HB 341-DIVE FISHERY MANAGEMENT ASSESSMENT  CHAIR CON BUNDE announced HB 341 to be up for consideration. MR. TIM BARRY, staff to Representative Bill Williams, sponsor, explained that the bill was requested by the Southeast Alaska Regional Dive Fisheries Association (SARDFA). It's essentially a housekeeping measure to give the organization more flexibility in its operations. SARDFA is an effective management organization and is composed of fishermen, processors and representatives of a number of Southeast Alaska communities; it works closely with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) to develop management plans for the various dive fisheries. Members of SARDFA pay a tax based on a percentage of the value of their catch and the revenue is spent on managing the dive fisheries. Under current state law, association members elect to tax themselves at a rate of either 1%, 3%, 5% or 7% of the value of their landings in a particular dive fishery. HB 341 would give association members the additional option to tax themselves at 2%, 4% or 6% rates. There is a zero fiscal note. CHAIR BUNDE asked how the members would choose to change their assessment. MR. BARRY replied that the members of the association in a particular dive fishery would vote to change the tax rate. This legislation was modeled on the Alaska Seafood Marketing Association (ASMI) and the aquaculture association models. MS. JULIE DECKER, Executive Director, Southeast Alaska Regional Dive Fisheries Association (SARDFA), said its mission is to develop, expand and enhance new and existing dive fisheries in Southeast. She said that geoducks and sea cucumbers are taxed at 5 and 7 percent for sea urchins. The assessments help pay for the increased cost of management and surveying associated with expansion of the fisheries and for special developmental projects, which allow them to increase the ex-vessel value of the resources. CHAIR BUNDE said that similar legislation in other fisheries didn't have unanimous agreement on taxing themselves and asked if she had polled her membership. MS. DECKER replied that she has received overwhelming response to this legislation and over two-thirds voted to tax themselves in each of the fisheries. 3:12 p.m. TAPE 04-30, SIDE A  MS. DECKER explained that the association sees the need for flexibility in the future and wants to have this in place ahead of time. SENATOR HOLLIS FRENCH asked her exactly how the tax money would be spent. MS. DECKER responded that each year the association develops an annual operating plan in cooperation with ADF&G. Some of the funds are used to pay for SARDFA administration costs and for ADF&G to survey new areas, a little bit of research that is necessary for sustainable management of the resource and some water and PSP testing costs for the geoduck fishery. Some funds could be used for starting small pilot enhancement projects, which basically consists of reseeding certain areas. SENATOR RALPH SEEKINS moved to pass HB 341 from committee with individual recommendations. SENATOR FRENCH objected, because he hadn't had enough time to look at it. CHAIR BUNDE said he would hold HB 341 over until the next meeting.