00 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 18 01 Relating to an examination of fisheries-related programs and resources in the state to 02 determine how those programs and resources may best be strengthened and focused to 03 facilitate the entry of young Alaskans into gainful, lifelong commercial fisheries careers 04 and to the development of a systematic, aggressive, and sustained program to turn the 05 tide on the graying of the fleet and to increase ownership of successful commercial 06 fisheries operations by young Alaskans. 07 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 08 WHEREAS the Alaska seafood industry employs more workers than any other 09 private sector industry in the state; and 10 WHEREAS, to continue to thrive, the Alaska resident seafood industry will need 11 future generations of Alaskans to engage in rewarding, ownership-level careers in the 12 industry; and 13 WHEREAS the average age of a commercial salmon fishing skipper in the state has 14 risen from approximately 41 years of age in 1980 to older than 48 years of age in recent years; 01 WHEREAS the average age of an Alaska Peninsula salmon seine permit holder is 02 53.6 years, the average age of a Bristol Bay driftnet permit holder is 47.9 years, and the 03 average age of a Southeast power troll permit holder is 53.9 years; and 04 WHEREAS, since the advent of limited entry and quota share fisheries, the financial 05 barriers that hinder young Alaskans in establishing viable fishing businesses have mounted 06 and multiplied, with the cost of some limited entry salmon permits at more than $100,000 and 07 the average cost of halibut quota shares rising 195 percent between 1995 and 2009; and 08 WHEREAS the overall cost of entry into the commercial fisheries on a diversified 09 level sufficient to provide a viable income for a skipper and crew has increased to at least 10 $300,000 for boat, gear, permit, and quota shares; and 11 WHEREAS escalating costs thwart the ambitions of young fishers, many of whom 12 lack the extensive credit histories and considerable collateral assets needed to secure 13 substantial bank loans; and 14 WHEREAS a modern commercial fishing operation requires an operator to possess 15 business savvy and a sophisticated understanding of regulatory processes, as well as the 16 ability to engage with federal and state fisheries policy makers; and 17 WHEREAS barriers faced by young people in the state seeking to acquire ownership 18 of fisheries operations play a significant role in the drain of limited entry permits and fishery 19 quota shares from coastal communities and contribute to increasing ownership of fisheries 20 permits and businesses in the state by nonresidents; and 21 WHEREAS programs of the commercial fishing revolving loan fund in the 22 Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development seek to promote the 23 development of predominantly resident fisheries in the state; and 24 WHEREAS the office of fisheries development in the Department of Commerce, 25 Community, and Economic Development provides a wide variety of resources designed to 26 spur fisheries-related economic development; and 27 WHEREAS the Alaska sea grant program, which is funded in part by the legislature 28 through the University of Alaska, provides young Alaskans with education and training in 29 fisheries business financial management, seafood direct marketing, state and federal 30 regulatory processes, and effective public speaking before regulatory bodies; and 31 WHEREAS, to varying degrees, high schools and postsecondary educational 01 institutions in the state offer classes in fisheries skill sets and nautical sciences; and 02 WHEREAS the University of Alaska Fairbanks offers a bachelor of arts degree in 03 fisheries to provide students with a knowledge base, skills set, and practical experience to be 04 highly competitive in obtaining rewarding employment in the state's fishing industry; and 05 WHEREAS the graying of the fleet in the state continues unabated; 06 BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature shall thoroughly examine 07 fisheries-related programs and resources in the state to determine how those programs and 08 resources may best be strengthened and focused to facilitate the entry of young Alaskans into 09 gainful, lifelong commercial fisheries careers; and be it 10 FURTHER RESOLVED that, having identified, ordered, and enhanced available 11 resources, the Alaska State Legislature shall apply the state's resources in a systematic, 12 aggressive, and sustained program to turn the tide on the graying of the fleet and to increase 13 ownership of successful Alaska commercial fisheries operations by young Alaskans.