Legislature(2007 - 2008)BUTROVICH 205
03/26/2008 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB137 | |
| Confirmation Hearings – Board of Fisheries | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 137 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE
March 26, 2008
3:39 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Charlie Huggins, Chair
Senator Lyda Green
Senator Gary Stevens
Senator Bill Wielechowski
Senator Thomas Wagoner
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Bert Stedman, Vice Chair
Senator Lesil McGuire
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 137(FIN) am
"An Act providing for free hunting and sport fishing licenses
for active members of the Alaska National Guard; and amending
the requirements for the identification card needed for sport
fishing, hunting, and trapping without a license by residents
who are 60 years of age or more; and providing for an effective
date."
HEARD AND HELD
Confirmation Hearings:
Board of Fisheries
William S. Brown, Juneau
CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
John E. Jensen, Petersburg
Melvan E. Morris, Kodiak
HEARD AND HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 137
SHORT TITLE: FISHING/HUNTING/TRAPPING LICENSES
SPONSOR(s): FISHERIES
02/14/07 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/14/07 (H) FSH, RES, FIN
02/19/07 (H) FSH AT 8:30 AM CAPITOL 124
02/19/07 (H) -- Meeting Canceled --
02/23/07 (H) FSH AT 8:30 AM CAPITOL 124
02/23/07 (H) Moved CSHB 137(FSH) Out of Committee
02/23/07 (H) MINUTE(FSH)
02/26/07 (H) FSH RPT CS(FSH) 2DP 1DNP 2NR
02/26/07 (H) DP: WILSON, SEATON
02/26/07 (H) DNP: JOHANSEN
02/26/07 (H) NR: LEDOUX, HOLMES
02/26/07 (H) FSH AT 8:30 AM BARNES 124
02/26/07 (H) <Bill Hearing Canceled>
03/12/07 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
03/12/07 (H) Moved CSHB 137(RES) Out of Committee
03/12/07 (H) MINUTE(RES)
03/14/07 (H) RES RPT CS(RES) 4DP 4NR
03/14/07 (H) DP: SEATON, ROSES, WILSON, JOHNSON
03/14/07 (H) NR: EDGMON, GUTTENBERG, KAWASAKI, GATTO
03/27/07 (H) FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519
03/27/07 (H) Heard & Held
03/27/07 (H) MINUTE(FIN)
03/28/07 (H) FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519
03/28/07 (H) Scheduled But Not Heard
03/29/07 (H) FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519
03/29/07 (H) Moved CSHB 137(FIN) Out of Committee
03/29/07 (H) MINUTE(FIN)
04/02/07 (H) FIN RPT CS(FIN) NT 6DP 5NR
04/02/07 (H) DP: GARA, FOSTER, CRAWFORD, THOMAS,
MEYER, CHENAULT
04/02/07 (H) NR: JOULE, NELSON, HAWKER, STOLTZE,
KELLY
02/27/08 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
02/27/08 (H) VERSION: CSHB 137(FIN) AM
02/29/08 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/29/08 (S) RES, FIN
03/26/08 (S) RES AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE PAUL SEATON
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 137.
KATIE SHOWS
Staff to Representative Seaton
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Commented on HB 137 for the sponsor.
KRISTIN WRIGHT, Supervisor
Finance and Licensing
Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G)
Juneau AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions on HB 137.
DREW SPARLIN, representing himself
Kenai AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 137 and supported the
reappointments of Mr. Morris and Mr. Jensen to the Alaska Board
of Fisheries.
MCHUGH PIERRE, Legislative Liaison
Department of Military & Veterans Affairs (DMVA)
Juneau AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Strongly supported HB 137 especially because
of section 3.
WILLIAM S. BROWN
Anchorage AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Nominee to the Board of Fisheries.
BRUCE KNOWLES, representing himself
Susitna AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Endorsed Mr. Brown's appointment to the
Board of Fisheries.
LINDA KOZAK, representing herself
Kodiak AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Endorsed the appointments of Mr. Brown, Mr.
Jensen and Mr. Morris to the Board of Fisheries.
TOM LOGAN, representing himself
Big Lake AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Endorsed Mr. Brown, but objected to Mr.
Jensen and Mr. Morris for the Board of Fisheries.
RICKY GEASE, Executive Director
Kenai Sport Fishing Association
Kenai AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported the appointments of Mr. Brown, Mr.
Morris and Mr. Jensen.
TOM KORMETIS, representing himself
Kodiak AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported all three appointees to the Board
of Fisheries and Mr. Morris, in particular.
STEVEN RUNYAN, Vice Chairman
Susitna Valley Advisory Committee
Susitna AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported Mr. Brown's appointment, but not
Mr. Jensen and Mr. Morris.
AL BURCH, Executive Director
Alaska Draggers Association
Kodiak AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported Mr. Morris, Mr. Jensen and Mr.
Brown's appointments to the Board of Fisheries.
ANDY COUCH, representing himself
Matsu AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported Mr. Brown, but not Mr. Morris or
Mr. Jensen for the Board of Fisheries.
JULIE BONNEY, representing herself
Kodiak AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported the reappointments of Mr. Morris
and Mr. Jensen and the appointment of Mr. Brown to the Board of
Fisheries.
ROD ARNO, Executive Director
Alaska Outdoor Council
Anchorage AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported Mr. Brown's appointment to the
Board of Fisheries.
JULIANNE CURRY, representing herself
Petersburg AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported the reappointment of Mr. Jensen to
the Board of Fisheries.
ROBERT HAIANO, representing himself
Bristol Bay AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported the appointments of Mr. Jensen,
Mr. Morris and Mr. Brown to the Board of Fisheries.
CLEM TILLION
Aleutian Islands Corporation
Halibut Cove AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported the appointments of Mr. Jensen,
Mr. Morris and Mr. Brown to the Board of Fisheries.
REUBEN HANKE, representing himself
Soldotna, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported the appointments of Mr. Jensen,
Mr. Morris and Mr. Brown to the Board of Fisheries.
ACTION NARRATIVE
CHAIR CHARLIE HUGGINS called the Senate Resources Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:39:43 PM. Present at the call to
order were Senators Green, Stevens, Wagoner, Wielechowski and
Huggins.
CSHB 137(FIN)am-FISHING/HUNTING/TRAPPING LICENSES
3:40:41 PM
CHAIR HUGGINS announced CSHB 137(FIN)am to be up for
consideration.
REPRESENTATIVE PAUL SEATON, sponsor of HB 137, explained that
this measure looks at the current Permanent Identification
Program (PID) that is a free benefit for Alaskans who are
seniors over 60 years old. Seniors who apply are given a
temporary I.D. until they get a permanent one in the mail. It is
good as a hunting, fishing and trapping license for the rest of
one's life.
He explained that the problem with the program is the potential
for fraud because the initial application doesn't require people
to prove they are an Alaskan resident. They don't even have to
show a drivers' license and, in fact, if you have drivers'
license from another state, that's fine - as long as you say you
are an Alaskan resident. Troopers have reported having
difficulty with this lack of verification.
In 2006, 297,895 seniors had these free PID licenses for life.
No one knows how current the cards are. Some people have
actually quit selling fishing licenses because so many people
using these cards for personal use fishing were obviously from
out-of-state. You have to be a resident to have personal use
privileges, but it's almost impossible for state troopers in the
field to verify.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON said HB 137 modifies the permanent
identification to a three-year license. The whole intent is to
give these free licenses to seniors, but to have them on a
three-year cycle so that if people move out of state and no
longer maintain their PFD eligibility, then they wouldn't be
able to get the free license.
The intent of the department is to just check PIDs against the
PFD list and send people new cards as long as they were PFD
eligible on a three-year cycle. Since some people disagree with
the PFD program, HB 137 also has a provision allowing a senior
to demonstrate he has been in Alaska for 180 days out of the
previous year to maintain the same eligibility. He said HB 137
also expands this three-year free license to active duty
National Guard that perform emergency services for Alaska as
well as overseas in support of our country.
3:45:37 PM
ADF&G estimates the state is losing $137,000 per year from non
residents continuing to participate in hunting and fishing.
About 300,000 cards are out there now and Alaska doesn't have
300,000 seniors.
SENATOR STEVENS said he supported this measure and quipped about
how many members of the Senate are over 60 and already have
their permanent licenses.
3:47:04 PM
SENATOR WAGONER said it was a good idea, but if the department
knows there is that much fraud, why aren't they doing something
about it and prosecuting them. He is embarrassed that it hasn't
been addressed by the authorities already.
SENATOR GREEN asked what the current penalty for fraud like this
is.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON answered the he didn't know exactly,
because the requirement for residency is "very squishy" because
you can have an out-of-state drivers' license and still be an
in-state resident. It's very difficult for troopers in the field
to determine residency.
SENATOR WAGONER asked how a person can have an out-of-state
drivers' license and be eligible for a resident hunting and
fishing license. Doesn't the law say you must get an Alaskan
drivers' license as soon as you establish a residence here?
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON replied that's true, but if you travel
outside for any length of time even though you don't change your
residency, you are often required to get a new drivers' license
in some states. Nothing in Alaska statute ties a drivers'
license to residency verification.
He has been told by the troopers and the department that it is
extremely difficult to identify residency; that's why they
turned to PFD list. ADF&G has access to the PFD list which makes
it an easy call. He said the penalty for fraud is five years and
$5,000.
SENATOR GREEN asked if the bill says giving wrong information on
an application is fraud or vowing you are an Alaska resident to
get a free PID.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON answered that any time you tell a lie on
government paperwork there is a general fraud penalty; the PID
doesn't have a separate penalty. Mostly what's happening is that
someone was an Alaskan resident when they applied, but then they
left the state. They have the permanent card even though fine
print on the back of it says:
This card must be in your possession while engaging in
authorized activities as described in the front. The
card is not valid if residency requirements as per AS
16.05.940 and AS 16.05.415 and veteran requirements,
if applicable, per AS 16.05.341 are not maintained.
CHAIR HUGGINS asked what those provisions mean.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON replied that a letter from the Division of
Administrative Services in their packets explains that resident
is:
A person who for 12 consecutive months immediately
preceding the time when the assertion of residency is
made has maintain permanent domicile in the state and
who is neither claiming residency in another state,
territory or country or obtaining benefits under claim
of residency in another state.
He reiterated that the department has brought this issue forward
as a problem and that's why the bill is here.
3:55:02 PM
CHAIR HUGGINS said he wanted to see statistics on violations.
KATIE SHOWS, staff to Representative Seaton, said there aren't
any statistics because it's difficult to enforce and so it
hasn't been a priority. She had a series of eight anecdotal
comments from Wildlife Troopers about this type of abuse.
CHAIR HUGGINS said he's looking for a simple solution and asked
if they couldn't just require having a current Alaska drivers'
license.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON answered that nothing in statute says an
Alaskan resident over 60 years old has to have a drivers'
license and many Natives in the field don't have them. Both the
department and enforcement have said the current system does not
work and have suggested using PFD data.
3:58:10 PM
CHAIR HUGGINS said he thought about expanding the three years to
five years.
SENATOR WAGONER said he didn't know that there was as much abuse
as the department says because he regularly drives through the
parking lot for the Kenai dip net fishery looking for out-of-
state licenses and he hasn't seen one.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON responded that they don't have any idea
how much abuse goes on, but they do know 300,000 of these cards
have been issued. One of the more problematic features has been
not only the personal use fishery, but the permit hunts because
a number of them require Alaskan residency. This loophole has
been identified as a problem.
CHAIR HUGGINS asked for examples.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON answered like goat hunting.
CHAIR HUGGINS said age starts eliminating the older participants
and most people over 60 don't hunt for goats.
4:01:37 PM
SENATOR GREEN asked if they aren't enforcing what they currently
have, why change anything if it's not going to make any
difference. She didn't know why people over 60 get a free PID in
the first place and she was struck by a comment in the sponsor
statement that said HB 137 establishes stricter licensing
requirements - and she asked where those were located.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON directed her to section 4 on page 3 where
language says PFD eligibility is maintained by being in the
state for 180 days a year.
SENATOR GREEN asked when the proof of receiving a PFD kicks in -
at someone's office who has access to the PFD records or to a
trooper in the field.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON replied before the new card is issued, it
will be checked at the ADF&G licensing counter.
4:04:35 PM
CHAIR HUGGINS asked how this would work.
KRISTIN WRIGHT, Supervisor, Finance and Licensing, Alaska
Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), replied HB 137 says every
three years she would have an automatic system that would cross-
reference PIDs with the PFD disbursement file. People who
received a PFD would automatically get a new card at that
address. If not, she would send a letter stating that they did
not receive a PFD and asking for other proof of residency like a
utility bill. She wouldn't send anything if she didn't get a
response.
4:06:37 PM
SENATOR GREEN asked where it says "automatically."
MS. WRIGHT answered that Representative Seaton wanted that done.
The Department of Motor Vehicles sends out notices for expired
licenses and she didn't think that many people would remember
it's time to get a new PID card.
SENATOR GREEN said its one thing to send them a renewal notice,
but she wouldn't be automatically sending them a new PID card.
MS. WRIGHT answered if they were on the PFD disbursal list, she
wouldn't make seniors fill out another form because she would
already know they are an Alaskan resident and send them a card.
SENATOR WAGONER said it would cost the state $126,000 in postal
charges alone to send out notices to the current 300,000 PID
card holders. Why should the state spend that additional money
if people are going to get a free fishing, hunting and trapping
license for five years. They should be able to check every year
to keep it current. Secondly, he asked, if the department
already has a list of 300,000 PID cards, why aren't they cross
checking them with the PFD list and sending out tickets to the
violators in the mail and a date to appear in court.
MS. WRIGHT answered they don't actually know that these people
are actively fishing or hunting. She couldn't send them a ticket
because they haven't been caught. It isn't until a trooper meets
them in the field that they whip out their PID card.
SENATOR WAGONER said he thought it would be pretty easy to
compare the two lists and, if nothing else, come up with a watch
list of who is not eligible and distribute that to the people in
the field and the ones selling licenses. He thinks the state is
way too easy on people who fill up their freezers and go back
home with Alaska's resource.
CHAIR HUGGINS asked her to explain the timing of checking with
the PFD and the expiration.
4:12:30 PM
MS. WRIGHT answered that a license is valid for a calendar year,
January through December. A new license in 2008 would be valid
through 2010. Some time in November or December 2010 she would
look at the 2009 PFD eligibility disbursement and she would
either send a new card, a renewal reminder or wait until the
person contacts her. She would know the name is valid for that
time period.
CHAIR HUGGINS asked why not fix this in regulation.
MS. WRIGHT replied they probably could, but would have to ask
legal counsel.
CHAIR HUGGINS asked what is out of sync with the calendar year.
MS. WRIGHT answered that trapping license are valid through
January 31 of the following year.
CHAIR HUGGINS explained the reason for that is because trappers
were out in the Bush. He still had a hard time believing this
is a big problem. Is it a big problem her mind?
MS. WRIGHT replied the Department of Public Safety (DPS) has
heard a lot of concerns from its troopers in the field because
it is very hard to tell if the people they see are really
residents or not. You have to actually go out and prove by
looking at their records where they are now living. In 2006,
there were only two violations - one in Hyder and one in
Ninilchik. She wasn't aware of any in 2007.
SENATOR WAGONER said the PFD list doesn't do the department a
bit of good in determining residency because someone can be gone
from the state 300 days a year and as long as they maintain a
residence and maintain their voting registration they are
legally a resident of the state of Alaska.
MS. WRIGHT said not and get the PFD.
SENATOR WAGONER said just because a person doesn't get a PFD
doesn't mean they aren't a resident.
MS. WRIGHT replied she worked with the DPS and DOL about two
years ago on the residency issue for fish and game purposes.
Each program has its own residency requirements. One of the
questions she came up with was how long could you be gone from
the state. So the lawyers found that courts also look at the
number of months spent at a domicile located in another state
versus the number of months spent in Alaska. For example, if you
spend nine months in another state and three months in Alaska,
your residency in Alaska could be questioned and would be taken
into consideration along with other factors. There isn't
necessarily a hard and fast rule.
4:19:32 PM
SENATOR WAGONER said they should put it either into regulation
or statute because without that, people have a legitimate
argument that they are legal residents.
MS. WRIGHT agreed he was correct that putting it in statute
would make it clear, but then you would have a big debate on how
long you could be gone.
SENATOR GREEN directed them to the Department of Administration
memo on definitions. Since it's in the Administrative Code, she
didn't think it necessarily had to be in statute.
MS. WRIGHT said the code doesn't put the time limit in; only
that it will be considered.
SENATOR GREEN asked her to make sure the current identity theft
legislation didn't impact the ability of her department to share
information with other departments.
CHAIR HUGGINS directed Ms. Wright to get together with his staff
and work through these issues. He opened the public comment
period.
4:21:58 PM
DREW SPARLIN, Kenai resident for 40 years, said he is an active
fisherman and hunter. He has been a grateful user of a PID card
for last 10 years and he supported the concept behind HB 137 in
light of its many benefits.
4:23:33 PM
MCHUGH PIERRE, Legislative Liaison, Military and Veterans
Affairs, strongly supported HB 137 especially because of section
3. They believe this is an opportunity to encourage efforts at
recruiting, but also to recognize the men and women in the
Alaska Army and Air National Guard for their efforts protecting
our state and nation.
CHAIR HUGGINS said this is intended as a recruiting tool and he
thought they should make sure they are not excluding people who
might be in a different unit. He asked if other states have a
benefit like this.
4:25:56 PM
MR. PIERRE answered not in Alaska, but other states have similar
benefits where one presents a military I.D. as proof of being an
active member in good standing. Reservists would have a
certified document signed by your unit commander.
CHAIR HUGGINS said sometimes people are a member of a unit, but
they live in a different state and that is particularly true of
the Air National Guard. He asked if Alaska has any of those
instances because that would complicate the language in the bill
a little bit.
MR. PIERRE answered he didn't know of any Alaska Air National
Guard members who are residents in another state, but he has
heard anecdotal stories about members of the Air National Guard
who live in Alaska that are members of the Washington or the
California Air National Guard.
CHAIR HUGGINS said he was trying to ascertain whether this
language works for Alaska in the sense that they have to be a
resident and an active member or is it just an active member.
MR. PIERRE replied they have to be a resident and an active
member; that can be established with the PFD qualifications as
well as their UTA good standing certificate. They are talking
about 4,300 members for the Guard; for the reserve components
they are talking about another 750 people at the absolute most.
CHAIR HUGGINS held HB 137 in committee.
At ease from 4:29:14 PM to 4:36:20 PM.
^Confirmation hearings - Board of Fisheries
4:36:24 PM
CHAIR HUGGINS called the meeting back to order and announced the
committee next would hear from the appointees to the Board of
Fisheries.
WILLIAM S. BROWN, Juneau, reviewed his resume. He said he is 57
years old, is currently single and has no children. He has lived
in Alaska since 1991 and grew up all over as a "Navy brat." He
attended college in Texas and Colorado and received a PhD in
Economics in 1977. He taught economics at the university level
for 23 years, the last nine of which were at the University of
Alaska Southeast. One of his main teaching fields was resources
and environmental economics. He left the University in 2000 and
now runs a fishing reel repair shop in Juneau. He has been an
avid sports fisherman since he caught his first fish at the age
of four; it may be the main passion of his life. He has caught
different kinds of fish all over the world.
He has three main things to offer as a member of the Board of
Fisheries. He has an economics background and knows that people,
culture and history are every bit as important as economics when
making fish board decisions. Second he brings a passion to
protect the resource to assure that future generations have as
many fish to catch, consume and sell as today. He understands
the concept of sustainable harvest and supports it without
reservation. Finally, he has no agenda; he doesn't make his
living by fishing. But while he is an avid sport fisherman, he
also buys it in the winter and recognizes the importance of
commercial fishing to the state and subsistence fishing to so
many Alaskan residents.
CHAIR HUGGINS asked if he had been to any Board of Fish
meetings.
MR. BROWN answered no.
CHAIR HUGGINS asked if he had any concerns about fishing that he
has thought about and how big was the biggest Nile perch he
caught.
4:38:53 PM
MR. BROWN replied his biggest Nile perch was 75 pounds; the
longest Mongolian Timan he caught was 58 inches long.
CHAIR HUGGINS asked how his name emerged out of all the Alaskans
who are sportsmen.
MR. BROWN replied if he was appointed he would replace Larry
Edfeldt, a friend who has been on the board for a while. He had
been working on him for some months to put his name in the hat.
He likes the culture where the outdoors is so important and he
doesn't want it to be abused or used up. He said he is looking
forward to dealing with things that matter.
CHAIR HUGGINS asked what he brings to the table.
MR. BROWN answered the main thing he brings is the fact that he
could look at all the user groups as equally important. While he
is a sports fisherman, he knows many commercial fishermen and
many of his friends are subsistence users; he buys fish in the
winter. He said most of the decisions the board makes are
allocation decisions and economics can lend a lot of insight
into them.
CHAIR HUGGINS noted that people are talking about having a
member like him that get away from user groups and look just at
the value of the commodity and see the importance of fish
survival overall.
SENATOR STEVENS said he thought Mr. Brown would be of value to
the board and asked who would have his ear as he put together
fish and game policies.
MR. BROWN answered he would try his best to listen to everyone,
but listen to the biological information from the department as
well. At the meetings he would pay the most attention to changes
of allocation and ask why they are happening. It would depend on
the particular proposal.
4:44:57 PM
BRUCE KNOWLES, representing himself, said he is chairman of the
Susitna River Fish and Game Advisory Committee and that Mr.
Brown has a lot of qualifications they look for in a board
member. It seems he has the impartiality the board needs and he
would be able to bring out the real value of a salmon in Alaska.
4:46:54 PM
LINDA KOZAK, representing herself, Kodiak, endorsed all three -
Mr. Brown, Mr. Jensen and Morris. She has seen them actively
work with the department and industry to make the best decisions
regardless of politics.
SENATOR WAGONER asked if her proposals were considered sport,
commercial or personal use.
MS. KOZAK replied that she had two proposals for the King crab
commercial fishery.
4:49:23 PM
TOM LOGAN, representing himself from Big Lake, endorsed Mr.
Brown. He objected to Mr. Jensen and Mr. Morris because they
support complete destruction of the northern fish stocks in the
Valley.
4:50:43 PM
RICKY GEASE, Executive Director, Kenai Sport Fishing
Association, supported the appointments of Mr. Brown because he
has lived in Alaska for many years and has a good economic
background that could help out in all fisheries across the
state. He also supported Mr. Morris and Mr. Jensen.
CHAIR HUGGINS announced that Clem Tillion, former Alaska State
Senator, joined the meeting.
4:53:33 PM
REUBEN HANKE, representing himself from Soldotna, supported all
three appointments to the Board of Fisheries. He said Mr.
Brown's economic background would bring a new dimension to the
board for all users. He supported reappointing Mr. Morris and
Mr. Jensen for their third consecutive terms because they will
help the board retain an incredible amount of fisheries
knowledge - even though he didn't agree with some of the board's
decisions. He said serving on this board is not an easy task and
he thanked them for their service on it.
4:54:53 PM
TOM KORMETIS, representing himself from Kodiak, supported all
three appointees and Mr. Morris, in particular. He said he moved
to Fairbanks in 1959 and is an avid sports fisherman and hunter.
This is where he met Mr. Morris who he found to be fair and
balanced.
4:57:00 PM
STEVEN RUNYAN, Vice Chairman, Susitna Valley Advisory Committee,
supported Mr. Brown's appointment saying "Fish are a state asset
and the Board of Fish is charged with the distribution of this
asset." However, he opposed the appointments of Mr. Jensen and
Mr. Morris. Their decisions have been outside the purview of
both the sustainable salmon management policy and the northern
district salmon management plan when it comes to managing the
northern district fishery. He explained that at the last board
meeting, they listed the Yetna and Susitna River sockeye salmon
stocks as a yield concern and as directed by the sustainable
salmon management policy they produced an action plan for the
ADF&G's use. However, the plan is supposed to include fishery
management actions needed to achieve rebuilding goals and
objectives in proportion to each fishery's use of and hazards
posed to a salmon stock. Despite the fact that the Central
District's drift and set gill net fleets are the biggest
harvesters of the sockeye in those drainages, these fisheries
were not included in this action plan.
He said under proposal 142 that asks to increase the northern
district set fishing period on Chinook salmon, the ADF&G gave a
conflicted report on the stock status of northern district
Chinook. The Palmer area biologist stated that many of his
monitoring systems were under-escaping for Kings and of the
rest, only two were at a level that could sustain additional
fishing. Soldotna area biologists testified that their counting
methods were not very consistent and thought the report was
bleaker than warranted. At that point, as chair of the board,
Mr. Morris should have questioned the department further on this
conflict. They ended up increasing the northern district's set
net fishery for the same salmon stock by 66 percent for 2008 and
by 33 percent for 2009/10. This is despite a flood in 2006 that
according to biological reports completely wiped out the return.
He concluded that Mr. Morris and Mr. Jensen have had six years
to gather an understanding of sustainable salmon management
policy and their rights and duties as members of the board, but
they have failed to show an understanding of either.
SENATOR WAGONER asked what figures he has on the early season
commercial Chinook salmon that are destined for the northern
district and the creel take once they reach the streams.
MR. RUNYAN replied his information on northern district Chinook
salmon harvest is RC 83, entitled "Deliberation Materials for
Committees A, B and C" which was distributed at the February '08
Board of Fish meeting.
5:04:10 PM
DREW SPARLIN, representing himself from Kenai, said he is
president of the United Cook Inlet Drift Association, and has
served on the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association. He supported
the reappointments of Mr. Morris and Mr. Jensen to the Alaska
Board of Fisheries, even though he didn't always agree with
their decisions.
CHAIR HUGGINS asked if he is a charter member of the aquaculture
association he served on.
MR. SPARLIN replied yes.
CHAIR HUGGINS asked him to give them a quick rundown of when it
started and what its task is and what it has evolved to.
MR. SPARLIN replied that it started in 1968 and has evolved into
a lot of work; its principal effort now is to conduct weir
counts in the northern district using an intern program of
students from universities around the country. They count the
adults going in and the smolts coming out. And there are
problems in the northern district which no one denies. These
problems need to be defined and corrections identified or they
won't build any more fish in that system.
5:08:02 PM
AL BURCH, Executive Director, Alaska Draggers Association,
Kodiak, said he is also an avid sports and subsistence
fisherman. He supported Mr. Morris and Mr. Jensen who bring a
good historical memory to the board and they both make decisions
in favor of the fish. He also supported Mr. Brown.
5:12:29 PM
ANDY COUCH, representing himself from Matsu, supported Mr.
Brown, but not Mr. Morris or Mr. Jensen, because they favor
commercial users.
5:17:06 PM
SENATOR WAGONER commented that people keep talking about
commercial versus sport fishing. The basically has three
commercial fishing representatives now and if Mr. Brown is put
on, that will make four non commercial fishermen. So, this idea
that the board is dominated by commercial fishing
representatives who are making decisions that favor the
commercial fishermen is not true. They are looking at good
people who will do a good job, not whether they are commercial
or sport fishermen.
5:18:44 PM
JULIE BONNEY, representing herself from Kodiak, supported the
reappointments of Mr. Morris and Mr. Jensen. She didn't know Mr.
Brown, but he seemed like someone who is knowledgeable and would
bring a new dimension to the board and thought he should be
given a chance. She said she comes from an avid fishing family
and married into a fourth generation processing family. The
primary goal should be to take care of the fish and managers
should be given the tools to manage for sustainability.
5:21:55 PM
ROD ARNO, Executive Director, Alaska Outdoor Council, supported
Mr. Brown's appointment to the board. He said the Council looks
for three qualities in the board members - one is that the
person is a fisherman and a consumptive user, second that
conservation is important, and third that he has no agenda.
5:23:33 PM
JULIANNE CURRY, representing herself from Petersburg, said she
is an active commercial fisherman and supported the
reappointment of Mr. Jensen to the Board of Fisheries. He has
extensive fishing experience and a broad knowledge base that
make him an asset on the board.
5:24:06 PM
ROBERT HAIANO, representing himself from Bristol Bay, said a
majority of his fishing activities come from commercial fishing
activities. He supported the reappointments of Mr. Morris and
Mr. Jensen to the board because they do their homework during
and before meetings. They also make a lot of time available to
the public, which is cornerstone to the process. They have a
vast amount of knowledge of federal fisheries that is important
to state fisheries management. He also supported Mr. Brown
because he has good qualifications to be a board member.
5:28:07 PM
CLEM TILLION said he represented the Aleutian Island Corporation
from Halibut Cove and supported all three nominees. He said
people might be surprised at this since they just "mopped the
floor" with him at the last board meeting. He didn't get
anything he asked for, but on the other hand, these men are
qualified and he couldn't ask for more than that. He said
"There's gonna be some hard decisions to be made by everybody to
get an increased amount of Kings in the upper Inlet."
5:30:46 PM
SENATOR STEVENS said he always appreciates Mr. Tillion's advice
because he always takes the big view of Alaska fish.
5:32:41 PM
CHAIR HUGGINS thanked Mr. Jensen and Mr. Morris for their
volunteering and found no further questions for Mr. Brown.
SENATOR STEVENS moved to forward Mr. Brown's name to the full
body for confirmation. There were no objections and it was so
ordered.
CHAIR HUGGINS said in accordance with AS 39.05.080 the Resources
Committee reviewed and recommends the appointment of Mr. Brown
be forwarded to a joint session. This does not reflect any
intent by any of the members to vote for or against him. There
being no further business to come before the committee, he
adjourned the meeting at 5:33:31 PM.
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