 21 years beginning in 1981, and he'd worked his way up
through the commercial fish "side of the equation." He said
he'd been introduced to international fisheries issues and North
Pacific [Fishery Management] Council (NPFMC) issues in which
[ADF&G] managed groundfish fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska and
the Bering Sea, and he'd done that for almost the last three
years. He noted that there is often controversy over fish and
game management issues but it comes with the territory of being
commissioner. Commissioner Duffy said this is because Alaska
residents feel very strongly about these issues and feel very
connected to the resources and the way resources are managed.
He said it is fair for members of the public to express those
opinions about how resources are managed and used.
Number 0370
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said he is committed as commissioner to good
science and good public policy based on that science and the
management of Alaska's fish and game resources through a system
that does recognize the diversity in Alaska.
Number 0417
CHAIR FATE asked Commissioner Duffy to address issues that he
thought may be problematic in the future.
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said he would start by addressing issues on
fisheries and then move to game issues. He brought attention to
the salmon issue by saying that the state is struggling with low
ex-vessel prices and increased competition from farmed salmon.
He said the ex-vessel price for salmon and the low ex-vessel
price is ubiquitous across all regions of the state. He said he
thought potential solutions to help bolster the commercial
salmon industry should be addressed on a regional basis. For
example, he said a co-op structure had been set up in Chignik
for management or for management allocations and it seems to
work fairly well in that region, but he did not conclude that
that co-op system works in other regions of the state. He said
the closure of Ward's Cove facilities and processing plants had
a big impact on Southeast Alaska's salmon fisheries.
Commissioner Duffy said he believed [ADF&G] had been able to
identify sufficient processing capacity to help [the region's]
commercial fishermen. He suggested that people need to focus on
a long-term vision for the salmon industry in Alaska.
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said Alan Austerman [Fisheries Policy
Advisor, Office of the Governor] had indicated that is a major
focus of his over the next few years. He said he'd pledged his
support for that effort from his position and that of the agency
for fisheries issues. Commissioner Duffy said he planned to
hire two deputy commissioners but it is dependant on [ADF&G's]
budget. He noted that one of those deputy commissioners would
focus on fisheries issues and would be tasked with working with
the governor's office to focus on developing a long-term vision
for the salmon industry.
Number 0708
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said he thought there is a different solution
for Southeast and one of the things that should be considered is
a buy-back program to reduce the number of participants in the
[salmon] fleet in Southeast Alaska. He said he thought that was
a concept that would be looked at seriously in Bristol Bay. He
explained that the Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation
(BBEDC) had just come out with a study that focused on the
future of the salmon industry, although had not talked with
Robin Samuelsen from that group he suspected that the concept of
a permit reduction program or buy-back program may be part of
the solution in Bristol Bay.
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said he thought maintaining and increasing
market share wherever possible should be done collectively by
harvesters and processors in the salmon industry, the Board of
Fisheries, and ADF&G. He said he thought Alaska's salmon
production should be focused in domestic markets and the
European market because there seems to be some opportunity
there. Commissioner Duffy suggested that the processing
industry is going through some restructuring and is probably
going to consolidate some under the current price structures it
is facing. He said there is a whole range of issues in the
commercial salmon fisheries, and as commissioner he would like
to really focus on being a part of developing a long-term
strategy.
COMMISSIONER DUFFY noted that the state currently has $35
million in disaster aid funding provided by the federal
government for [regions] across the state that have experienced
problems in the salmon industry. He said the administration is
looking at things it might be able to do to help out the
industry. For example, he said fresh salmon fillets in boxes
ready for air shipment are sometimes "bumped" because of other
cargo priorities. The result is that the shipment sits on the
runway in 60-degree weather, which is not good for the salmon's
quality or Alaska's marketing efforts. He said the
administration is considering building cold storage facilities
in airports, but so far has not made a commitment. He suggested
that the department needs to work with the legislature to find
solutions for some of these problems.
Number 0911
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said a very important part of the
commissioner's job is to ensure that ADF&G and the divisions
that deal with various fisheries allocations provide the best
scientific information possible to the Board of Fisheries. He
said some concerns had been pointed out to him with regard to
different regions of the state and the type or way or quality of
work that [the department] provides. He pledged to do all
things possible to ensure that there is internal coordination
between the Division of Sport Fish and the Division of
Commercial Fisheries and that there is internal peer-reviewed
information. He ensured the committee that he would work
specifically with the directors of the Division of Sport Fish
and the Division of Commercial Fisheries to be sure the
department is providing the Board of Fisheries process with the
best quality of scientifically defensible biological information
as possible. He said it is in [ADF&G's] role to provide that
information and it is the Board of Fisheries role to make
allocation decisions.
Number 1010
COMMISSIONER DUFFY noted that allocation decisions among user
groups are controversial. He said it is also [ADF&G's] role to
manage those resources under a regulatory structure consistent
with allocation decisions from the [Board of Fisheries]. He
noted that he would be working to ensure that sound information
is provided.
Number 1062
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF expressed concern about issues during the
previous administration regarding mutual trust between the
department, the public, and staff members. He said he had
concerns about maintaining the highest standard of scientific
[information] and professionalism within the department. He
suggested that these concerns had arisen many times.
Representative Wolf offered his belief that some individuals
still working with ADF&G had convoluted the integrity of the
department, manipulated data numbers, had not provided accurate
information to the Board of Fisheries, or had worked with
private organizations to direct allocation issues to manipulate
the [Board of Fisheries]. He asked Commissioner Duffy what he
would do to remove those individuals and ensure that those
activities cease.
Number 1206
REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA objected to Representative Wolf's line
of questioning. She said unless Representative Wolf could
provide [some corroborating] evidence [to support his
allegations] she didn't think [it was appropriate] to impugn
people's character and ask for [those individuals] to be fired
[from the department]. She suggested that the commissioner
should have a chance to review all of the [relevant]
information.
Number 1242
CHAIR FATE agreed with Representative Kerttula and asked
Representative Wolf to rephrase his question.
Number 1296
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO offered Commissioner Duffy his impression
of what it would be like to be the commissioner of ADF&G. He
noted that a large portion of the public is involved in fish and
game issues, and he suggested that it is really important for
Commissioner Duffy to recognize that "reality is not nearly so
important as the impression of reality." Representative Gatto
said while a lot of people might think that ADF&G is doing a
wonderful job, he thought that many people have some serious
concerns about fish and game. He remarked, "Certainly, now that
we're in the flux they have even more concerns. Representative
Gatto suggested that Commissioner Duffy had a big problem to
deal with in how to make people feel better about fish and game.
He said some of the problems have to do with using Executive
Orders to accomplish things and some of the problems have to do
with Commissioner Duffy's qualifications. Representative Gatto
asked Commissioner Duffy if it is true that he didn't have a
background in biology.
COMMISSIONER DUFFY answered in the affirmative.
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO said Commissioner Duffy's background is
instead in administration and that the [public's perception] may
be [affected negatively] by that information. He noted that he
wasn't criticizing Commissioner Duffy and that he thought the
commissioner had probably done a marvelous job in his career
choices or he would not have been [nominated for the position of
commissioner]. He said those impressions of the public are
present and are something that Commissioner Duffy would be
[contending] with in addition to his regular workload.
Representative Gatto suggested that the committee meetings and
Commissioner Duffy, in particular, is being watched by a large
number of people. He told Commissioner Duffy that he is in
"that ruling position" where people look at him and start out
with some criticism.
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO said it is his hope that Commissioner Duffy
would be able to overcome some of that criticism because [he
didn't think it really mattered] that Commissioner Duffy's
[background is in administration] because he would be doing a
lot of [administrative work]. He said it would be expected that
Commissioner Duffy have some "red-hot" biologists that he would
give some reign to. He drew a comparison to the war in Iraq,
and he suggested that President [George] Bush is not running
that war [himself] and it is going very well. Representative
Gatto said in a similar way the [commissioner] of ADF&G should
be relying on [the department's] biologists to "essentially run
the operations the best they can." He indicated that it is
expected that the department's biologists would be answering to
Commissioner Duffy and [the information that the biologists
provide] would be right.
Number 1539
COMMISSIONER DUFFY, in response, said as commissioner it is
better for him to approach problems, call them opportunities,
and focus on a solution to solve what some people consider to be
problems. He said he likes to look at [problems] as challenges
and focus on them one at a time to try and find a resolution.
He expressed hope that this method would collectively make a
difference in improving the situation. He said it is true that
he doesn't have a degree in biology, but he does have a B.A.
[Bachelor of Arts degree] in political science and a Master's
Degree in public administration with a focus on natural resource
management. He said he has 21 years of experience in ADF&G in a
number of roles and he has a pretty good understanding of how
ADF&G works.
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said the way ADF&G works under his authority
and under previous commissioners is that management decision
making authority on fisheries and wildlife is delegated down to
the area level, which are the biologists and managers that have
the most expertise on opening and closing [hunting and fishing]
seasons. He said he reinforces the structure in which decisions
are made at the area level. He said his role of commissioner is
not going to put him in a position in which he is going to be
managing fisheries. However, he said he will be tracking
decisions that are made and coordinating through the division
directors to what is happening in different regions of the state
during a fishing season. He said he didn't see it as his role
to engage in management decision-making at the area level
because he doesn't have the expertise and he doesn't know all of
the details at any particular point in time.
Number 1668
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said it is his job to reinforce the
department's people out in the field and to give them political
support; to ensure those people that the people leading the
agency are very supportive of those efforts; and reinforce that
they are the people that make the decisions. He said he didn't
see it as his role to make a bunch of management decisions on
how fisheries or wildlife resources are managed. Commissioner
Duffy conveyed his belief that his role is to work with the
division directors and the scientific experts in each division
to ensure that management is effective at the area level. He
said the job of the [commissioner] is very challenging and he
welcomed the discourse of residents of the state that are very
interested in fish and game issues. Commissioner Duffy noted
that he is accountable to the legislature, and he said he would
have an open door policy and the only person that could preempt
his attendance at a meeting with the legislature is the
governor. He clarified that he is a part of the administration
and that [the administration] wanted to work with him as
commissioner on all fish and game management issues.
COMMISSIONER DUFFY, in response to Representative Gatto's
comment about the problems with ADF&G, said he would like to
know what all of those complex issues are.
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO talked about the commissioner's role in
selecting the deputy commissioners, and he said even though the
commissioner may not get involved in commercial fish or sport
fish [issues] the deputy [commissioner] that is selected is
going to send a very powerful message. He talked about the
balance in selecting the deputy [commissioners], and he said the
person [the commissioner] selects is "absolute dynamite" as far
as the community is concerned. Representative Gatto emphasized
that people are really watching [the commissioner], and he told
Commissioner Duffy that he is essentially in the middle of the
"fish bowl," which has to do not with his decisions on how to
manage [fisheries] but on whom he picks. He said Commissioner
Duffy's success will be determined, to a great degree, on those
selections.
Number 1860
REPRESENTATIVE MASEK said she represents an area that mainly
consists of sport fishing, and due to the activities on the
Kenai Peninsula it seems like the Susitna River and the Little
Susitna River are going to have a pretty big impact on the
area's sport fishing industry. She said the [increase] in the
number of sport fishing licenses that are purchased indicated
that the [amount of sport fishing activity] is going up.
Representative Masek noted that she does a lot of traveling
around the Parks Highway where there is a lot of sport fishing
taking place, and she said there is practically "combat fishing"
in those areas. She turned attention to Commissioner Duffy's
resume, and she said she noticed that he didn't appear to have
much involvement in sport fisheries. She noted that
Commissioner Duffy's resume did reflect a lot of activity in the
North Pacific [Anadromous] Fish Commission (NPFMC) and fisheries
in the Bering Sea and the Aleutian Islands. She asked
Commissioner Duffy for his opinion on the sport fishing industry
and on legislation that had been created to address emergency
closures. She noted that the state had experienced an increase
in population and an increase in the sport fishing industry, and
that both residents and nonresidents take part in the [sport]
fisheries.
Number 1983
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said he thought the economic importance and
the increased economic importance from the recreational fishing
industry in Alaska is a known factor and one that he follows.
He explained that he does often work with the Division of Sport
Fish, and he tracks recreational interests across the state. He
said he has had direct experience representing recreational
fishermen [for the State of Alaska on negotiation and
implementation] of the Pacific Salmon Treaty. Commissioner
Duffy explained that [Alaska] has a coast wide chinook salmon
agreement and Southeast Alaska is part of a "complex set" of
chinook [salmon] stocks that migrate up from as far south as
Oregon and Washington State into Southeast waters. He said
[fishermen] capture a great deal of those fish in the Columbia
River and on the Oregon Coast. Commissioner Duffy explained
that the chinook salmon fishery in Southeast Alaska is currently
based on Board of Fisheries regulations that divide [abundance]
between the commercial and recreational fisheries [80 percent to
the commercial fisheries and 20 percent to the recreational
fisheries].
REPRESENTATIVE MASEK asked Commissioner Duffy if he could speak
specifically to the drainage areas around the Susitna River and
the Little Susitna River. She asked Commissioner Duffy if those
areas were impacted by [the Board of Fisheries regulations] that
he was explaining.
Number 2060
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said the areas Representative Masek inquired
about were not impacted by the [regulations] that he was
explaining. He said he was trying to provide the committee with
examples in which he had represented the recreational fisheries
in terms of negotiating international fishery agreements with
Canada and the United States (U.S.). He offered his belief that
he had, in some public forms, represented a recreational fishing
interest. Commissioner Duffy said the recreational fishery is
directly involved in council halibut issue and as a state
representative on the council he didn't represent just
commercial fishing interests; he represented the interests of
recreational and commercial fishermen as well as subsistence
users for the resource. Commissioner Duffy said he recognized
the growing importance of those recreational fisheries issues to
Alaska. He noted that he is not an expert on those issues, and
he said he relies on his division directors in both the
commercial fisheries division and the sport fish division to
keep him informed on those issues. Commissioner Duffy said as
commissioner he would track those issues and try to be as
knowledgeable as possible about all sides of any particular
fisheries.
REPRESENTATIVE MASEK said she thought there were going to be a
lot of conflicts coming up. She noted she had been in that area
since 1986, and she said in talking with her constituents in
that area she's realized there is a shortage of access and that
combat fishing [is occurring]. She said she didn't know if the
Division of Sport Fish had any plans to do anything to help with
the issue the area is facing, and she didn't like to see combat
fishing. Representative Masek emphasized the fact that sport
fishing is a big deal because the area receives a lot of funding
through sport fishing related activities such as the purchase of
fuel and the utilization of the area's infrastructure. She
asked Commissioner Duffy to speak to legislation that had been
created to address emergency closures.
Number 2192
COMMISSIONER DUFFY explained that the Division of Sport Fish had
recently developed a strategic plan to address future priorities
and through its funding sources it provides a lot of
recreational access through boat launches, ramps, and such to
provide additional recreation opportunities.
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said there is so much demand by recreational
fishermen for access to the resource that it creates the
crowding conditions that Representative Masek had expressed
concerns about. He said he didn't have any current plans on how
he might deal with that issue as commissioner, but it is
something that he would consult with his division director about
to try to address some of those issues. Commissioner Duffy
noted that he is familiar with some of the issues relating to
the Kenai Peninsula and the Kenai River. He said the bill
relating to emergency closures addresses the role of the
commissioner following an allocation decision by the Board of
Fisheries. He said in the event that the Board of Fisheries
makes an allocation decision and certain things happen during
the season relative to the abundance of those returning salmon
stocks that might provide additional commercial fishing
opportunities without upsetting the allocation plan to other
affected users, [the bill specifies] the commissioner's role
under those circumstances.
Number 2311
COMMISSIONER DUFFY indicated that in some "circles" it seemed as
though his authority is being diminished some. Commissioner
Duffy said he felt it was his job to manage the agency and to
provide the best information to the board, and once the board
makes an allocation decision, he felt it is the department's
role, under his direction, to support those decisions. He said
he thought there is a balance in place, and he wanted to be
careful that he is not put in a role, under statute, in which he
would be spending a lot of his time second-guessing every
decision that the Board of Fisheries makes depending on what
happens during the season.
REPRESENTATIVE MASEK said she had done research on some court
cases that deal with subsistence and "the clause that we are
fighting now; that the resource has been put out for each
Alaskan; [and] that we should enjoy the ... [resources of] the
state." She asked Commissioner Duffy if he thought the state
was right in implementing the limited fisheries entry permit at
the time, and also whether he felt that the state should propose
to buy-back the limited entry permits and do away with the
limited entry fisheries.
Number 2399
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said the question is [difficult] and he
thought the limited entry system was extremely effective for a
number of years in what it was originally intended to do. He
said he thought that because of the way it was structured it was
time to look at some different approaches to how it is set up.
Commissioner Duffy, in response to the question of whether he
would support the idea of the state in buying back limited entry
permits, explained that he would first support working with
[Alaska's] delegation in Washington D.C. to provide some federal
funds to support some sort of a permit reduction in different
regions of the state. He said he thought the limited entry
system until now has been a unqualified success in most
circumstances. However, he said he thought there is a changing
dynamic in the world of commercial salmon fisheries and looking
at buy-back programs that aren't frustrated by the current
statutes for the limited entry system might be a good thing to
pursue. Commissioner Duffy indicated that initially he would be
fiscally conservative because of the fiscal constraints of the
general fund. He mentioned the efforts made by the
administration to be fiscally conservative, such as in
streamlining permitting.
REPRESENTATIVE MASEK talked about Canada's trouble with its
fisheries, and she suggested that Canada's economy was largely
dependant on its fisheries at the time of the salmon market
crash, and that most of the workforce's income was based mainly
on the industry's fisheries. She said the [salmon market] crash
prompted the Canadian government to assemble a workforce that
taught fishermen a different occupation to [lessen] their
dependency on the fisheries [market]. Representative Masek said
she thought Alaska is heading in the same direction [as Canada]
because of problems the state is having with marketing fish, and
she suggested that the state's fisheries are not a viable
industry anymore. She said disaster relief funding is provided
each year to people that make their living from the fishing
industry. She asked how much longer [the State] could afford to
subsidize its fisheries and whether the Department of Labor
could help to change the State's workforce and educate
[fishermen] in other [trades], so there isn't the problem of
them not being able to support their families and communities.
Number 2563
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said he is fairly familiar with policy
changes in Canada because he had been the Alaska representative
on the [Pacific Salmon Treaty]. He explained that it's true
that the provincial and federal government in Canada made a
policy change years ago to make the commercial fishing industry
in British Columbia less of a priority than it had been
historically. As a result, he said Canada implemented a
province-wide fleet reduction program - a buy-back program for
its commercial fisheries in the different gear groups.
Commercial fishing fleets in Canada were reduced by over 50
percent in the past seven years. The fleet reduction program
that the Canadian government initiated happened concurrently
with some declining salmon stocks in Canada.
Number 2607
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said he didn't think it was fair to say there
was a disaster situation on the abundance of salmon in Canada,
although there were some specific declines in sockeye and
chinook stocks in different areas of British Columbia. He
explained that [the Canadian government] made a conscientious
policy call to reduce the commercial fishing fleet to provide
salmon returns to aboriginal fisheries in Canada and to focus
more on the recreational fishery. Concurrent with that policy
change, he said Canada has also been emphasizing finfish farming
for salmon, which is closed cage finfish farming. He said
[Alaska] had experienced the impacts of [Canada's finfish
farming] and those impacts are potentially biological.
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said each year [Alaskan fishermen] capture
more of those escapes from Atlantic salmon farms in British
Columbia and Southeast Alaska and in other areas of the state.
He noted there are concerns about that. Commissioner Duffy said
Representative Masek was shedding doubt on the likely future of
the commercial salmon industry in Alaska and he appreciated that
perspective and knew she was very familiar with it. He said
there have been disaster declarations up in AYK [Arctic Yukon-
Kuskokwim], and Bristol Bay has had a few problems. He said in
some circumstances such as in AYK, historically, it has been an
abundance problem and has created financial problems for all
residents in that region who try to make a living off commercial
fishing on those stocks. He said the other side of the problem
is the marketing problem - the international competition issue
from farmed fish - farm production from Canada, Chile, and
Norway is strong competition.
COMMISSIONER DUFFY indicated the administration wanted to focus
on everything it could in an effort to have Alaska's commercial
salmon fishery be viable. He said there are different
strategies for different regions of the state, and he agreed
that in certain regions of the state [some commercial fisheries]
may not be an effective commercial engine at some point. He
expressed optimism regarding Alaska's [commercial salmon]
fisheries, and he said he would like to do as much as he could
to [help Alaska's commercial salmon fisheries]. He said as
commissioner he would spend time trying to work on that long-
range vision for the commercial salmon fisheries in Alaska.
Number 2744
REPRESENTATIVE GUTTENBERG said he appreciated all of
Commissioner Duffy's efforts and accomplishments. He turned
attention to the problem faced by fish hatcheries, and he asked
Commissioner Duffy how much of that problem [is being
addressed]. Representative Guttenberg said the hatchery located
at Clear [Air Force Station] had closed and one of the
hatcheries located at either Elmendorf Air Force Base or Fort
Richardson Army Post is closing. He remarked, "The military has
said they're losing the hot water off the power plants because
they're outsourcing that; one of them on the short term, the
other one on the long term." He said those hatchery facilities
are 20 years old and the science had changed [since those
facilities had been built].
REPRESENTATIVE GUTTENBERG said there is a move in Fairbanks to
build a new hatchery using the power plant and federal money
[had been provided] to do a study about it. He said
Representative Masek made a good point that fisheries get more
restriction and that creates more pressure such as the combat
fishing occurring in Kenai. He indicated Alaska's growing
population results in people wanting to fish locally and not
have to travel far. He said one of a fish hatchery's
[responsibilities] is to stock lake trout, which gives people
the ability to go to local lakes [for fishing] and [eliminates
the need] for people to travel across the state or take a
commercial fish charter.
Number 2836
REPRESENTATIVE GUTTENBERG suggested it was critical to keep some
of the pressure off some of those other fisheries and provide
alternative places for people to fish. He asked if the
situation [regarding fish hatcheries had been brought to the
commissioner's attention] and whether he is aware of the [fish
hatchery] study occurring in Fairbanks. Representative
Guttenberg suggested there is a crisis, and he said his
understanding is that some fish and game personnel don't seem to
recognize [the crisis] and others do. He asked Commissioner
Duffy if he is familiar with the dialog pertaining to this
situation.
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said he is somewhat familiar with the issue,
but probably not to the same degree [as Representative
Guttenberg]. He said one of his duties was to develop [the
department's] federal budget request to support fish and
wildlife management in the state. Commissioner Duffy explained
that in last year's federal appropriations request [the
department] asked for some funding for a feasibility study to
look at the concept of a hatchery in Fairbanks and he is
supportive of that effort. He explained that the fish stocking
program is incredibly successful and does provide opportunities
in new locations that sometimes relieves pressure elsewhere. He
said he agreed with the concept and he is supportive of the
sport fish-stocking program statewide. Commissioner Duffy noted
that the program is very large in the Interior and in the
Matanuska Valley.
COMMISSIONER DUFFY explained that he would support federal
funding to enhance that effort if it is based on feasibility
work that's going to be done in Fairbanks. He said if the
conclusion is it is appropriate to build a facility which will
help provide additional opportunity up in that area, he would be
very supportive of that as commissioner.
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF apologized if he offended anybody with his
previous question. He said the perception in the Cook Inlet
region is that there are several people that still remain in the
department that are not necessarily friendly to the use of fish
and game for the maximum benefit for the residents of Alaska.
Representative Wolf asked Commissioner Duffy how he intended to
reorganize the department to ensure that there is
professionalism and to build trust within the department and in
the public process.
TAPE 03-25, SIDE B
Number 2970
COMMISSIONER DUFFY spoke about the department's mission
statement and he said he supported those guiding principles that
focus on professionalism and those activities. Commissioner
Duffy acknowledged concerns [that had been brought forth
regarding certain people in the department or the way data had
been presented to the Board of Fisheries in the past]. He said
he would need to look at the details and know the facts
surrounding the issue before he would be willing to take any
specific action and he thought it is incumbent as a leader to
know all sides of the issue. Commissioner Duffy said he expects
professionalism from the people that work for and with him. He
said his approach to management of fish and wildlife resources
is a teamwork approach.
COMMISSIONER DUFFY pledged he would do everything he could to
ensure that the department is providing timely, accurate, and
scientifically valid information to the respective boards. He
said if members of the public do not feel that the department is
providing that kind of information to these boards, he wanted
those people to contact him to work through those problems.
Number 2904
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF suggested the five-year ocean fish
escapement goals on the Kenai River early run and King salmon
run had dropped to 849 in the last seven years. He said it
falls below the 1989 escapement run of 1134. He said a
moratorium was placed on the guide numbers on the Kenai River
late last year. He asked Commissioner Duffy how he thought the
department should try to correct the fall of the five-year ocean
fish. He asked whether there was the possibility of a
restriction and if he supported an enhancement program.
COMMISSIONER DUFFY, in response, said he is not very well versed
on the particular issue and he could not immediately provide a
detailed response to the question. He offered to pursue a
detailed response for Representative Wolf following the meeting.
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF said he would provide Commissioner Duffy
with a copy of the report and discuss it further with him.
REPRESENTATIVE MASEK asked Commissioner Duffy's for his opinion
on the make up of the Board of Fisheries and whether he thought
it is balanced to represent the sport fish industry versus the
commercial fishing industry.
The committee took an at-ease from 2:07 p.m. to 2:08 p.m.
Number 2778
REPRESENTATIVE MASEK said in reviewing the resumes of Board of
Fisheries appointees she noticed that there may only be one
[appointee] that could adequately represent the sport fish
industry.
COMMISSIONER DUFFY, in response, said there are two new board
appointments coming up that he thought were very important. He
said from what he had seen of the new board [excluding those new
appointments] he was excited about how each board member was not
only representing his or her parochial interests but also trying
to represent a broad spectrum of Alaskan interests. He said he
had discussed with board members the need to represent a full
spectrum of interests when sitting on a board that allocates the
resources of the state. Commissioner Duffy said he thought the
new board was very representative of the range of interests, and
he hoped and believed that the new appointments coming soon
would continue to support a broad range of interests. He said
he is hopeful that the recreational fisheries will be adequately
represented.
Number 2686
REPRESENTATIVE MASEK suggested that commercial fisheries are
seen as an Alaskan way of life, and the income is focused just
on "comp fish." She said to date the legislature had introduced
over 200 bills that help out the commercial fisheries industry.
REPRESENTATIVE MASEK said she is an Alaska Native who has lived
in the state since she was born, and that she grew up on the
Yukon River. She said her dad's [fishing] permit isn't worth
[much money] and he is having a lot of trouble because of what's
happening with the fishing industry. She remarked, "I am afraid
that with it starting off at that area ... it's going to
continue to spread like a virus." Representative Masek
explained that she would like to see this state focus a lot more
on the sport fishing industry because there are many people that
come here [to fish]. She remarked, "If we can help ... to
balance it out; to ... keep in touch with our comp fish area,
but try to focus more on the sport fish." She said she thought
the legislature supports "comp fish" but really needs to look at
the sport fish industry.
Number 2612
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO talked about the appearance of farmed fish
at the grocery store, and he suggested that it looks great and
consumers may assume that [farmed fish] must be a better fish.
He suggested that farmed fish appear to be uniform, clear, and
undamaged, and he said it's difficult to get a commercial fish
that's [appearance] is equal to that of a farmed fish. He
indicated that farmed fish are easier to obtain, and he noted
that the appearance of the fish is very important.
Representative Gatto suggested that wild fish are very valuable
and are under priced, and farmed fish are more expensive than
wild fish even though wild fish are more valuable. He said he
assumed it is done that way "because we're stuck," and he noted
that the fish farmers are able to keep the costs down.
Representative Gatto asked if there was a way to get the price
of a very valuable commodity up.
COMMISSIONER DUFFY noted that he is not a marketing expert, and
he suggested that a marketing professional could provide more
detail and much more definitive answers. He said Alaska is
attempting to maintain market share in most circumstances, but
there are some opportunities in Europe and the domestic market
to expand the State's efforts with new product forms. He
remarked, "So, that's one way to try and increase the price; ...
to look at new product forms and to try and create new markets,
but there are a lot of barriers to doing those kind of
activities." Commissioner Duffy mentioned new products are
coming out on the market.
Number 2480
COMMISSIONER DUFFY indicated that new products are gaining some
market share. He said there are other salmon product forms that
are being looked at, and he suggested that the focus should be
on new product form and niche markets. Commissioner Duffy
talked about Alaska's success with Copper River salmon and early
season sockeye, which he said is one of the biggest things going
in Seattle. He suggested others are trying to build on those
marketing efforts. Commissioner Duffy remarked, "I think it's
day by day, step by step; there is no silver bullet." He
suggested it's a matter of concentration focus, finding niche
markets, and positively exploiting those [markets] to the
[greatest] extent possible to try to get more money for Alaska's
salmon.
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF said a national survey showed U.S. residents
spent $537 million on fishing trips and equipment in Alaska in
2001. In 2002, he said Alaska residents purchased 187,031
fishing licenses and 287,834 nonresident sport-fishing licenses.
Representative Wolf offered his understanding that ADF&G is
doing a study to try and determine why residents are buying less
licenses. He asked if it is due to overcrowding.
COMMISSIONER DUFFY exclaimed, "That's a million dollar
question." He said yes; overcrowding could be a part of the
issue.
Number 2368
REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA asked Commissioner Duffy if he knew if
the governor is going to have a resource cabinet.
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said a specific decision on a resource
cabinet had not been made, but the new administration had
[started to address] the volume at which fish and game
management or resource issues are brought to the governor's
office for consideration. He said the administration certainly
considers it to be a priority focus and he would be encouraging
some sort of a resource cabinet focus. Commissioner Duffy said
within the cabinet there are commissioners from the Department
of Commerce and Economic Development, ADF&G, and the Department
of Labor and Workforce Development who are focusing on a rural
development strategy, which is in the formative stages. He said
there are three commissioners plus Alan Austerman from the
governor's office who are focusing on some of these federal
disaster monies that the state had received for salmon, but a
fisheries cabinet or sub-cabinet and not been set up. He noted
that similar things are being done, and he said he would be
encouraging that kind of a specific focus on resource management
issues.
REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA said she tended to agree with
Commissioner Duffy in terms of management of the department, and
she thought he was [correct] in his [management methods]. She
offered her observation that morale in [ADF&G] is about at the
bottom right now, and she asked Commissioner Duffy about his
vision for the department and about what he is going to do to
help the morale in the department.
COMMISSIONER DUFFY told Representative Kerttula that her
observation about ADF&G having some morale problems is accurate.
He mentioned that the department is currently going through some
streamlining and reorganization issues. He said he didn't think
that had helped the situation, especially for those people that
are adversely impacted from an employment standpoint.
Commissioner Duffy said he thought that there was still a sense
of professionalism among colleagues within the department even
with some of the difficult issues that the department faces. He
said ADF&G employees are dedicated professionals who work many
hours in the summer time, sometimes working 18 hours a day, and
there is a sense of pride in what [ADF&G employees] do that it's
not just a job; it's a profession and a career.
Number 2179
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said he wanted to support the pride in what
ADF&G employees do, and he thought there are a number of ways to
do that such as by ensuring that the department's experts are
provided with opportunities to speak in public scientific
forums, both nationally and internationally, to present cutting
edge work that is being done. He said there are internal reward
systems for outstanding performance that he would foster as a
commissioner. He said additional training to help people move
up the "career ladder" is important and he would support those
type of activities. Commissioner Duffy said he thought it is
also important to look at inner divisional activities, and he
said he would like to consider cross training in some
circumstances. For example, he said a biologist in the Division
of Sport Fish might work on a commercial fish issue for a while
or perhaps the other way around. He remarked, "I would like to
say that I am going to be the champion of dramatic increased
compensation to fish and game employees; that everyone around
this table, including me, is cognizant of the fiscal constraints
that we are all operating under."
Number 2111
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said that may change through time and there
may be opportunities, but he is focusing on trying to push the
professionalism and display the professionalism of the
department's people. Commissioner Duffy said those are the
types of things that he would be focusing on over a four-year
period, but he was really thinking about this for the first six
months as commissioner and then he would think about adding on
to that. He stated that he would like to try and accomplish a
few things in a short time frame and then build on what
successes he has.
Number 2078
CHAIR FATE offered his understanding that there was a recent
ruling made by the subsistence board regarding the Yukon River
that allows part of a subsistence catch to be sold. He asked
Commissioner Duffy if the state is taking a position on that
ruling.
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said yes; other parties have already filed an
appeal to the federal subsistence board, although he didn't know
the exact language. He noted that he had not had a discussion
with his bosses in the governor's office, but it is the
intention of the department to pursue a reconsideration of this
action that was taken by the federal subsistence board about two
months ago. Commissioner Duffy said the department [considered
the ruling] to be too open and not well defined and it might
also be inconsistent with ANILCA [Alaska National Interest Lands
Conservation Act]. He said the department will be making an
appeal of that decision.
CHAIR FATE offered his belief that there was a time when
approximately eight [fish] buyers ranged between the City of
Galena and what would be considered "the bridge" or just below
Stevens Village today. He said these were all commercial
buyers, and the fishermen on the Yukon were all making a decent
amount of money. However, he said today there is only one buyer
and that buyer can't [make a decent amount of money] off of
Yukon fish.
CHAIR FATE explained that part of the reason was due to the
regime shifts, but another part of it was that the commercial
fishery at the mouth of the Yukon River went over its quota year
after year by as much as 10 percent. The result was that the
fishery's overage was almost as much as the rest of the entire
Yukon River quota. Chair Fate asked Commissioner Duffy if he
would use his influence on the brown water fisheries to bring
back commercialization. He said markets are strong, local, and
don't depend so much on international markets because those fish
are sold locally, yet those markets have been destroyed.
Chair Fate said he hoped enhancement would be looked at once
more, and he relayed his understanding that as long as the
genetic stock from those river systems are used in the hatchery
and are made available to those hatcheries, then "the hatchery
word isn't that bad of a word" in some of those areas,
particularly on the upper Yukon River. He asked Commissioner
Duffy if he was going to look into enhancing those river
fisheries. He remarked, "After all, if you don't have a good
river fishery, you certainly aren't going to have a blue water
fishery; that's where they spawn." Chair Fate asked
Commissioner Duffy if he is going to look into the subsistence
issue that had been raised.
Number 1877
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said Alaska had received significant federal
resources because of a disaster declaration and [ADF&G] is
working with its constituents in the AYK region. He explained
that [ADF&G] also has a collaborative research program which
currently has $10 million in funding to identify what the
biological issues are associated with declining salmon stocks in
the AYK region. He said he is excited about the collaborative
work the department is doing in the that region. The department
has significant funding to analyze what the problems are. He
said he thought the problems [that Representative Fate had
raised] regarding declining salmon runs are becoming even
greater because of a declining abundance, allocations, and a
particular downriver action that has a greater impacts upriver
in a declining resource situation. He said he will find out
through the Division of Commercial Fisheries what the current
status is of the different commercial fisheries on the Yukon
River.
COMMISSIONER DUFFY, in response to Representative Fate's
question about enhancement of the Yukon River, said one of thing
first things he worked on when he first started working for
ADF&G was regional and comprehensive salmon plans and in trying
to determine where the salmon enhancement or hatchery programs
should be 20 years later. Commissioner Duffy was told that the
decision not to put enhancement facilities on the Yukon River
had been decided prior to his career in the department starting
in 1981. He said his first action would be to talk with the
area management biologists on the Yukon River about the
particular circumstances, get their opinions initially, and have
the biologists talk with the regional management structure about
the possibility for enhancement on the Yukon.
COMMISSIONER DUFFY stated he would look into it but would not
make any promises about what the outcome of that particular
issue might be. He said it is a complex issue on a main stem
river system where a lot of research is already being done to
try and find out what had caused previous problems. He
remarked, "I'm not saying that the enhancement program, by
definition, would cause problems; it's just an issue that was
... decided upon from a policy perspective a number of years
ago; ... not [to] pursue it for the Yukon." He explained that
the current dual management structure consists of the federal
subsistence board which is advised by the regional advisory
councils. He said there is an effort to develop some protocol
between the federal managers and state mangers to make the in-
season management system as tolerable as possible given that
there are two structures operating in the Yukon. He said the
department is trying to do everything it can to try not to
forfeit any management decision making authority on ADF&G, and
the department is trying to work with the federal subsistence
staff [not only] to gain input, "but really to keep us in the
driver's seat."
Number 1611
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said inevitably a dual management system will
lead to conflict and could lead to an in-season special action
request through the federal subsistence board. So, he said the
department is trying to make a difficult situation as
comfortable as it possibly can and is cooperating as much as it
can without giving up any management authority. With regard to
the morale problem, this dual management structure has
dramatically increased the workload for a number of management
biologists and regional managers within the department's
structure.
COMMISSIONER DUFFY explained that [biologists and regional
managers] now attend regional advisory council meetings to
provide information to the federal system, and they also attend
federal subsistence board meetings. Nevertheless, he said as
long [Alaska] is in this dual management system, the department
will continue to try to provide the best biological and
scientific information it can to the federal subsistence board
and the regional advisory councils in the hope that they make
intelligent decisions about the use and management of [Alaska's]
resources. Commissioner Duffy said he thought this speaks to
the professional nature of the people in ADF&G.
Number 1514
CHAIR FATE asked if there had been any discussion since he'd
been with department that related to the abrogation of the
rights of Alaskan's on navigable waters vis-à-vis those
contracts or management agreements with the federal government.
He remarked, "The state is managing something that they should
be managing in some view; I don't think that navigable water
issue has been put to rest; ... are they in fact aiding the feds
in cementing in place their domain ... in navigable waters?"
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said he thought the answer to that question
was no. He explained that he participated in the federal/state
interagency workgroup for a period of time when he was a deputy
director in the Division of Commercial Fisheries. He said [the
workgroup] constantly ensured that any language it was crafting
was reviewed by the attorney general's office with regard to
working on memorandums of understanding (MOUs) - how things will
work given a dual management system out in the field. He
indicated the state was not acquiescing any state rights or
state's authorities under that system. He said MOUs are not
legally binding and are not contracts. Commissioner Duffy said
the department had been really careful not to "move in the wrong
direction" on this one. He said he is not an expert on
navigable waters and needed to learn more about that issue. He
noted that he does have good people in the department who focus
on those issues and work with the attorney general's office.
Commissioner Duffy stated that he did not have the expertise to
elaborate on the navigable waters situation at this point in
time.
CHAIR FATE offered his belief that there is only one sonar
located at Pilot Point, and he said different groups on the
Yukon River had requested at least three sonars. He said by the
admission of the Division of Commercial Fisheries and the
subsistence fisheries in Fairbanks and the Interior, the
percentage of runs that go up the Tanana River or that continue
up the Yukon River into the Porcupine River and into the
spawning beds are not known. Representative Fate said there
have been efforts to get an accurate count on where those fish
really go and [the efforts result in] having the count coming in
to a certain lower portion of the river where the sonar is
located at Pilot Point.
Number 1327
REPRESENTATIVE FATE said it was his hope that ADF&G could
provide better research on both the Kuskokwim and Yukon Rivers
as well as some of the other major spawning rivers to get some
data that is meaningful and will help ADF&G begin to manage for
abundance.
REPRESENTATIVE GUTTENBERG offered his understanding that the
federal government pays biologists more than the state does. He
asked Commissioner Duffy how many state biologists the state had
lost to the federal government.
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said the state had lost around 30 to 50
biologists, which was significant. He said the state is faced
with a situation in which a number of department biologists have
been on 20-year retirement programs that are slowly coming to an
end as those people retire, because there is no longer a 20-year
retirement program in the department. He said there is also
increasing opportunity through the federal system for
biologists, and not only is the base compensation in a lot of
circumstances higher, but [federal employees] also receive a 25
percent Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) in the federal system.
He said there are very well trained, very professional wildlife
and fisheries biologists reaching 20 years with the department
with secondary opportunities out there in which the compensation
is significantly higher. Commissioner Duffy explained that a
lot of people have been availing themselves of that opportunity
on an annual basis. He said the state had experienced a
significant movement of biologists from the state system to the
federal system.
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked Commissioner Duffy if his statement
that he worked for the governor was correct.
COMMISSIONER DUFFY stated that the governor is his supervisor
but he works for the State of Alaska representing all interests
and representing the conservation of long-term enhancement
protection of the fish and wildlife resources of Alaska.
Number 1128
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO said the public expects [government
officials] to do the best job possible. He noted there had been
a hint that the Division of Habitat and Restoration Services may
be transferred. Representative Gatto stated that ADF&G is
charged in statute to protect [Alaska's] resources [regardless
of which department the Division of Habitat and Restoration
services is located in]. He said it is so important to the
community that the resource, habitat, and everything else around
those things is well protected. Representative Gatto said [the
public is counting on the commissioner of ADF&G and the
legislature] to ensure that happens. He reminded the committee
that [government officials] work for the public, and he said if
the public is happy, then those jobs are really being done well.
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said he takes the discharge of his duties as
commissioner under Title 16 very seriously and he is committed
to do everything possible to discharge his duties effectively.
CHAIR FATE said it was brought to his attention by a member of
his staff that there "are other fish to fry." He brought
attention to the halibut, crab, and shrimp industries and he
asked Commissioner Duffy to comment on those industries.
Number 0952
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said he is actively engaged in crab
management issues through NPFMC. The department had recently
designed a rationalization program that includes a fleet
reduction of crab vessels. The program is an IFQ [individual
fishing quota] program for the individual vessel based on a
catch history. There is a processor quota component based on a
processor's previous participation in the fishery and there are
also a number of community protection measures built into the
rationalization program. He said some of the crab stocks in the
Bering Sea aren't doing so well and the fisheries have been
seriously curtailed to address those issues. He said the hope
is for a rebound in some of those crab stocks, and that he
thought the management program is sound on crab. Commissioner
Duffy said with a rationalized fishery where the number of
participants will be downsized and an IFQ system is implemented,
there will no longer be a race for crab or fish. He said under
an IFQ system one will be able to harvest crab within the
biological perimeters of the animals and will not have to
participate any longer in a race for fish.
COMMISSIONER DUFFY explained that harvesters will be able to
harvest for market opportunity and timing with the
[participating] processor. He said he thought that some of the
resources relating to the crab industry are struggling a bit,
but the department is designing a program that is going to be
responsive. He said the program is not without its controversy,
but there are not many fish and game issues in which decisions
are made that do not have some controversy. Commissioner Duffy
stated that he is in support of the program, and he suggested
that moving to an IFQ program fishery for crab in the future is
the way to go. He said the department is doing some basic stock
assessments and research on shrimp stocks. There are some
shrimp fisheries in Southeast that have experienced some
increase in the shrimp populations, such as in the Kodiak area.
He said he is tracking some of those issues and that pollock is
the "big driver" under NPFMC in the groundfish [industry].
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said pollock "row" early in the season in
February through the trawl, longline, and pot fisheries, and is
providing a lot of economic opportunity in Alaska. He explained
that pacific cod is another fishery that is managed under
[NPFMC] and is doing very well on abundance in the Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands. He said perhaps there are some issues
associated with the biological status of Pacific cod stocks in
the Gulf of Alaska, but nothing alarming; it's an issue that the
[department is following]. Commissioner Duffy said the
groundfish industry in Alaska is very solid.
Number 0685
DON JOHNSON testified, and he said those people involved in the
confirmation and appointment process of Commissioner Duffy got a
"semi-deal" that was struck by the commercial and sport fishing
industries with regard to deputy commissioners. He said the
[sport] and commercial fishing industry were in support of
Commissioner Duffy with the understanding that there was going
to be a deputy commissioner appointed for both the commercial
and sport fishing industries. He said it is his understanding
that since the appointment [of Commissioner Duffy], the
commercial fisheries deputy [commissioner] was appointed but the
sport fisheries deputy [commissioner] is no longer a viable
idea. He remarked, "I guess I am feeling a little bit short
changed out the deal." Mr. Johnson said he questioned whether
the "semi-deal" that the industries had worked out in getting
behind the appointments is actually going to be carried out and
followed through to provide a sport fisheries deputy alongside
the commercial fisheries deputy. He asked if a commercial
fisheries deputy commissioner was going to be hired.
Number 0537
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said he didn't know about any deals that had
been made. He noted that he hadn't hired anyone for any
positions in the commissioner's office since he'd taken over as
active commissioner. Commissioner Duffy said he is looking for
someone who can represent varied interests, and he indicated he
did not have the funding to hire deputy commissioners for each
particular interest. He pledged that he is looking for the
quality of candidates who can represent all interests. He said
he acknowledged and respected Mr. Johnson's point about people
wanting representation and he would do everything he can to
bring in people who represent a number of interests.
Number 0386
PAUL SHADURA, President and Executive Director, Kenai Peninsula
Fishermen's Association (KPFA), testified. He said KPFA was in
support of the earnest efforts by Governor [Frank] Murkowski and
the administration to strengthen and add vigor to the commercial
fishing industry. He relayed KPFA's belief that the concepts of
sound biological management and the highest sustainable yield
are hallmarks to bring profitability and integrity back into the
state's most diversified industry. He noted that Commissioner
Duffy was not [KPFA's] prime choice for the commissioner of
ADF&G, but he said if the governor feels confident in
[Commissioner Duffy's] abilities to manage the state's resources
for the maximum benefit of its commercial fishing industry, then
KPFA is in support of the appointment of Commissioner Duffy.
Mr. SHADURA relayed KPFA's belief that the main issues lie
within the "building blocks" of the management team of ADF&G.
He said the strong scientific commitment with the direction of a
statewide salmon fisheries business plan is imperative, and he
suggested [Alaska] is playing a "game of catch up" in the global
salmon market and is in need of support staff - directors,
deputy directors, and deputy commissioners - that can "run the
marathon race and win." He said contentious individuals are not
needed in this arena, and the integrity of the sport and
commercial fisheries division must be of the highest order. Mr.
Shadura suggested that professionalism and dedication should be
rewarded, and he invited the commissioner to come to the
Southcentral fishing community to see and hear the regions
complex problems. He said with this mutual knowledge and an
honest dedicated effort, long lasting management solutions can
be found. Mr. Shadura said if new investments are brought into
[Alaska's] distressed salmon fisheries, then stabilization and
opportunities for all of the state's fishing communities in each
region must be ensured.
Number 0125
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said wildlife management is a very important
issue in Alaska, and a lot of people engage in the Board of Game
process to affect allocation decisions and engage in contacting
him, legislators, and the governor's office with particular
perspectives on game management issues. He said he thought the
importance of these issues from a crossover perspective from
fish to game is consistent and very significant to residents and
nonresidents in Alaska. He conveyed his belief that it will be
necessary to have some expertise on game management in the
commissioner's office. Commissioner Duffy said one concept he'd
been thinking about is not only to have two deputies but also to
enhance the scientific presence of people with wildlife
experience in the commissioner's office, such as with a science
advisory or wildlife scientist type position to bolster that
issue [tape ends midspeech].
TAPE 03-26, SIDE A
Number 0001
COMMISSIONER DUFFY told the committee that the public advises
the game board through a proposal process and the game board
makes decisions on allocations. The game board may at times
make recommendations to the commissioner of ADF&G. He said he
thought it was a sound system that doesn't need to be changed,
rather it needs to be supported. He said it is important that
the department within the Division of Wildlife Conservation have
adequate funding to provide that scientific and biological
expertise to the game board, so it can make the best decisions.
He said the Division of Wildlife Conservation, unlike the
commercial fish division, is primarily federally funded.
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said things get complicated and politically
charged when talking about certain wildlife management
decisions, and he understands that. He said in most
circumstances he believes in a maximum sustained yield that
provides as much opportunity as possible to both resident and
nonresident consumptive users in Alaska. He explained that
there are certain activities that the department is evaluating
such as a predator control program in the McGrath area based on
problems with moose populations. Commissioner Duffy stated that
he was in support of predator control programs in certain
circumstances, and he said the game board has made a
recommendation to the department on a predator control program
for moose and bears in [Game Management Unit (GMU)] 13 located
in the Nelchina Basin. He remarked:
What we are doing in that area is over the next 11
months we're ... really going out and talking to all
users of the resource .... I'm calling the process an
informed consent process to try and bring some buy-in,
if possible, into a particular approach for this
program. The reason I am taking that approach is
because ... if we are going to engage in wildlife
management programs that are controversial, then I
think we need to at least ... bring ... members of the
public up to speed on the particular issue, and why
particular decisions are being made.
COMMISSIONER DUFFY stated that the public arena is really the
Board of Game arena, and he was not taking away from that. He
said if the [department] is going to [create] these type of
programs, they need to be sustainable and long term.
Commissioner Duffy said in some circumstances he thought that
was a better approach than a decision and [introducing] an
immediate program that is extremely controversial only to be
potentially shut down by litigation or some other means.
Number 0300
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said when talking about game board
recommendations or decisions on predator control programs, he is
required to make a finding on those issues, and had recently
done that in the McGrath area. Commissioner Duffy said it is no
secret that he is consulting with the administration on
decisions in those arenas. He said [the department] had agreed
and written back to the game board on a particular perspective
that is somewhat controversial, but nevertheless he is in
support of predator control programs. Commissioner Duffy
remarked, "I don't want to focus on this only, because I think
when you talk about the wildlife management arena you have a
range of tools that our managers and our scientists have, and
that they advise the game board in their decisions on." He said
the predator control program could be put on one end and on the
other end, for example, could be the recent expansion of a
buffer zone in Denali National Park and Preserve to protect
wolves.
Number 0383
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said he is not an expert in this arena but he
has a lot of experts that work with him. He said he is going to
try to embellish that scientific expertise in the commissioner's
office, but that doesn't mean that he is going to change the
decision making process that he supports in the department. He
said from a day-to-day wildlife management perspective he
supports management at the area level similar to that of the
commercial fisheries. Commissioner Duffy said he wanted to
bolster that team and he is relying on the expertise of a number
of researchers, managers, and biologists within the Division of
Wildlife Conservation. He said he is relying on their expertise
from an area level up through the regional level advising the
game board, and he looks forward to a cooperative, productive
working relationship with the game board. He said he is under
no illusions about how difficult these situations are.
Commissioner Duffy pledged to work with the public body and the
Board of Game on making public policy decisions in the best
interests of the state. He said he will internally work with
his staff on a daily basis to ensure that the advice being
provided to the Board of Game is sound and biologically
defensible.
CHAIR FATE asked Commissioner Duffy if he would be actively
managing instead of passively managing.
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said he would be supporting an active
management approach as commissioner of ADF&G.
CHAIR FATE noted that Commissioner Duffy had stated that he
would rely very heavily on scientific evidence and on
biologists, but he didn't mention some of the local people in
the areas that are affected by some of the decisions he would be
making. He asked where local people come into that "power ...
in the decision making formula."
COMMISSIONER DUFFY apologized for not mentioning local
participation, and he said it was an oversight on his part. He
said there are multiple entry points but one of the first one is
to ensure that local people can participate in the game board
allocation process and the decision making process.
Commissioner Duffy said he would be supporting programs that
would create cooperative working relationships between the
department and local residents. He said [the department is
considering] enhancing local predator control efforts in the
McGrath area to reduce the population of wolves in that region
through facilitating their pursuit of wolves. He said he
thought working with local residents is imperative in this
process, and he wants their active involvement in Alaska.
Number 0688
CHAIR FATE suggested that there are scientists and game
biologists who put a "twist" or a "spin" on their findings. He
asked Commissioner Duffy what his philosophy on hiring his
employees is and what kind of a spin he would allow to be placed
on things. Chair Fate remarked, "So, if we rely so heavily on
those people that place this spin, we're right back where we
started." He asked Commissioner Duffy how he proposed to handle
that.
COMMISSIONER DUFFY said he planned on a program that does not
put a spin on scientific and biological studies and he wants
research done that is brought to the game board or other public
forums based on its scientific merits. He stated that he did
not support a program that [involves] twisting the numbers to
come out with a certain philosophy, and he said he thought that
would be irresponsive of the department to do that.
Commissioner Duffy said he had spoken with a member about
similar concerns but it was in not in regard to game management.
He said he would not support that for game management issues
internally, but he could not control what twist or spin other
non-department members put on scientific information that they
have. Commissioner Duffy said Board of Game members are very
bright, have a lot of scientific expertise, and are going to
recognize that kind of information when it comes out.
Number 0904
CHAIR FATE, upon determining no one else wished to testify,
closed public testimony.
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF complimented Commissioner Duffy for
"stepping right into that predator control."
[Though no motion was made, the appointment of Kevin Duffy as
the commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game was
advanced.]
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Resources Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 3:04 p.m.
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