00Enrolled HJR 6                                                                                                          
01 Relating to the labeling of fish and shellfish to identify the country of origin and to distinguish                     
02 between wild and farmed fish and shellfish.                                                                             
03                                           _______________                                                               
04 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                             
05      WHEREAS Americans deserve wholesome foods and information about the contents                                     
06 and production of their food supply; and                                                                                
07      WHEREAS Alaska's fish production is distinct from farmed fish production because                                 
08 Alaska fish are wild, free-ranging, and, therefore, naturally wholesome and healthy; and                                
09      WHEREAS there are numerous outstanding issues regarding public policy, fair trade,                               
10 and the social and economic consequences of farmed fish production; and                                                 
11      WHEREAS more and more consumers are expressing a preference for, and                                             
12 requesting, wild fish over farmed fish; and                                                                             
13      WHEREAS both the Alaska State Legislature and the United States Congress have                                    
14 passed labeling laws specifically to inform consumers about fish and shellfish and other food                           
15 products; and                                                                                                           
16      WHEREAS the United States Department of Agriculture has exempted processed                                       

01 food items from federal country of origin labeling requirements; and                                                    
02      WHEREAS many Alaska fish and shellfish readily available to Americans are                                        
03 canned, smoked, cured, or cooked without significantly changing the nature of the fish or                               
04 shellfish;                                                                                                              
05      BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature supports the timely labeling of                                 
06 fish and shellfish in the marketplace to identify the country of origin and to distinguish                              
07 between wild and farmed fish and shellfish; and be it                                                                   
08      FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature supports adding labeling                                      
09 requirements for canned, smoked, cured, or cooked fish and shellfish to identify the country                            
10 of origin of the fish and shellfish and to distinguish between wild and farmed fish and                                 
11 shellfish.                                                                                                              
12      COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable George W. Bush, President                               
13 of the United States; the Honorable Carlos Gutierrez, United States Secretary of Commerce;                              
14 the Honorable Mike Johanns, United States Secretary of Agriculture; and the Honorable Ted                               
15 Stevens and the Honorable Lisa Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young,                                   
16 U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.