02/18/2004 01:06 PM House RES
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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE
February 18, 2004
1:06 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Beverly Masek, Co-Chair
Representative Cheryll Heinze, Vice Chair
Representative Carl Gatto
Representative Bob Lynn
Representative Nick Stepovich
Representative Kelly Wolf
Representative Beth Kerttula
Representative David Guttenberg
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Nancy Dahlstrom, Co-Chair
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 409
"An Act relating to the maximum length of salmon seine vessels;
and providing for an effective date."
- MOVED CSHB 409(FSH) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 409
SHORT TITLE: SEINE VESSEL LENGTH
REPRESENTATIVE(s): WILLIAMS BY REQUEST OF SALMON INDUSTRY TASK
FORCE
01/28/04 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/28/04 (H) FSH, RES
02/09/04 (H) FSH AT 9:00 AM CAPITOL 124
02/09/04 (H) Heard & Held
02/09/04 (H) MINUTE(FSH)
02/16/04 (H) FSH AT 9:00 AM CAPITOL 124
02/16/04 (H) Moved CSHB 409(FSH) Out of Committee
02/16/04 (H) MINUTE(FSH)
02/18/04 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 124
WITNESS REGISTER
TIM BARRY, Staff
to Representative William Williams
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented CSHB 409(FSH) on behalf of
Representative Williams, sponsor by request of the Salmon
Industry Task Force.
HERMAN M. MEINERS, JR.
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: During the discussion of CSHB 409(FSH),
testified in support of changing the 58-foot length limit so
that there can be larger vessels and thus allow processing to
occur [on the vessel].
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 04-5, SIDE A
Number 0001
CO-CHAIR BEVERLY MASEK called the House Resources Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:06 p.m. Representatives Masek,
Gatto, Lynn, Stepovich, Wolf, and Guttenberg were present at the
call to order. Representative Kerttula arrived as the meeting
was in progress.
HB 409-SEINE VESSEL LENGTH
CO-CHAIR MASEK announced that the only order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 409, "An Act relating to the maximum length of
salmon seine vessels; and providing for an effective date." She
informed the committee that CSHB 409(FSH) was before the
committee.
Number 0136
TIM BARRY, Staff to Representative William Williams, Alaska
State Legislature, presented CSHB 409(FSH) on behalf of
Representative Williams, sponsor by request of the Joint
Legislative Salmon Industry Task Force. This legislation was
put forward buy the Joint Legislative Salmon Industry Task Force
because it would provide the Board of Fisheries and Alaska's
fishermen an additional tool that should allow them to diversify
and increase the value of their fish. The legislation doesn't
remove from statute the 58-foot length limit on salmon seiners
rather it provides the Board of Fisheries the discretion to
change that limit after going through the normal public process.
Furthermore, this legislation will place these boats in the same
regulatory regime as all other fishing boat size limits. The
58-foot length limit is only one of two that are in statute.
CO-CHAIR MASEK highlighted that the [committee members should
have] documents regarding purse seiners as well as the total
number of people with permits.
Number 0381
REPRESENTATIVE LYNN inquired as to the reasoning for limiting
the length of the vessels.
MR. BARRY related his understanding that this is a statute or
rule that predates statehood. He related that in the 1950s
there was a large fleet of large boats from Puget Sound and
those in the territory were concerned that the fleet would come
up and dominate the fishery. However, to date no one has
related why the length of 58 feet was chosen.
REPRESENTATIVE LYNN asked if the same problem could occur now.
MR. BARRY said that those in the industry specify that the
industry has changed tremendously since the 1950s. In fact, now
there is a much larger Alaskan fleet than there is in the Puget
Sound fleet. Therefore, he surmised that the concern is not
nearly the same.
Number 0547
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO expressed concern with Alaska's inability
to sell pink salmon and receive a good enough price to prop up
the market. However, a larger boat results in the investment of
even more capital. He surmised that [this legislation]
essentially forces someone to compete with someone else and take
a larger risk, which is more likely to push someone to the brink
of bankruptcy. Therefore, he asked if it is more appropriate to
use a shorter length limit rather than longer.
MR. BARRY reiterated that the length limit isn't eliminated with
the passage of this legislation, which merely allows the Board
of Fisheries to determine [the length]. Mr. Barry pointed out
that the Board of Fisheries has to consider the issues raised by
Representative Gatto. Furthermore, this legislation doesn't
change any of the other rules regarding gear. There are other
tools in place that control the amount of fish caught by any one
boat, he pointed out.
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO discussed the need to be aware of
unintended consequences. He related his belief that the problem
is [a combination of] the lack of dollars for pink salmon, the
number of salmon caught, and the ability to market them rather
than the length of the seine. Changing the rules impacts who
comes and stays, he said. Representative Gatto concluded by
expressing the need for hard evidence supporting the need [for
this legislation]; he asked if such information is available.
MR. BARRY responded that he didn't have that information.
However, he reiterated that the Board of Fisheries has the
authority to regulate the size of every other commercial fishing
boat in the state and this is the only [one of two] regulations
enshrined in statute. This legislation, per the request of many
fishermen in the state, allows the Board of Fisheries, through
its wisdom, to make available some options to fishermen. "If
they share your concerns, they're not going to do it. And if
they hear from a lot of people around the state ... who also
share your concerns, they won't do it," he related.
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO pointed out that the current statute merely
limits the length to 58 feet and thus there can be boats that
are shorter.
MR. BARRY agreed.
Number 0940
CO-CHAIR MASEK highlighted that this legislation doesn't remove
the 58-foot length limit; rather it provides the Board of
Fisheries the authority to go through the normal process to
consider a change in the length limit. She pointed out that the
committee packet contains a letter from Scott McAllister, an
Alaska purse seiner. In his letter, Mr. McAllister specifies
that this legislation would improve the quality of fresh and
frozen salmon products. The aforementioned is fairly valuable
to fishermen.
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF noted that he shares Representative Gatto's
concerns. Furthermore, Representative Wolf expressed concern
with regard to trusting the Board of Fisheries and thus he
wanted to research this issue a bit more.
REPRESENTATIVE GUTTENBERG surmised that the reason for this is
to allow more on-board processing and product enhancements.
MR. BARRY said he believes that to be the main impetus for the
legislation. He recalled Mr. McAllister's testimony in the
House Special Committee on Fisheries which related that with an
extra 10 to 15 feet he would do on-board processing and add
value to his product.
REPRESENTATIVE GUTTENBERG related his understanding that the
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has a 65-foot
length limit for food processing regulations, which he
characterized as large processor type regulations. Those
vessels under 65 feet have minimal regulations. Therefore, he
questioned whether this legislation is doing more than allowing
the boat length limit to increase by seven feet or will changes
in DEC regulations be sought.
MR. BARRY assumed that such a discussion would occur with the
Board of Fisheries when there is a request to change the length
limit.
Number 1202
REPRESENTATIVE STEPOVICH noted his observation that there are
more resident permits than nonresident permits. He inquired as
to who brought these concerns to Representative Williams.
MR. BARRY explained that this legislation came through the
process of the Joint Legislative Salmon Industry Task Force. He
noted that the issue has been around a while and it's primarily
being pushed by Alaskan fishermen. In further response to
Representative Stepovich, Mr. Barry explained that the Joint
Legislative Salmon Industry Task Force was set up a couple of
years ago by the legislature. It was a cooperative venture with
folks in the industry in order to develop innovative ways to
help Alaska's salmon fisheries.
REPRESENTATIVE STEPOVICH surmised then that the Joint
Legislative Salmon Industry Task Force was established to
enhance the capabilities "for the state to have a better ...
gross on the fishing." However, it doesn't mean that there will
be more fish [caught] rather it means that "they" will do a
better job.
MR. BARRY noted his agreement.
Number 1334
REPRESENTATIVE HEINZE commented that since this is a request
from the Joint Legislative Salmon Industry Task Force, it
carries a lot of weight. She recalled that when this
legislation was heard in the House Special Committee on
Fisheries it was clear that the extra feet would provide room
for processing, which she viewed as at the heart of this
legislation. Therefore, it's important to keep focused on the
aforementioned, the processing on board.
MR. BARRY replied yes.
Number 1427
HERMAN M. MEINERS, JR., purse seiner, informed the committee
that he has been fishing in Alaska since 1967. Mr. Meiners said
that he supports changing the 58-foot length limit so that there
can be larger vessels and thus processing could be added to the
equation. The length change would provide a tool by which the
[fishermen] could work toward making more money. Currently,
it's difficult to do one single fishery and make a living. He
noted that this would help his operation because it would help
sell the old boats, expand the markets, and probably help
"things get rolling." Mr. Meiners mentioned that he provided
lengthy testimony in the [House Special Committee on Fisheries]
meeting. However, he highlighted that no matter the size of the
boat, the gear limitations don't change. "Every area is
restricted by its gear," he said. In response to Co-Chair
Masek, Mr. Meiners said that he has an S01K. In further
response to Co-Chair Masek, Mr. Meiners said that an SO1K2 could
be the set net permit. He noted that he also has a gillnet
permit in Southeast Alaska.
Number 1613
REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA asked if this legislation would
potentially help in managing [fish processing] better.
MR. MEINERS replied yes, noting that with the volume fisheries,
such as the humpies, there could be an increase in price. The
whole idea is quality. Mr. Meiners explained that what will
occur is one will cut down the volume of fish caught because it
will take a long time to process the fish. However, the end
result could be more money.
REPRESENTATIVE HEINZE recalled Mr. Meiners' testimony from the
[House Special Committee on Fisheries] meeting in which he
mentioned the smallness of the boat and that as permit holders
age, the cramped quarters are becoming more difficult.
MR. MEINERS agreed.
Number 1716
REPRESENTATIVE STEPOVICH commented that the price of permits is
in the state's interest, noting that the price of permits has
declined. Therefore, he asked if [this legislation] could
result in increasing the price of permits.
MR. MEINERS replied yes.
CO-CHAIR MASEK, upon determining no one else wished to testify,
closed public testimony.
Number 1807
REPRESENTATIVE HEINZE moved to report CSHB 409(FSH) out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
fiscal notes. There being no objection, it was so ordered.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Resources Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 1:31 p.m.
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