Legislature(2013 - 2014)BARNES 124
01/18/2013 01:00 PM House RESOURCES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Overview(s): Alaska Department of Fish & Game | |
| Adjourn |
* 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
January 18, 2013
1:02 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Eric Feige, Co-Chair
Representative Dan Saddler, Co-Chair
Representative Mike Hawker
Representative Kurt Olson
Representative Paul Seaton
Representative Peggy Wilson
Representative Geran Tarr
Representative Chris Tuck
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Craig Johnson
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT
Representative Andrew Josephson
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
OVERVIEW(S): ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH & GAME
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
CORA CAMPBELL, Commissioner
Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided a PowerPoint overview of the
Alaska Department of Fish & Game.
JEFF REGNART, Director
Division of Commercial Fisheries (DCF)
Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As part of the Alaska Department of Fish &
Game overview, provided a PowerPoint presentation on the
Division of Commercial Fisheries and on chinook salmon abundance
and productivity.
CHARLES SWANTON, Director
Division of Sport Fish (DSF)
Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As part of the Alaska Department of Fish &
Game overview, provided a PowerPoint presentation on the
Division of Sport Fish.
DOUG VINCENT-LANG, Director
Division of Wildlife Conservation (DWC)
Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As part of the Alaska Department of Fish &
Game overview, provided a PowerPoint presentation on the
Division of Wildlife Conservation.
RANDY BATES, Director
Division of Habitat
Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As part of the Alaska Department of Fish &
Game overview, provided a PowerPoint presentation on the
Division of Habitat.
HAZEL NELSON, Director
Division of Subsistence
Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As part of the Alaska Department of Fish &
Game overview provided a PowerPoint presentation on the Division
of Subsistence.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:02:49 PM
CO-CHAIR DAN SADDLER called the House Resources Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:02 p.m. Representatives Tuck,
Hawker, P. Wilson, Olson, Tarr, Seaton, Feige, and Saddler were
present at the call to order. Representative Josephson was also
present.
^OVERVIEW(S): Alaska Department of Fish & Game
OVERVIEW(S): Alaska Department of Fish & Game
1:03:23 PM
CO-CHAIR SADDLER announced that the only order of business would
be an overview of the Alaska Department of Fish & Game.
1:03:55 PM
CORA CAMPBELL, Commissioner, Alaska Department of Fish & Game
(ADF&G), began by noting that the department's mission is based
upon the Alaska State Constitution (Article 8) and Title 16 of
the Alaska Statutes [slide 2]. She explained that ADF&G has six
core services [slide 3], the first being harvest management,
which provides the opportunity to utilize fish and wildlife
resources and which is measured by evaluating the commercial
harvest, license sales, user success, and other metrics.
Another core service is stock assessment, which is measured by
whether escapement goals are being met and whether wildlife
surveys are being performed. A core service important to the
department is customer service, she continued, which is met by
having programs for angling skills, wildlife education, wildlife
management, and providing information to the public. Public
involvement is a core service that makes sure the public has the
information needed to participate in the Board of Fisheries and
the Board of Game regulatory processes, as well as providing
outreach and information to the public to involve Alaskans in
the department's management decisions.
1:06:27 PM
COMMISSIONER CAMPBELL pointed out that state sovereignty is a
core service on which ADF&G focuses. She said this service is
implemented by the department participating in federal land
management plans, supporting the Department of Law when it has
lawsuits related to sovereignty for fish and wildlife
management, and representing the state in arenas such as the
federal subsistence board and Endangered Species Act decisions.
Habitat protection, she continued, is a core service that the
department measures by making sure developers are in compliance
with the permits that have been issued by the Division of
Habitat.
COMMISSIONER CAMPBELL drew attention to the responsibilities of
the commissioner's office listed on slide 4, pointing out that
the commissioner participates in a large number of boards and
commissions. Of note, she said, is the state's representation
on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, the federal
body responsible for management of fisheries from 3-200 miles
[offshore], and the Pacific Salmon Commission, the body that
negotiates and implements the Pacific Salmon Treaty and whose
harvest agreements affect Southeast Alaska and the Yukon
[River].
1:07:57 PM
COMMISSIONER CAMPBELL stated that ADF&G has three large
management divisions (slide 5): Commercial Fisheries, Sport
Fish, and Wildlife Conservation. The Division of Subsistence is
not a management division, she explained, but rather a research
division responsible for collecting information about customary
and traditional use of Alaska's wildlife resources, with
subsistence fisheries and hunts managed by the relevant
management divisions. The Division of Habitat is primarily a
permitting division, she continued, and in addition to its
Division of Administrative Services, ADF&G has the Boards
Support Section that supports the Board of Fisheries and the
Board of Game regulatory process. Attached to the department
administratively are the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission
and the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council, for which the
department provides administrative support.
COMMISSIONER CAMPBELL displayed a map of permanent regional and
area office locations [slide 6] and noted that the map does not
include the locations of summer field camps or weir projects.
1:09:21 PM
COMMISSIONER CAMPBELL pointed out that the department's three
large management divisions make up the bulk of staff positions
[slide 7]. She added that ADF&G has nearly as many seasonal
employees as full-time employees because much of the
department's work is field work during the field season rather
than year round.
COMMISSIONER CAMPBELL noted that the bulk of the department's
[Fiscal Year 2014] budget goes to the three larger management
divisions [slide 8]. The department's major funding sources are
the general fund, federal funds, and the fish and game fund.
1:10:15 PM
COMMISSIONER CAMPBELL outlined ADF&G's major accomplishments in
2012 [slide 9], saying that improvements to salmon research
included completion of a major genetic identification program
for stock in Western Alaska that is informing fisheries
management decisions that the Board of Fisheries is making this
cycle. Improvements were made to the chinook program and coho
programs in Southeast Alaska, as well as to projects in Upper
Cook Inlet. The department's intensive management programs,
ongoing in a number of game management units and aimed at
increasing the numbers of caribou or moose available for
hunting, have resulted in elevated harvest levels and herd
rebound.
COMMISSIONER CAMPBELL stated that when she first became
commissioner, the Division of Subsistence was faced with the big
challenge of 25-year-old data or no data for communities. The
department therefore increased the division's resources and
found opportunities for cooperation when there are development
projects or proposed road projects. Subsistence data is now key
to those types of projects moving through the permitting
process, with the double benefit of facilitating permitting
while updating the data bases for regulatory decisions that the
boards of fisheries and game need to make.
COMMISSIONER CAMPBELL related that ADF&G has been doing its part
in the governor's permitting initiative by examining its
permitting through the Division of Habitat. A need was
identified for habitat staff to be more involved early when
projects are being proposed, and additional resources were
secured for this division in anticipation of an increased
workload as some larger development projects come on line.
COMMISSIONER CAMPBELL announced that the William Jack Hernandez
Sport Fish Hatchery in Anchorage and the Ruth Burnett Sport Fish
Hatchery in Fairbanks are now online, working well, and
producing fish. Stocking has increased and is now back to the
historic level prior to when the heat was lost at the "Elmendorf
hatchery" and fishermen have expressed pleasure at being able to
fish the stocked waters.
1:13:32 PM
COMMISSIONER CAMPBELL reviewed the issues and challenges before
the department [slide 10]. She said chinook salmon abundance
and productivity was a very serious concern this management
season. Restrictions had to be implemented that were very tough
on Alaskans who rely on chinook salmon for subsistence,
economics, sport fisheries, or personal use. The department has
responded with a large initiative to improve its chinook salmon
research programs, which is a major item in ADF&G's capital
budget this year. The department has been looking for ways to
increase fishing and other economic opportunities, she
continued. For example, the department is looking for places
where an investment by the state can lead to a big economic
return for communities. Closely related to this is incremental
reductions in ADF&G's funding for salmon research as a result of
inflationary pressures over time. In turn, this leads to a weir
in the water for two months now running only four to six weeks,
which means not getting the full picture of what is going on
with salmon stocks. That will be addressed this year by putting
more resources toward the department's salmon research project
and restoring some projects to full strength so as to get a full
picture throughout the run.
1:16:14 PM
COMMISSIONER CAMPBELL, continuing her discussion of issues and
challenges [slide 10], said the department has staff dedicated
to responding to the major concerns of state sovereignty and
endangered species. The department was pleased, she related,
with the recent court decision that removed the critical habitat
designation for polar bears. In agreement with the department's
point of view, the court determined that the baseline science
was not there for listing polar bears over such a large [area]
and that more research needs to be done. Looking at endangered
species across the board, she continued, more and more petitions
and listings are being seen. A particular concern is that - for
the first time - abundant and stable species are being listed
because of speculation about future impacts of climate change.
Therefore the department will have to continue dedicating a lot
of resources towards this challenge.
COMMISSIONER CAMPBELL reported the need for modernizing the
department's licensing system which issues about 700,000
licenses per year using paper. She said resources have been put
into scoping what it would take to develop a modern system for
sport fish and hunting licenses, as well as permits. Online
reporting is also being researched so that people would not have
to manually send in their reports.
COMMISSIONER CAMPBELL provided the names and phone numbers for
herself, the department's deputy commissioner, and the
legislative liaison [slide 11].
1:19:15 PM
COMMISSIONER CAMPBELL, responding to Representative Tarr and Co-
Chair Saddler, agreed to provide their offices with further
information regarding state sovereignty and endangered species
issues, including information about current listings, areas of
concern, and work the state has done to fund research on species
that will likely be subject to future listing discussion.
1:20:04 PM
COMMISSIONER CAMPBELL, responding to Representative Seaton, said
the department currently does not have a permitting backlog.
She added that Randy Bates, director of the Division of Habitat,
will be providing information about the average time it takes
for issuing each type of permit. The department has set goals
for itself about how timely it wants to be with permits and - so
far - has been able to keep within those goals and not be an
impediment to the people needing permits.
1:21:01 PM
COMMISSIONER CAMPBELL, responding to Co-Chair Saddler, offered
her belief that ADF&G has not considered the possibility of
potential synergy between its permitting and licensing systems
since they are separate data bases. She deferred to Mr. Bates
for answering whether the Division of Habitat's permitting
system is on paper or online and whether that system has any
needs.
1:22:05 PM
JEFF REGNART, Director, Division of Commercial Fisheries (DCF),
Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G), noted that the
division's mission is to manage, protect, rehabilitate, enhance,
and develop the fisheries and aquatic plant resources in the
interest of the state's economy [slide 13].
MR. REGNART said primary responsibilities of DCF include [slide
14]: management of commercial, personal use, and subsistence
fisheries within state waters; management of shellfish and some
groundfish fisheries, some of which go beyond the 3-mile state
limit and so management is through agreements with the federal
government; conducting research on Alaska's aquatic resources;
planning and permitting the state's salmon hatcheries and
mariculture activities; participating in negotiations under the
Pacific Salmon Treaty and Alaska-Yukon Treaty; and coordinating
with federal and international fisheries management agencies.
1:23:43 PM
MR. REGNART provided an organizational overview [slide 15],
noting that DCF has more seasonal staff [439] than permanent
staff [311] because of the work it does seasonally. He said the
division has a budget of $72 million, is divided into 5 regions,
has 84 seasonal offices and 20 permanent offices, and it also
has [6] large research vessels from which work is conducted.
MR. REGNART discussed the division's core services [slide 16],
stating that harvest management is a key service done every
year. The core service of stock assessment and applied research
is the underpinning for harvest management, and other core
services are aquaculture permitting and information services and
public participation.
1:24:54 PM
MR. REGNART addressed the seafood industry's economic impact on
the state [slide 17], pointing out that Alaska is one of the
largest commercial fishery economies in the world. In 2011,
total landings were just under $2 billion, with Alaska
accounting for 95 percent of all salmon landings in the U.S. In
2010, he said, there were about 37,000 permit holders and crew,
and another 21,000 people were involved in the seafood
processing industry. Since 2002, the ex-vessel value of salmon
has risen annually and is back to its more historical levels for
value to the state [slide 18].
1:25:47 PM
MR. REGNART reviewed the division's 2012 highlights [slide 19].
He noted that chinook salmon abundance and productivity has been
a challenge for both the department and the users, and that a
research initiative is being undertaken this legislative
session. He said DCF looks at increased fishing and economic
opportunities, especially when designing increments and looking
at new projects to bring to bear. For example, funding was
received for rockfish studies in Southeast Alaska that has
allowed some additional opportunity, and spot shrimp management
money has opened the door to a different way of managing, which
the division hopes will provide more opportunity and increase
the economic benefit. The division has received additional
dollars for extending some of the programs mentioned by
Commissioner Campbell, he continued, such as the reduced ability
to enumerate fish because of inflation. This coming year the
division is looking for additional help through the budget,
which would allow the division to count longer by counting on
both shoulders of the season on a variety of fisheries, which is
where the increased economic benefit will come from, especially
for salmon and herring. He reported that a project has been put
together by the state, private non-profit (PNP) hatcheries, and
processors to research interactions between wild and hatchery
salmon, the first large-scale research effort in this regard.
1:28:08 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK asked whether the salmon runs coming into
Cook Inlet over the past two years are related to destruction of
the Japanese fishing fleets by the [March 2011 tsunami off the
Pacific coast of Japan].
MR. REGNART replied that 30 years ago there was definitely a
concerted high seas effort; however, through the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act ("Magnuson-
Stevens Act") and the 200-mile limit, many of the fisheries that
would have an effect on Alaska-bound salmon either no longer
exist or are stringently monitored. Excepting occasional high
seas drift netting, he continued, the division does not think
there were unknown fisheries. While there have been rumors
within the industry, the division has been unable to
substantiate a correlation between loss of the [Japanese]
commercial fishing fleet and what is being seen in Alaska.
Responding further, he said his best guess, at this point, is
that it is more of a coincidence.
1:29:45 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK, noting that he has seen articles about
radioactive debris in the ocean from the tsunami, inquired
whether any program will be put in place to test Alaska fish for
radioactivity.
MR. REGNART responded that the division has been working with
the federal government on these aspects and the division's
primary role in this has been identifying the debris from the
tsunami when it comes ashore in Alaska. The division has many
people in the field who can report debris when it is spotted so
that it can be cleaned up to [prevent contamination]. He said
he is unaware of contamination in any of Alaska's fisheries from
that outfall. The federal government is the lead agency on
this, he said, and the division has not found any reports of
contamination. The division does not have a testing program
within state waters and has no reason at this point to believe
it is necessary.
1:31:13 PM
MR. REGNART, responding to Co-Chair Feige, said he would
describe Alaska's mariculture industry as being stable and
potentially on the uptick. Much work is involved with bringing
some of those products to market, he explained, but through
efforts of the legislature, ADF&G, and governor's office some of
the regulatory hurdles have been cleared and the red tape less
than it was 10 years ago. He offered his understanding that the
recent poor economy has sometimes made it difficult to procure
financing for this type of work.
1:33:11 PM
CO-CHAIR FEIGE requested Mr. Regnart to let the committee know
if there are ways it could help with the mariculture industry.
He asked what the difference is between mariculture and
aquaculture.
MR. REGNART explained that mariculture is geoducks, littleneck
clams, and oysters, while aquaculture is the salmonids, which,
he confirmed in further response, are little salmon.
1:34:17 PM
CO-CHAIR FEIGE noted that hatcheries are expensive, can only be
put in specific spots, and must have a source of continuous
fresh water. He inquired whether DCF has looked at other
methods that could be used for places in the state where salmon
stocks are threatened.
MR. REGNART confirmed the division has been looking at this and
said today's chinook presentation will discuss an enhancement
piece for which a report is being prepared that will speak to
other things that can be done, such as in-stream incubator boxes
and egg misting. He reported that over the last few years the
division has been cooperating with some of the users in Norton
Sound in this regard, and more of this will be seen in the next
few years.
1:36:17 PM
MR. REGNART, responding to Representative P. Wilson, noted that
the [Ruth Burnett Sport Fish Hatchery] in Fairbanks is for sport
fish stocking programs so questions about the hatchery should go
to the director of the Division of Sport Fish.
1:36:51 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON inquired whether DCF's staffing levels
were the same in fiscal years 2013 and 2014. He understood that
staff in Central Alaska received high pay increases, and asked
what effect that has had on positions available to do the work.
MR. REGNART replied that the number of permanent staff was 314
in Fiscal Year 2013 and is 311 in Fiscal Year 2014, but he did
not know whether that was due to a vacancy the division has been
unable to fill. Seasonal positions are very similar to the past
and staffing levels have been pretty static for the last three
or four years. He said he was unaware of any swings that would
be described as significant. In remote areas of the state, he
said, there is a cost of living allowance (COLA) due to the cost
differential, and some of those have increased significantly
which has increased the base salary for those areas. However,
this has allowed DCF to more successfully hire people in places
like Nome or Bethel where it has been difficult in part because
of the cost of living. He stressed the importance of having the
people managing the resources to be living in the communities.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON requested that the other division managers
also answer this question about salary increases without his
having to re-ask it. He offered his understanding that the
salary increases were in the Central Region, not remote areas.
1:39:50 PM
CHARLES SWANTON, Director, Division of Sport Fish (DSF), Alaska
Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G), said the division's mission
is to protect and improve Alaska's recreational fisheries
resources for the people of the state [slide 22]. One of six
divisions within ADF&G, the DSF has 415 authorized positions, of
which about 222 are permanent full-time positions. The
permanent positions are broken into two components: sport fish
with 190 positions and sport fish hatcheries with 22 positions.
The rest of the positions are permanent seasonal positions. The
budget is about $50 million. Headquarters are in Juneau and the
three regional offices are located in Douglas, Anchorage, and
Fairbanks; 22 management areas are represented from Ketchikan to
Nome.
1:41:12 PM
MR. SWANTON reviewed the division's core functions [slide 23],
noting that the core function of fisheries management includes
both resident species as well as salmon and some marine species
such as ling cod. Fisheries research and stock assessment
provide support for DSF's fisheries management activities, such
as evaluating bag limits and population assessments. Fisheries
enhancement is the division's fish hatchery program, with one
new hatchery in Fairbanks and one in Anchorage, which produce
both resident and anadromous species. There are both boater and
non-boater angler access programs. For the boater access
program, matching funds are used for improving boat launch
development around the state. The division also provides
information and education services to the public. Regarding
habitat, the division is in charge of the anadromous waters
catalog as well as water flows. He said that workforce support
includes overall administration as well as supervision of staff.
1:42:31 PM
MR. SWANTON provided highlights of the division [slide 24].
Regarding chinook salmon abundance and productivity, he
explained that active management of king salmon sport fisheries
is straight forward when abundance is average or above average,
but that over the last four years low runs have taxed the
division's stock assessment capabilities and staff. Last year
the legislature provided DSF with an increment for improving the
chinook salmon coded wire tag program in Southeast Alaska,
primarily in the Taku and Stikine rivers. The funding also
allowed for the coding of additional coho salmon and improved
estimates at harvest estimates will start next year for the
marked cohos.
MR. SWANTON, in regard to improvements to stock assessment, said
that in 2008 the division initiated a review and forward looking
stock assessment project for the Kenai River king salmon, the
largest and most prominent sport fishery in Alaska. Last year
the division received a capital appropriation of $1.8 million
and went to work on making technical improvements to this
program. An escapement goal for king salmon, the first phase of
this effort, was presented to the Board of Fisheries' Cook Inlet
Task Force on Monday of this week, and the board will review the
late Kenai River management plan in March. Additional
improvements will be forthcoming, he continued, specifically the
moving of the sonar site enumeration above tidal influence,
which was identified by external experts as being one of the
impediments for accurate assessment of that stock.
MR. SWANTON noted that DSF also received an increment to move
the Little Susitna River weir, which was completed last fall.
Coho were enumerated at the new site which is closer to
tidewater, thereby allowing information that is more germane to
timely management decisions. This spring the division will
begin counting chinook salmon at that new site. Weirs were
installed for the first time on the Lewis and Theodore rivers
using grant funds to count chinook salmon. He said DSF is
improving estimates of king salmon on the Nushagak River, one of
Alaska's larger king salmon producing systems, by working
cooperatively with the Division of Commercial Fisheries.
1:45:37 PM
MR. SWANTON, responding to Co-Chair Saddler, stated that the
Theodore River is located on the west side of Cook Inlet.
Continuing his discussion of division highlights [slide 24], Mr.
Swanton stated that, in terms of operational costs and fund
sources, it is no secret that license sales and federal excise
taxes have decreased over the last several years, part of that
being a function of the [poor] economy. He said DSF has
struggled with that, but is on a pathway toward stability and
once the economy starts to improve so will license sales.
1:46:06 PM
MR. SWANTON, in regard to invasive species [slide 24], noted
that DSF used an increment from the legislature to successfully
suppress [northern] pike in Alexander Creek. He pointed out
that he uses the term suppression because he does not believe
the division will ever be successful at eradicating the
infestation of pike that is in Alexander Creek. Successful
eradication of pike, he added, has been done in and around the
Kenai Peninsula as well as in and around Anchorage on a number
of lakes. The division continues its pike eradication efforts
using a prioritized list. Pike seem to mysteriously end up in a
lot of impounded water bodies. Pike are voracious and affect
the division's stocked waters programs, so efforts are to get
rid of them and reintroduce resident species out of the
division's hatchery program to provide sport fishing
opportunity.
1:47:22 PM
MR. SWANTON complimented Representative P. Wilson for her
efforts against the invasive species, Didemnum vexillum
("Dvex"), which was found in Whiting Harbor outside of Sitka.
He reported that the division used an increment received from
the legislature last year to complete a comprehensive survey and
mapping of Whiting Harbor and no Dvex was found outside of the
area that it was thought to be in. The division is working with
other entities to determine what eradication technique would be
best applied and what permits would be needed and is moving
towards having a request for proposals ("RFP"). An eradication
project may possibly be put in the water this coming fall.
Regarding the invasive [waterweed], elodea, he reported that DSF
has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Department of Natural
Resources (DNR), in which DNR has primacy for eradication
efforts.
1:49:35 PM
MR. SWANTON said DSF continues to grapple with the operating
costs of its sport fish hatchery facilities [slide 24]. While
saying that the division believes its struggles with the
facilities have stabilized, he quipped that assistance could be
used in Fairbanks to provide a cheap source of natural gas.
Fish are now being produced at the facilities at the levels of
baseline 2004 and many comments have been received for the
improved ice fishing opportunities in Southcentral and Interior.
1:50:43 PM
MR. SWANTON highlighted DSF's effort to provide some "how to"
videos. The video about how to do set-lining for burbot in
Interior and Southcentral Alaska has received positive comments,
he said. Another video is about a deep water release mechanism
to reduce mortality for rockfish, a species subject to
barotrauma. In the queue is a video on personal use fishing,
which will be primarily focused on the Chitina dipnet fishery on
the Copper River and how to process the catch.
MR. SWANTON lastly expressed his pride in the Kenai River king
salmon stock assessment and escapement goal development, which
has included both his division and the Division of Commercial
Fisheries.
CO-CHAIR SADDLER commented that the committee will always be
glad to hear about efforts being undertaken to encourage king
salmon sport fishing.
1:52:18 PM
MR. SWANTON, responding to Representative Seaton, explained that
unsubstantiated or untested assumptions in science are very
dangerous roads, so to assess escapement [on the Kenai River]
the division will concurrently run its sonar at the present site
while testing the new sonar site upriver at mile 14. He added
that the division has also been ground truthing its sonar
escapement estimates with an independent estimate using mark-
recapture.
1:54:15 PM
REPRESENTATIVE OLSON noted that there are historical records for
chinook salmon runs in 17 drainages. He inquired whether DSF
has historical records for chinook runs on the Kenai River and
offered his belief that no historical data could be found for
three drainages on the Kenai River.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON added that an annual report is not being
done even though it is required, so no annual numbers are
available to the public. Without annual numbers the public
cannot weigh-in on whether the reported numbers verify or
conflict with what people are seeing in their fisheries.
MR. SWANTON allowed DSF has been backlogged, but said this has
been his priority and the division has put out 55 reports thus
far and 11 more are in the queue. The escapement goal report
for the Kenai River is still in peer review draft, but has been
published on the World Wide Web and is available to the public.
For the late run on the Kenai, the report has all the
escapements back to the 1980s and these have been corrected for
using the sonar the division has today.
1:57:01 PM
MR. SWANTON, responding to Co-Chair Feige, confirmed that
halibut stocks have seen a downturn with harvest levels being
adjusted accordingly. He said the available biomass is parsed
out based upon North Pacific Fisheries Management Council
allocation schemes. The sport fishery, specifically the charter
sector, must adjust to this period of lower productivity. The
recreational sector has been allowed to retain the bag limits on
halibut. With long-lived marine species, he explained,
productivity does not bounce back overnight.
1:58:48 PM
MR. SWANTON, responding to Representative Tarr, said this year's
budget does not include an increment for additional pike
suppression. He offered his belief that current budgets on this
species are sufficient to allow the division to do work, the
main one being Alexander Creek.
MR. SWANTON, again responding to Representative Tarr, said that
most of the drop in fishing license sales has occurred with non-
resident sales. Qualifying that he did not have a number in
front of him, he estimated that the drop has been 18-20 percent
over the last four years.
1:59:55 PM
MR. SWANTON, responding to Representative Tuck, stated that
discussions about a bounty on pike always seem to surface. Some
of the bounty systems tried in the past have been unsuccessful
for a variety of reasons, he said; however, he offered to
"entertain whatever needs to be entertained moving forward".
2:00:36 PM
MR. SWANTON, responding to Co-Chair Saddler, agreed to next week
provide the committee with the Kenai River chinook run
information in summary format as far back as possible and as
complete as possible.
2:00:58 PM
MR. SWANTON, responding to Representative Seaton, stated there
has been no request by ADF&G to eliminate the importation into
Alaska of elodea as an aquarium plant. He suggested that DNR be
asked about this.
2:02:21 PM
MR. REGNART, Director, Division of Commercial Fisheries (DCF),
returned to the witness stand to provide a PowerPoint
presentation on chinook salmon abundance and productivity, which
is a major initiative for the department this year [slide 28].
He advised that chinook salmon abundance has been low all around
the state for the last four or five years. Since 2007, there
has been a low state of productivity, and the last comparable
level of low production was in the 1970s. Although chinook
trends vary over time, this low level is disruptive to the
fisheries and the state's economy.
MR. REGNART said in-season restrictions and management actions,
including closures to all user groups, have led to widespread
economic and social hardships [slide 29]. General theories have
been developed to explain variations in chinook salmon
abundance, but scientists do not have a complete understanding
of the mechanisms behind the poor runs.
2:04:07 PM
MR. REGNART, responding to Co-Chair Feige about whether the
department has data prior to 1973, said information from
commercial fish tickets became reliable in the 1970s, but the
department has trend information back to statehood and beyond.
For example, there were periods of low productivity in the late
1960s that rebounded in the mid-to-late 1970s. In response to
Co-Chair Saddler, he confirmed that the bar graph on slide 28
shows deviations from an average run.
MR. REGNART, continuing his presentation, observed that the
importance of chinook salmon to the economic and social health
of Alaskans is indicative of the level of concern demonstrated
by the users, and by the management actions that were taken by
the department across the state [slide 30]. There were very
severe restrictions and some closures that affected commercial,
sport, and subsistence users. In July 2012, Governor Parnell
requested federal fishery disaster determination for the chinook
fishery on the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers in response to
depressed chinook runs in 2011 and 2012 [slide 31]. There
followed a request for federal disaster declaration for Cook
Inlet including the east side commercial set net fishery,
northern district set net fishery, and inriver sport fisheries
on the Kenai [River] and streams within north Cook Inlet. On
September 12, 2012, the U. S. Department of Commerce granted the
requests which gave Congress the authority to appropriate funds
for fishery disaster relief under the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
Subsequently, ADF&G was asked by the governor to develop
research, management, and enhancement strategies that would
allow a sustainable harvest during periods of low production
[slide 32]. Subsequently, with input from federal agencies and
nongovernmental organizations, the department prepared a Chinook
Salmon Gap Analysis last summer. The analysis sought to gather
information from the public by means of a public Chinook Salmon
Science Symposium attended by 350-400 stakeholders and user
group officials. The information from this symposium resulted
in the first draft of a long-term Chinook Salmon Research Plan.
2:08:59 PM
MR. REGNART explained that within the plan the department
identified 12 chinook salmon indicator stocks to track statewide
abundance and productivity trends [slides 33-34]. The stocks
are from the Southeast, Southcentral, Kodiak, Alaska Peninsula,
Bristol Bay, and Arctic Yukon-Kuskokwim areas of the state. In
addition, the indicator stocks were selected to include large
and small systems with a variety of environmental conditions, a
diverse life history, and migratory characteristics to ensure a
good representation from across the state. In order for the
research effort to result in predicted value and allow for
refined management, the department believes these efforts need
to improve upon existing information to greater understand what
is happening to chinook statewide. In addition to the research
on stock-specific and fishery-based projects, the department
recommends collecting local and traditional knowledge studies,
information on the marine environment, and life history studies.
This information will allow fisheries' scientists and managers
to better understand the factors that influence the shifts in
abundance of chinook salmon.
2:10:42 PM
MR. REGNART turned to the Fiscal Year 2014 capital budget
request of $10 million, explaining that it is the first
component of a five-year, $30 million proposal, and includes
adult and juvenile assessment work on the twelve indicator
stocks, research on genetics and biometrics on applicable
stocks, and local and traditional knowledge studies [slide 35].
Returning attention to the symposium, he noted that its purpose
was to better understand the research needed on the chinook
abundance decreases [slide 36]. However, there was considerable
discussion of near-term management actions; for example, whether
the department, in concert with the Board of Fisheries, can ease
the hardship experienced by users. At the symposium comments
were also taken from hatchery personnel, and there was staff
evaluations of management and discussion of enhancement
opportunities for chinook salmon.
2:12:26 PM
MR. REGNART pointed out that the department's management actions
have included an effort to preserve some of the sustainable
fishing opportunities for chinook salmon and provide additional
access to other species. There is also concern about additional
pre- or in-season actions that the department could take by
fishery, or by area, within its existing authority. The
department continues to work with the Board of Fisheries on
these issues.
2:13:06 PM
MR. REGNART provided examples of types of aforementioned
management efforts, such as the Upper Cook Inlet Task Force
which was established by the Board of Fisheries in October 2012,
to identify a set of recommendations for adjustments to the
Kenai River Late-Run King Salmon Management Plan. This task
force will also consider management strategies that would allow
for continued exploitation of abundant sockeye runs in times of
low chinook abundance. He said, "That definitely is something
that we need assistance with, through that management plan, both
from the users and then eventually from the Board of Fish[eries]
itself." These options will be discussed at the upcoming
regulatory meeting in March 2013. He also noted that the
department has worked for several seasons to provide additional
management opportunities to exploit chum salmon on the Yukon
River. Typically, there can be over one million surplus chums
and at the same time a low number of chinook, thus the
implementation of management changes such as fishing in
different areas, and allowing fish wheels - in certain parts of
the Yukon River - that release chinook live and catch chums.
2:15:23 PM
MR. REGNART, responding to Representative Tarr, deferred to
Commissioner Campbell to provide an update on the funding of the
federal disaster declaration.
COMMISSIONER CAMPBELL responded that efforts were made by the
[Alaska Congressional] Delegation to secure funding as part of
the relief package for Hurricane Sandy. However, disaster
funding for Alaska was not included in that relief package, and
the delegation will attempt to secure relief funds in the next
appropriate legislative vehicle.
2:16:30 PM
CO-CHAIR SADDLER asked whether disaster funding under the
Magnuson-Stevens Act would address damage to sport fishing.
COMMISSIONER CAMPBELL advised the petition for disaster
declaration was made under the Magnuson-Stevens Act because that
is the statute used and it is specific to the management of
commercial fisheries and to a commercial fishery failure.
However, the governor's request for a disaster declaration
included impacts to sport fisheries and to subsistence users.
There is some precedent for providing relief funds to user
groups other than commercial under this statute; for example,
sport fish interests were included in the Pacific Northwest
chinook disaster, and relief for subsistence users was included
in previous declarations for the Yukon River. The department
hopes that the funding will be used to compensate and to provide
relief for all of the affected user groups.
2:18:27 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON noted that the Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim
Sustainable Salmon Initiative (AYK SSI) report looked at
research targeted at aiding management. He surmised the data
presented here is baseline data, and asked whether the research
plan in Cook Inlet targets specific theories and solutions, or
if the department is looking only at baseline data.
MR. REGNART agreed there are distinct differences between the
two approaches. Because the state needs to understand how to
manage and to predict chinook runs, its approach will be
project-based and will try to answer the fundamental questions
about overall adult and juvenile production and mortality. This
information is needed when the state is proposing action to
regulatory agencies. Mr. Regnart acknowledged that the AYK SSI
effort provided data for the gap analysis and is a collaborative
effort with the department. However, AYK SSI data formulates
questions that will be answered by its consultants.
2:21:19 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON expressed his concern about the research
and pointed out that AYK SSI research was done by outside and
local consultants in a very timely manner. On the other hand,
the state has possibly lost 20 percent of its habitat in the
Matanuska-Susitna Valley to pike, and the research may be
targeted on our escapement goals and look at the constrained
productive habitat. He asked, "Is the research that we're
proposing here being, going to generate back to ... adjusting
the escapement goals to the current habitat instead of what used
to be available for chinook so that we actually get ... ability
to manage the resource that we have in this low productive
environment?"
MR. REGNART replied, "That's exactly what we're after, is what
you just described ... to understand some of the fundamental
things that are occurring in chinook life history and its total,
including if there are changes in habitat and then we can bring
... that in to how we manage these species, and that of course
starts with escapement goals ...." He observed that with new
and additional information on chinook, the goals will be more
robust and create a more accurate forecast. This will lead to
more stable and economical fisheries that are more predictable.
2:24:24 PM
DOUG VINCENT-LANG, Director, Division of Wildlife Conservation
(DWC), Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G), informed the
committee that the mission of the Division of Wildlife
Conservation is to conserve and enhance Alaska's wildlife
populations and provide for a wide range of public uses and
benefits [slide 39]. Excepting fish and aquatic plants, the
division is responsible for the management of Alaska's wildlife
resources, including big game, waterfowl, small game, and
nongame. Organizationally, DWC is 1 of 6 divisions within
ADF&G, with 330 authorized positions along with the recent
addition of personnel for intensive management, Endangered
Species Act (ESA) support, and a small game biologist [slide
40]. The division has five regions: Douglas, Southcentral,
Central & Southwest, Interior, and Northwest.
MR. VINCENT-LANG said DWC's core services include surveys and
inventories of big game, which are population estimates and age-
sex ratios, recruitment rates in populations of big game, and
habitat inventories [slide 41]. The division also compiles
harvest assessments, performs wildlife research with a multi-
year focus, performs radio telemetry work, looks for wildlife
diseases, performs intensive management with Endangered Species
Act (ESA) oversight, manages 32 special areas totaling 3.2
million acres, and provides hunter education and outreach
programs for youth, school-based programs, bear awareness
programs, and shooting safety programs. There is also a
wildlife diversity program that looks at other populations such
as waterfowl, small game, and nongame. The division also
maintains a wildlife viewing program.
MR. VINCENT-LANG returned to the core service of intensive
management [slide 42], noting that it was established in statute
and is focused on increasing harvest populations of ungulates
across the state in cases where the populations are not meeting
harvest goal objectives. The program is guided by a protocol
that ensures these are science-based programs based on three
parts: a feasibility assessment that looks at the intensive
management program subject to review by the Board of Game (BOG),
operational planning, and regulations. Intensive management
includes both habitat and the ability to manage predators on the
landscape over 15 percent of state land at any given time. Each
intensive management area has a specific plan, and each plan
includes a requirement for a periodic assessment of success. In
addition, each area contains specific objectives and measures
related to the target ungulate population and the predator
population; in no case does a plan affect the long-term
sustainability of the predator population. Although the plans
are reviewed by the Board of Game the decision to implement a
plan remains with the department due to its responsibility for
long-term conservation in the state. There are 16 intensive
management areas across the state [slide 43].
2:30:11 PM
MR. VINCENT-LANG called attention to Unit 9D, Southern Alaska
Peninsula (SAP), and cited the management of the caribou herd
there as an example of the effectiveness of a responsible
predator management program [slide 44]. The SAP caribou herd
once numbered in the thousands but had dwindled to about six
hundred animals. In 2007, the herd produced four hundred
calves, but by fall only two calves were still alive [slide 45].
The division determined the loss of the calves was not due to
changes in habitat or poor environmental conditions, but due to
predation by wolves. Hunting in the area was closed, which
caused significant hardship to local users, and an intensive
management program was approved by the Board of Game. After the
removal of less than fifty wolves over three years, the calf
recruitment increased and the herd size increased by 50 percent
between 2008 and 2010 [slide 46]. The herd again provides
subsistence hunting opportunities in the Southwest Alaska
Peninsula.
MR. VINCENT-LANG turned to habitat management, noting that DWC
is actively managing habitat with the goal to manage for
abundance and increased opportunity [slide 47]. At this time
there are programs on the Kenai Peninsula and in the Matanuska-
Susitna Valley. The division is also working with the
Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry, to
include wildlife consideration into their wildfire management
programs; for example, DOF may develop firebreaks on the Kenai
Peninsula that - after a fire - would provide moose habitat.
MR. VINCENT-LANG said his division has the lead on federal and
state Endangered Species Act (ESA) issues by providing comments
on proposed federal ESA actions, especially on the increasing
number of proposed ESA listings that are based on speculation
into the future, rather than on species that are currently in
decline [slide 48]. He stressed that the state wants to do
everything possible to prevent the extinction of a species, but
DWC does not believe a species such as ice seals should be given
the same consideration as a species that is threatened in the
next 5 to 10 years. The state is currently facing a wide range
of ESA petitions, covering species from corals and sharks, to
seabirds and marine mammals, and DWC coordinates comments and
provides support to the state's legal challenges, such as the
listing of the polar bear as a threatened species under the ESA,
polar bear critical habitat, Cook Inlet critical habitat for
beluga whales, and the Steller sea lion opinion. The division
also participates in national efforts to reform the ESA.
2:34:07 PM
MR. VINCENT-LANG described DWC's recent accomplishments which
include additional successes with intensive management
implementation, and said the state is slowly building ungulate
populations to meet the demands of hunters [slide 49]. In fact,
the intensive management protocol won a major national award
from the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies as "cutting
edge science to support wildlife management." Programs also
include increased baseline stock assessments of big game
populations, such as work on the Kenai Peninsula to better
understand moose, wolf, and bear populations, and attention to
losses in the Unit 26B muskoxen from bear predation. Three
bears that had been taking calves were killed. Successful
intervention into the Porcupine and Fortymile caribou herds kept
the herds from cautionary restriction. He noted that the state
won the challenge to the ESA polar bear case, and that the
division served as the chair of the Pacific Flyway Council and
represented the council on the national level. In addition, DWC
has implemented a new research policy to ensure that its
research is scientifically sound, and a new geographic
information systems (GIS) program focused on caribou migrations
on the North Slope. Hunter heritage and recruitment is also a
focus, and is supported by the hiring of a small game biologist
to explore hunting opportunities across the state.
MR. VINCENT-LANG cautioned that the state is facing federal
intrusions into state management authorities that are affecting
hunting and fishing [slide 50]. The U.S. Department of
Interior, National Park Service, seeks to use its compendium
process to restrict hunting across national parks and preserves,
based on value decisions, not conservation decisions, and there
are attempts to manage the landscape which intrude on the
state's right to manage this land. Furthermore, wilderness
designations are a constant challenge across Alaska. He advised
that federal ESA listings "[will] only get worse" and as
Alaska's population increases there will be increased demands to
meet. The governor has made clear that he supports more
resource development and the division must inform those
decisions to ensure that resource development occurs in an
environmentally responsible manner. Remaining challenges at
this time are urban wildlife conflicts in Anchorage, Juneau, and
Fairbanks. Finally, hunter recruitment and wildlife heritage is
of major importance.
2:38:52 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HAWKER asked about plans for mitigating human and
large wildlife interaction.
MR. VINCENT-LANG responded that he has asked his staff to study
the number of bears and the prey base on Anchorage's Hillside
area. The Anchorage Bowl is part of the intensive management
program for moose, and he surmised that if that area was
excluded there would be less moose and less bears. Other parts
of the solution are education and the removal of problem bears.
2:40:11 PM
REPRESENTATIVE OLSON asked for the director's opinion of the
proposed increase from 75 feet to 200 feet in the Department of
Transportation & Public Facilities (DOTPF) cutback on the
Sterling Highway.
MR. VINCENT-LANG reported that hundreds of moose are killed
annually on the highways, which endangers public safety.
However, clearing highways involves wildlife considerations,
road-shading, corner visibility, and a wide variety of other
issues. The division is interested in advising DOTPF on the
wildlife aspect of road-clearing; in fact, a Memorandum of
Understanding between DWC and DOTPF will be signed so that the
division can advise during the process of road maintenance and
design issues.
2:41:35 PM
CO-CHAIR FEIGE offered his appreciation of DWC's efforts
regarding federal intrusion and its successful challenge of the
polar bear designation.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON requested Mr. Vincent-Lang to forward to
members a copy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's draft
rule to allow the reintroduction of wood bison on state land.
2:43:47 PM
RANDY BATES, Director, Division of Habitat, Alaska Department of
Fish & Game (ADF&G), informed the committee that the Division of
Habitat has a rich and valuable history in Alaska and has been
functioning effectively within ADF&G since 2008 [slide 53]. The
division's experienced staff is located around the state in
regional offices in Fairbanks, Anchorage, Juneau, Soldotna,
Douglas, Craig, Palmer, and in the State Pipeline Coordinator's
Office [slide 54]. The staff consists of 47 full-time, 3 part-
time, and 7 non-permanent employees. Responding to
Representative Seaton's earlier question, he said there have
been no increases in staff in the Southcentral region, nor have
there been increases in salary for division staff located in the
Anchorage, Palmer, or Kenai areas.
MR. BATES read the Division of Habitat's mission statement: To
protect Alaska's valuable fish and wildlife resources and their
habitats as Alaska's population and economy continue to expand
[slide 55]. He said the division's statutory authorities are AS
16.05.841 for fish passage, AS 16.05.871 for fish habitat, and
AS 16.20 for legislatively designated special areas, such as
State Game Refuges, critical habitat areas, and wildlife
sanctuaries [slide 56].
MR. BATES explained that the Division of Habitat's top priority
core services includes Title 16 permitting for resident fish
passage, anadromous habitat, and legislatively designated areas,
along with managing the anadromous waters catalog and atlas
[slide 57]. Other priorities include agency reviews of the
Alaska Forest Resources and Practices Act (FRPA) and
participation on the state's large project permitting team
within DNR. The division also conducts special area planning
and research to assist the department in making sound permitting
decisions. In Fiscal Year 2012, the division conducted 4,940
permit reviews [slide 58]. Review times averaged 7.1 days for a
Fish Habitat Permit, and approximately 10 days for a Special
Area Permit. He pointed out that 99.7 percent of all developers
are in compliance with issued Fish Habitat and Special Area
Permits, which indicates the efficiency of the division.
2:46:57 PM
MR. BATES highlighted two projects. The first was an old
contaminated reserve pit within the Susitna Flats State Game
Refuge called the Ivan River Reserve Pit [slide 59]. The owner
of the pad, Chevron, worked closely with the Division of Habitat
to clean up contaminated soils from old drill cuttings. Chevron
and the division completed the project in four months using
54,000 man hours to remove 10,500 cubic yards of waste material
and bring in 8,500 cubic yards of clean gravel. Division staff
employed their knowledge of construction activities and affected
wildlife, and worked with Chevron to complete the project.
MR. BATES discussed the second project - the Northern Rail
Extension Project on the Tanana River [slide 60]. The Tanana
River Bridge is being built as part of the Alaska Railroad
Corporation (ARR) Northern Rail extension. A temporary riprap
causeway and pile-supported trusses are allowing for
construction of 20 bridge piers for the 3,300 foot-long bimodal
rail and military road bridge. Habitat staff worked with other
ADF&G divisions, ARR, the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, and
private consultants and engineers to facilitate winter
construction of the project. He pointed out that the
construction methods, timing, and monitoring are all designed to
ensure the protection of anadromous fish and their habitats,
while keeping the project on schedule.
2:51:50 PM
HAZEL NELSON, Director, Division of Subsistence, Alaska
Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G), informed the committee that
the mission of the Division of Subsistence is to quantify,
evaluate, and report information about customary and traditional
uses of Alaska's fish and wildlife uses [slides 63-64]. She
explained most of the division's work is accomplished by
anthropologists, who speak a language a little bit different
from that of biologists. Her division learns from the
communities it studies because there is no need to translate the
experiences gleaned into a biological standpoint. Further, in
many communities local liaisons can collect information through
the social fabric of friends and family in the local and nearby
regions. Ms. Nelson said her team works hard to ensure that the
information gathered is accurate, and uses different types and
lengths of surveys depending on the type of research being done.
2:55:40 PM
MS. NELSON relayed one of the commissioner's goals is to ensure
that ADF&G works with DNR and DOTPF to help those departments
fulfill their requirements on research for large development
projects [slides 65-67]. The division has completed work that
would have otherwise required the hiring of third-party
anthropological companies. Working with DNR and DOTPF also
enables the Division of Subsistence to capture research so that
the Board of Fisheries and the Board of Game can meet state
statutes applicable to Alaska Native subsistence. She said the
division's research also builds "long-term bridges with
communities for public involvement because when we go into a
community we're in it for the long-term; they need to be able to
trust that what we're doing with their information is maintained
confidentially and it's combined with other ... households so
that one household knows they're not just being targeted .... I
can't express how valuable that is to the Department of Fish and
Game ... for the research and data that ... we need to manage
for subsistence needs around the state." Ms. Nelson called
attention to the amount of research her division completed for
the wildlife and fisheries divisions recently. This research
was associated with large development projects such as The
Alaska Pipeline Project. She said that, unlike biologists, her
division works from January on into April because the
subsistence users are home during those months.
MS. NELSON turned to the division's challenges, pointing out
that the community liaisons must be thoroughly trained by her
small staff so that they can provide the most accurate data
[slide 68]. Incomplete surveys and those that are not filled
out properly cannot be used. Another challenge is when board
meetings are scheduled back-to-back. In response to
Representative Seaton, she noted that her division has added
staff in the Fairbanks, Bethel, and Douglas offices.
2:59:50 PM
CO-CHAIR FEIGE asked whether the division has a long-term plan
for systematically collecting data throughout the state.
MS. NELSON said there is a two-pronged approach. The longer
term plan has been to do research projects out of the Bethel
office in hub communities such as Nome, Kotzebue, and Kodiak.
This research will identify subsistence needs in a "broad
swath." The second prong uses the footprints from large
development projects because once they are in place DNR and
DOTPF work with the division. For example, once the Alaska
Pipeline Project was underway, the division completed research
in 12 communities, and for the Donlin Gold Mine project, 22
Kuskokwim River communities were covered in 3 years. The
division's continued relationship with DNR and DOTPF ensure
efficiencies in state government.
3:02:27 PM
CO-CHAIR SADDLER thanked the presenters.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Resources Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 3:02 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| DF&G Overview 01182013.pdf |
HRES 1/18/2013 1:00:00 PM |