Legislature(2005 - 2006)BUTROVICH 205
04/21/2006 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB170 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 170 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 314 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE
April 21, 2006
3:38 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Thomas Wagoner, Chair
Senator Ralph Seekins, Vice Chair
Senator Ben Stevens
Senator Fred Dyson
Senator Bert Stedman
Senator Kim Elton
Senator Albert Kookesh
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 170
"An Act relating to the Department of Fish and Game, the Board
of Fisheries, and the Board of Game; relating to the taking of
big game and to the disposition of a mount, trophy, or part of a
fish or game animal; setting fees for certain trapping licenses
and certain hunting licenses, permits, and tags; setting fees
for the resident combined hunting, trapping, and sport fishing
license and the resident combined hunting and sport fishing
license; relating to the resident small game hunting license;
setting application fees for certain hunting permits and stamps;
establishing a surcharge on hunting, trapping, and sport fishing
licenses; relating to certain hunting, trapping, and sport
fishing licenses, tags, permits, and stamps; relating to the
fish and game fund; relating to violations of fish and game
laws; relating to state management of wildlife; relating to
endangered fish and wildlife; and providing for an effective
date."
HEARD AND HELD
SENATE BILL NO. 314
"An Act limiting retroactive adjustments in the sale price of
state royalty oil sold by the state to a refiner."
SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 170
SHORT TITLE: BD/DEPT OF FISH & GAME POWERS & DUTIES
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) SEEKINS
04/12/05 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/12/05 (S) RES, FIN
04/18/05 (S) RES AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
04/18/05 (S) Heard & Held
04/18/05 (S) MINUTE(RES)
04/22/05 (S) RES AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
04/22/05 (S) Heard & Held
04/22/05 (S) MINUTE(RES)
10/10/05 (S) RES AT 6:30 PM NOME
10/11/05 (S) RES AT 6:30 PM Fairbanks
10/12/05 (S) RES AT 6:30 PM Coldfoot
10/14/05 (S) RES AT 2:00 PM Barrow
10/15/05 (S) RES AT 3:00 PM Chugiak
04/12/06 (S) RES AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
04/12/06 (S) Heard & Held
04/12/06 (S) MINUTE(RES)
04/21/06 (S) RES AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
CLARK WHITNEY, Master Guide
Soldotna, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed SSSB 170.
DALE ADAMS
Southeast Alaska Guides Association
Sitka, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed SSSB 170.
WAYNE HEIMER
Fairbanks AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Offered suggestions and perspective on SSSB
170 as a former ADF&G employee.
DAVE LYON
Alaska Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (ABHA)
Homer AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed SSSB 170.
ROD ARNO, Director
Alaska Outdoor Council
Fairbanks AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SSSB 170.
STEVE PERRINS, Master Guide
Anchorage AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed SSSB 170.
MARK WAGONER, Registered Guide
Kodiak, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed SSSB 170.
PAUL SHADURA, Executive Director
Kenai Peninsula Fishermen's Association
Kenai, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed SSSB 170.
Koreen Lamoureux
Anchorage, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed SSSB 170.
TRACY VREM, Master Guide
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed SSSB 170
MIKE LITZEN, Licensed Master Guide
Nikiski, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed SSSB 170.
JOE KLUTSCH, President
Alaska Professional Hunters Association (APHA)
AK Peninsula, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed SSSB 170.
GLORIA STICKWAN
Glennallen, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed SSSB 170
DR. ROLAND MAW, Executive Director
United Cook Inlet Driftnet Association (UCIDA)
Kenai, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Outlined concerns with SSSB 170
RICKY GEASE, Executive Director
Kenai River Sportfishing Association (KRSA)
Soldotna, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed SSSB 170
JOEL BENNETT, former Board of Game member,
Juneau, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Pointed out shortfalls in SSSB 170
BOBBY FITHIAN, Executive Director
Alaska Professional Hunters Association (APHA)
Lower Tonsina, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported the primary objective of SSSB 170
and opposed other aspects of SSSB 170.
ACTION NARRATIVE
CHAIR THOMAS WAGONER called the Senate Resources Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:38:04 PM. Present at the call to
order were Senators Ben Stevens, Bert Stedman, Ralph Seekins,
Kim Elton, Albert Kookesh, Fred Dyson, and Chair Thomas Wagoner.
SB 170-BD/DEPT OF FISH & GAME POWERS & DUTIES
CHAIR THOMAS WAGONER announced SB 170 to be up for consideration
and opened public testimony. [The committee was working from
SSSB 170, labeled, 24-LS0494\C. It was adopted as the working
document on 4/12/06.]
CLARK WHITNEY, Master Guide, Soldotna, said although the issues
in SB 170 are of concern statewide, his comments would relate to
Units 9, 17, and 19 in particular. Clearly the ungulate
population is in trouble and that has already impacted his
business. However, if Units 9 and 17 are declared intensive
management areas and the guide requirement is dropped, the
financial impact on registered and master guides in those areas
will be devastating. He noted that much of Unit 19 is already
under intensive management.
In recent years both the number of guides and the number of
bears that are harvested has increased dramatically. That
coupled with the predator control program will result in
increased ungulate survival. Guides are closely regulated and
they must meet stringent registration and reporting
requirements. The industry is working with the Big Game
Commercial Services Board to improve the industry standards.
MR. WHITNEY asserted that SB 170 would impose severe financial
handicaps on a viable guiding industry. Furthermore it would
create hardship on fish and game management, and negate the hard
work that many people have done to properly control and manage
wildlife resources.
3:41:16 PM
He suggested that if Senator Seekins wants to make changes in
fish and game matters he ought to work with the entities
involved to develop a more realistic approach.
SENATOR SEEKINS asked Mr. Whitney if he was aware of his efforts
to work with various groups around the state.
MR. WHITNEY replied he is a member of Alaska Professional
Hunters Association (APHA) and he got the indication that he had
not worked closely with that group.
3:42:16 PM
DALE ADAMS, Southeast Alaska Guides Association, Sitka, said he
had three points to make. First the association believes that a
license tag fee increase is reasonable but the proposed
increases would drive clients away. Most of the hunters he works
with aren't wealthy and they don't have to come to Alaska if it
is too expensive. The second point relates to lifting the guide
requirement in intensively managed units. He suggested that
opening some areas to resident guiding would open a crack that
could snowball and be difficult to stop. Finally, the guide
requirement is a great benefit to Alaskans because it ensures
residents have the opportunity to hunt for sheep, goats and
brown bear every year. Other states have lost this opportunity.
3:45:03 PM
SENATOR SEEKINS asked Mr. Adams if he had a fee schedule to
propose.
MR. ADAMS replied the association was thinking that a 40 percent
or 50 percent increase would be understandable, but increasing
the fees by several hundred percent is not. When the license,
tag, and trophy fees for a brown bear hunt potentially approach
60 percent of the cost of the hunt clients will balk.
SENATOR BERT STEDMAN asked if he's found that a novice has
difficulty distinguishing between a male and female bear.
MR. ADAMS replied it's extremely difficult and without
considerable experience the odds of taking a sow are tremendous.
SENATOR STEDMAN asked if he would expect that Tongass hunters
would run into more wounded bears in the woods if the guide
requirement were dropped.
MR. ADAMS replied the wounding loss would increase dramatically.
He noted the new regulation that requires a hunter to stop
hunting if he or she wounds an animal and said any guide in
Alaska that's worth his salt has a 100-yard rule. We want to be
no more than 100 yards away, have a good rest, and make sure the
bear is dead. Non-residents don't look at it that way, he said.
3:48:41 PM
SENATOR SEEKINS asked if someone who has lived in Alaska 12
months would be a better shot or more capable of judging an
animal's size or sex than someone who has not lived here that
long.
MR. ADAMS replied without a lot of experience it would be
difficult for anyone to differentiate the size and sex of an
animal regardless of residency.
SENATOR SEEKINS asked if there ought to be a guide requirement
for residents.
MR. ADAMS replied no, but it is a tricky area. Certainly
education could be part of a program, but nothing takes the
place of an experienced guide that has been in the field for
multiple trips and is able to keep a handle on the situation.
3:50:18 PM
CHAIR WAGONER asked what a reasonable fee increase might be for
a non-resident hunter.
MR. ADAMS replied he hadn't penciled it out but a 45 percent
increase is a starting point.
3:51:16 PM
CHAIR WAGONER said Alaska residents are getting a free skate in
that they don't pay tag fees. He asked for his perspective
because one of the ideas behind the fee increase is to get a
better predator control program going.
MR. ADAMS replied it wouldn't be out of line to increase
resident fees and that would bring more money in to deal with
predator issues.
3:53:00 PM
WAYNE HEIMER, Fairbanks, said he was speaking for himself as a
retired fish and game employee. The reason we're here, he said,
is because the decisions the department has made over the last
25 years are not within the constitutional mandate. When the
constitution was new there weren't modern notions about fish and
game management.
When Title 16 was passed there was no need to define the
commissioner's duties because it was commonly understood that
they were to manage, protect, improve, and extend fish and game
resources. Now there is confusion about the meaning of those
terms.
He suggested that much of the controversy surrounding SB 170 is
a matter of perception and much of the confusion could be
mitigated if the commissioner's functions were defined upfront.
He recommended changing that language to "duties" because it is
more directive. Furthermore, management, protection, improvement
and extension ought to be defined early in the bill.
3:55:43 PM
SENATOR SEEKINS asked if his professional wildlife experience
had centered on sheep.
MR. HEIMER replied his experience was with Dall sheep originally
and at the end of his career he worked in state federal
relations.
SENATOR SEEKINS asked for his perspective on how the state is
doing in the management of wildlife.
MR. HEIMER replied not very well because the state is confused
about what it means to manage. He further suggested that the
state has lost the will to manage, which is the result of the
federal take over of management on federal land.
3:58:10 PM
DAVE LYON, Alaska Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (ABHA), Homer,
said ABHA supports the hunting license and tag fee increases
that ADF&G requested. He remarked that is what the bill
addressed initially.
Currently SB 170 addresses the issue of the demand for moose and
caribou exceeding supply and attempts to mandate an increase in
the supply and harvest of ungulates. He said we keep taking
authority for managing fish and game away from the trained
biologists and managers at ADF&G and putting it in the hands of
politicians. Let fish and game do its job, provide adequate
funding, and stress adaptive management over intensive
management.
ABHA supports the original funding increase that fish and game
requested. It does not support changes to Title 16 beyond the
required amendment dealing with license and tag fee increases
and transparency via annual budget reports made available on-
line. ADF&G should not be forced into practicing or promoting
biologically unsound or unscientific management practices.
4:03:09 PM
ROD ARNO, Director, Alaska Outdoor Council, Fairbanks, thanked
the committee for the work it had done on the bill and urged its
passage so that the next committee could further refine the
language. He emphasized that the system is broken, but that is
not a vote of no confidence in the commissioner or the
department. He aired the view that the state finally has the
right governor and the right commissioner to make needed
positive changes in Title 16.
4:08:39 PM
STEVE PERRINS, Master Guide, Anchorage, said he operates in Unit
16 and has been a guide for 30 years. He said ADF&G has made
great strides to increase the ungulate populations and decrease
the number of wolves and bears. From his perspective dropping
the guide requirement in the intense management areas is self-
serving and would be devastating to the guide industry.
Furthermore, the tag increases that Senator Seekins proposed
would cause hunters to simply go elsewhere. Although there is
talk that a 45 percent increase in license and tag fees would
cover inflation, the sponsor is proposing increases as high as
600 percent over the next five-year period.
He outlined the annual cost for a resident fishing, hunting, and
trapping license and said it's time for an increase. Non-
resident fees could sustain increases and he would recommend
they be more in line with a 15 percent increase every other year
for the next 5 to 6 years. Let ADF&G do its job in cooperation
with the biologists and professional organizations that report
back to it he said in conclusion.
4:12:22 PM
SENATOR SEEKINS asked Mr. Perrins if he knew where the suggested
license fees came from.
MR. PERRINS said no.
SENATOR SEEKINS informed him that the Anchorage Advisory
Committee recommended the fee schedule.
4:13:40 PM
MARK WAGONER, Registered Guide, Kodiak, said he is opposed to
any aspect of SB 170 and he's particularly concerned about the
non-resident tag increases. He related that it's difficult to
sell an Alaska hunting trip when a Canadian trip costs the same
or less and the license and tags are included. Mr. Wagoner made
the point that if a trip isn't competitive, the hunter can and
will go somewhere else in the world.
A reasonable increase in license and tag fees is acceptable, but
the proposed increases are out of line. The notion of charging
residents for species tags may be a hot potato, but it ought to
be considered. It's the right thing to do at this stage, he
said.
4:18:57 PM
PAUL SHADURA, Executive Director, Kenai Peninsula Fishermen's
Association, Kenai, said the association opposes SB 170 as
written, but it agrees with the concept of maximum sustained
yield for major fish stocks. However, for management of lesser
stocks the concept would be devastating for the commercial
fishing industry, he said.
MR. SHADURA made the observation that the Board of Fisheries is
already burdened with more political assessments than biological
assessments and the proposed changes would exacerbate the
situation by creating more controversy and reducing the
decisions that are based on best available science practices.
4:20:10 PM
KOREEN LAMOUREX, Anchorage, said she was representing herself as
a homemaker and a hunter. She characterized the changes proposed
in SB 170 as broad based and sweeping the result of which would
be to divide Alaskans, jeopardize the industry, lessen the
integrity of fish and game, and provide future challenges for
problems it purports to fix.
The legislature should not set or govern regulations or
expenditures that are earned and set aside for wildlife and game
management, she said. SB 170 would lower professional standards
and weaken management by allowing legislative control to open
the door for special interests to govern fish and wildlife
policies in Alaska. Those policies should be based on biology
and what has been learned historically.
MS. LAMOUREX reported that non-resident sportsmen bring over
$200 million to Alaska's coffer each year and pay for over 76
percent of the wildlife conservation costs. SB 170 jeopardizes
that money without any apparent gain to the state, the people,
or the wildlife and fishery resources. She expressed the view
that the proposed increases for licenses and tag fees are
ridiculous because non-resident sportsmen already bear the brunt
of stocking the state's wildlife and fish management fund. It's
reasonable to expect resident fees to increase somewhat, but for
non-resident fees to increase over 400 percent is out of line.
MS. LAMOUREX suggested that resident, non-resident, and alien
hunters should all be required to use a locking metal tag for
all big game species in all areas of the state regardless of
whether the area is intensively managed or not. She elaborated
that the locking tag is a management tool that would provide
income to the state.
She noted that selling licenses and big game tags on the
Internet is user friendly yet SB 170 proposes a 5 percent
discount with a $1 to $5 surcharge, which would penalize those
without Internet access.
Waterfowl stamps provide a statewide management tool and the
federal government uses the information as well. No one should
be exempt from the need to purchase a stamp, she asserted.
If Musk ox are permitted and don't require a big game tag it
ought to be done the same way as all other permitted animals.
The system is already splintered and a new category of permits
isn't necessary, she said.
MS. LAMOUREX said SB 170 liberalizes bear harvests beyond the
realm of ethical standard and would harm future hunting in
Alaska more than it would help. Furthermore, it vacillates
between charging more or nothing depending on who you are and
where you come from.
MS. LAMOUREX further stated that SB 170 negates section
16.05.255 throughout and in areas would destroy the heritage of
hunting and trapping in Alaska.
4:26:38 PM
TRACY VREM, Master Guide, Anchorage, said SB 170 completely
undercuts guided hunts. The fee structure isn't well thought out
and would cause sportsmen to go hunting in Russia or Canada
instead of Alaska.
4:27:34 PM
MIKE LITZEN, Licensed Master Guide, Nikiski, described SB 170 as
a single bill that makes too many sweeping changes to the
industry. He suggested that the concerns that brought the bill
about should be addressed in measured steps. Although he
supports reasonable tag fee increases for non-resident hunters
and believes that residents ought to begin paying a nominal
amount for big game tag fees, the proposed increases for non-
residents are excessive and would put hunting in Alaska out of
reach for some of his clients.
MR. LITZEN said he is adamantly opposed to unlicensed people
taking bear hunters out in certain areas. There were reasons for
establishing the guide requirements and licensing standards.
Currently the Big Game Commercial Services Board is working to
strengthen those standards to protect the resource and public
safety. The proposed change would undermine the industry and
devalue the service.
MR. LITZEN suggested that the current predator control program
is beginning to show positive results and said he favors
implementation in new areas where relief is needed from predator
prey imbalances. Give the programs a chance to work before
resorting to more radical measures, he said. Mr. Litzen
expressed confidence in the existing Board of Game process as
well as the conservation expertise that ADF&G brings to the
board. It should stay this way, he said.
4:31:53 PM
JOE KLUTSCH, President, Alaska Professional Hunters Association
(APHA), Alaska Peninsula, informed the committee of his letter
sent on behalf of the association expressing concern with SB
170. He said Ms. Lamoureux accurately outlined the economic
contribution of the guiding industry. The $200 million per year
includes money going out of guide's pockets for supplies, boats,
insurance, air taxi support, license and permitting fees and to
government agencies.
Up to 70 percent of the Division of Wildlife Conservation budget
is funded from the sale of non-resident license and tag fees and
the association supports a reasonable increase. His letter
supported a 25 percent increase, but those suggested by the
Anchorage Advisory Committee are totally different. With regard
to the issue of tag fees for residents, he said that's
reasonable because the department needs the money.
MR. KLUTSCH urged the committee to carefully consider Mr. Horn's
letter regarding the legal ramifications of exempting brown bear
hunters from the guide requirement in areas of intensive
management. Don't dismiss his analysis as just another
attorney's opinion, he cautioned. This provision has serious
unintended consequences. It would carry over to areas not under
intensive management and to other guide-required species.
Furthermore, it provides potential for abuse of the system in
the form of barter, trade and cash under the table.
He stated agreement with the concept of managing for abundance
and sustained yield for human use and with including predators
in the management equation. However, the legal thresholds for
that process are set too high. If you reach a threshold of
biological emergency then there's been a management failure, he
said. The bill should not direct management plans, methods and
means. That is a board process and function.
We are in your camp in the respect that we're working for what
is good for guides, what is good for residents, and what is good
for wildlife, he concluded.
SENATOR SEEKINS asked what he thinks of the second degree of
kindred law.
MR. KLUTSCH outlined the historical origin and opined that there
are probably a number of residents who are capable, ethical and
experienced enough to accompany someone in the field and do a
good job. However, they are not insured, they don't have land
use authorization, and they don't always know about regulatory
conditions. He expressed the opinion that it puts too much in
jeopardy for the guide-required species.
SENATOR SEEKINS asked if the Board of Game ought be required to
check with the governor's office before authorizing a predator
control program.
MR. KLUTSCH said no. Providing for explicit management direction
in statute is of major concern because the board should be given
latitude. He expressed the view that the anti-predator
management contingent has forced us into this arena, but the
sponsor is on the right track.
4:43:21 PM
SENATOR ELTON described Mr. Horn's letter as compelling and said
he'd like him to testify if the bill had a subsequent hearing.
He could also discuss whether the sale of bear hides or trophies
could negatively implicate the guiding industry.
MR. KLUTSCH said Mr. Horn was amenable to testifying. He noted
that he had neglected to mention that APHA has always been on
record opposing the sale of hides and trophies.
4:44:26 PM
GLORIA STICKWAN, Glennallen, represented herself and testified
that she was opposed to many aspects of SB 170. [Abbreviated
testimony due to audio difficulties.]
4:48:43 PM
DR. ROLAND MAW, Executive Director, United Cook Inlet Drift
Association, Kasilof, said his comments on SB 170 relate to
separating hunting issues from fishing issues. Sections 9, 11,
and 17 are particularly troublesome and require further
discussion. [Dr. Maw was speaking to the original version of SB
170, labeled 24-LS0494\I]
Section 9 talks about "expenditure for projects that directly
benefit purchasers of..." but it's not practical in the instance
of a hatchery or enhancement program that's designed primarily
for sport fishing when the fish move through a commercial
fishery. The reverse wouldn't work either because a project
that's designed for commercial fishing always has an allowance
for the sport harvest. Section 11 has similar problems, but
Section 19 is particularly egregious and would probably cause
some commercial fisheries to close. If those items are left in
he could not support the bill.
DR. MAW stated full support with Paul Shadura's comments and
expressed the personal view that the proposed fees are not
particularly egregious.
CHAIR WAGONER asked Dr. Maw which version he was speaking to.
DR. MAW said he downloaded it from the Internet. [Original
version of SB 170, labeled 24-LS0494\I
4:52:31 PM
RICKY GEASE, Executive Director, Kenai River Sportfishing
Association, Soldotna, echoed Paul Shadura's comments and said
it's not effective to pile more responsibilities on the Board of
Fisheries when its plate is already full. He expressed concern
with Section 2 and said some sport fisheries are already doing
well operating under optimum sustained yield. Also, he said, we
do manage for species we don't harvest. Northern Pike on the
Kenai Peninsula are an example and he would not want to limit
the department's ability to manage those fish.
He highlighted Section 74, which allows the purchase or sale of
sport or personal use fish, and said this would create severe
law enforcement problems for the Kenai Peninsula in its Sockeye
and King fisheries.
4:54:03 PM
JOEL BENNETT, Juneau, presented the perspective of a former
member of the Board of Game who served from 1977 to 1990. He
identified Sections 4 and 18 of the sponsor substitute as the
areas that contain the most sweeping changes. They require the
department to receive the appropriate board approval before
implementing any plan, strategy or guideline that establishes or
affects the management of fish and game. Mr. Bennett described
the requirement as unprecedented and said it's unworkable to
expect the board to review and approve what are essentially day-
to-day department matters.
Under the current system these lay-member boards have revolving
schedules. They consider regulations every two years for the
different five regions and every four years for statewide
regulations. If SSSB 170 were to be implemented, it would call
for a full-time board. That means it would be a professional
board rather than a lay-member board, which it has been since
Statehood. Mr. Bennett noted that the bill does not address
revamping the board system and reiterated his perspective that
the most sweeping provision is the most defective.
4:57:31 PM
BOBBY FITHIAN, Executive Director, Alaska Professional Hunters
Association (APHA), Lower Tonsina, said APHA supports the
primary objective of SSSB 170, which is to facilitate more
active management of Alaska's fish and wildlife resources to
provide maximum sustained yield. In particular APHA supports the
provisions for changing the legal standard of review for
entering into intensive management.
APHA does not support deleting the guide requirement in
intensive managed units. Although it has existed in state law
for 47 years, it exists through a narrow window of allowance in
federal constitutional law. The three factors that are allowed
in federal law are public safety, enforcement, and conservation.
Legal counsel has said that to deviate and drop the guide
requirement in intensive management areas and allow non-resident
hunters to be accompanied by resident hunters puts the scope of
that activity beyond that narrow window of allowance. If this
bill were to pass as written, there is the risk of eliminating a
$200 million per year industry that has sustained itself for 100
years.
He asked the committee to envision what would happen in the
state if the guide requirement were dropped and suggested that
the level of effort would skyrocket. Other states have faced
this issue and they have gone to drawing permits for quality
hunting. That, he asserted, would pit every Alaskan resident
against every non-resident who wanted to harvest a big game
animal. He described that eventuality as a loss for Alaska as a
whole.
APHA is on record supporting a 25 percent increase in non-
resident license and tag fees. Furthermore, APHA would like the
committee to consider implementing resident tag fees because
it's time for Alaska residents to step up and provide adequate
and equitable support for the wildlife conservation effort.
5:02:46 PM
MR. FITHIAN read the following ADF&G sectional analysis of
Section 74, dealing with the sale of trophies and said it
parallels APHA concerns and historic comments.
The apparent intent of this section is to allow the
sale of big game trophies, but the language allows the
sale of any legally taken fish or game. As mentioned
in comments on previous versions, this would include
meat from game animals as well as well as parts such
as gall bladders, claws, teeth - some which have
market demand.
This section could lead to market hunting, sale of
fish caught for personal use, sport, or subsistence
use. Moreover, it turns all cases into commerce thus,
bringing Alaska within the scope of case law limiting
state's abilities to regulate interstate commerce.
This imperils all of Alaska's existing preferences and
quotas for residents including but not limited to
limiting subsistence uses to residents, reserving
drawing permit quotas to residents, and closing non-
resident uses before closing resident uses.
5:04:05 PM
MR. FITHIAN discussed brown bear conservation history. In 1925
the newly formed Alaska Game Commission banned the harvest of
brown bears for the sale of the hides. In 1957 the commission
made it illegal statewide to harvest a maternal brown bear and a
year later it became illegal statewide to harvest a bear cub. In
1964 it became illegal to harvest a bear the same day that a
hunter was airborne and in 1967 the one bear every four years
provision was implemented for both resident and non-resident
hunters. Those sound bear conservation measures were in place
through the late 1980s thus creating a widespread distribution
of enhanced ungulate populations that was unique to Alaska.
Various lawsuits and ballot measures in the 1980s brought on the
loss of ability to control wolves that started the downward
spiral of ungulate populations. "Those initiatives were brought
on by anti-hunters and animal rights organizations" but they
aren't here now because we're right where they want us to be.
We're hunters and unique Alaskans that are fighting among
ourselves for what is left. The solution is to focus on the
efforts that brought us here, he said, and APHA is available to
help the sponsor in that effort.
5:07:11 PM
MR. FITHIAN stated that APHA encourages reigning in the Division
of Subsistence and developing a truthful accountability to
accommodate the needs and concerns of true subsistence users.
Historically APHA has worked with ADF&G and the Board of Game
and we are gaining ground, he said. Also, the creation of the
Big Game Commercial Services Board is a positive step for
establishing accountability and sustainability in the guide and
transporter industries.
5:11:46 PM
SENATOR SEEKINS asked Mr. Fithian if he was familiar with the
Ballard study on the effect of bear predation on moose calf
survival rates.
MR. FITHIAN said he does not have good knowledge of the study.
SENATOR SEEKINS asked if he knew how moose calf survival was
affected as a result of bear relocation in the McGrath area.
MR. FITHIAN replied he was very familiar with that.
CHAIR WAGONER announced he would hold SB 170 in committee.
CHAIR WAGONER apologized that the committee did not have time to
hear SB 314.
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Wagoner adjourned the meeting at 5:13:15 PM.
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