CSHCR 1(FSH): Establishing the Joint Legislative Task Force on Sport Fishing Service Providers in Southeast Alaska.
00 CS FOR HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 1(FSH) 01 Establishing the Joint Legislative Task Force on Sport Fishing Service Providers in 02 Southeast Alaska. 03 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 04 WHEREAS sport fishing service providers work throughout the state, serving 05 thousands of sport anglers annually and contributing millions of dollars to the state's 06 economy; and 07 WHEREAS roughly half of the sport fishing service providers active in the state 08 practice their trade in the water of Southeast Alaska between Cape Suckling and Dixon 09 Entrance; and 10 WHEREAS the state's sport fishing service industry continues to grow, and further 11 unmanaged growth could lead to reduced economic viability for participants and increased 12 resource competition and tension between sport fishing service providers and other user 13 groups over the state's fishery resources; and 14 WHEREAS, because of the concentration of sport fishing service providers in 15 Southeast Alaska, problems related to the industry's growth are likely to first emerge or 16 intensify in Southeast Alaska; and
01 WHEREAS long-term stability in the sport fishing service industry is a goal shared 02 by sport fishermen, sport fishing service providers, other fishery resource user groups, and the 03 residents of the state; and 04 WHEREAS international agreements, pressures on fishery resources, and stock 05 variability can lead to onerous catch restrictions for all user groups; and 06 WHEREAS sport fishing service providers and others have for many years sought to 07 facilitate sustainable participation in the sport fishing service industry to protect fishery 08 resources and the economic health and viability of the industry, minimize conflicts with other 09 fishery user groups, and retain an angler experience unique to the state; and 10 WHEREAS art. VIII, sec. 15, Constitution of the State of Alaska, allows the state to 11 manage entry into a fishery for purposes including resource conservation and "to prevent 12 economic distress among fishermen and those dependent upon them for a livelihood"; and 13 WHEREAS the legislature desires to bring together knowledgeable representatives of 14 the sport fishing service industry active in Southeast Alaska, other fishery resource user 15 groups from affected communities, and state and tribal governments to collaboratively 16 explore options and workable approaches for managing entry into the state's sport fishing 17 service industry, supporting the long-term economic prospects of that industry, safeguarding 18 the state's fishery resources, and minimizing conflicts with other fishery resource user groups; 19 and 20 WHEREAS, while the legislature has determined that changes to the regulation of 21 sport fishing service providers across the state are likely necessary, it is in the best interests of 22 the state, the public, and sport fishing service providers to first limit changes to a single region 23 of the state before the state implements statewide changes; and 24 WHEREAS the legislature has determined that the area between Cape Suckling and 25 Dixon Entrance is appropriate for the initial consideration of regulatory changes; 26 BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature establishes the Joint Legislative 27 Task Force on Sport Fishing Service Providers in Southeast Alaska; and be it 28 FURTHER RESOLVED that the duties of the task force include 29 (1) examining the history of the sport fishing service industry in the state and 30 Southeast Alaska; 31 (2) advising the legislature on how the state can best manage participation in
01 the sport fishing service industry; 02 (3) evaluating the feasibility of and best potential approaches for 03 (A) managing entry into the sport fishing service industry in the state, 04 including establishing different categories of permits for sport fishing service 05 providers and standards for permit eligibility and the transfer of permits; and 06 (B) establishing a managed entry system for the sport fishing services 07 industry that allows permits to be transferred in a manner that benefits the state; 08 (4) addressing those challenges in the sport fishing service industry that may 09 be solved or improved through state action, collaboration with other resource user groups, or 10 united action by those active in the industry; and 11 (5) identifying potential sources of funding that could be used to implement 12 recommendations from the task force; and be it 13 FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force consists of nine members as follows: 14 (1) one member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate; 15 (2) one member of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of 16 the house of representatives; 17 (3) four members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives as 18 follows: 19 (A) one member who is a tribal citizen or a leader of a Native 20 corporation under 43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq. (Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act) or 21 other tribal organization and who lives in an area of Southeast Alaska in which sport 22 fishing services occur; 23 (B) one member who is recommended by a regional Southeast Alaska 24 organization that represents guides in the sport fishing service sector; 25 (C) one member who possesses relevant policy experience and is 26 currently representing the interests of the sport fishing service industry on a Southeast 27 Alaska advisory committee established under AS 16.05.260; 28 (D) one member who possesses relevant policy experience and is 29 currently representing the interests of recreational sport fishermen on a Southeast 30 Alaska advisory committee established under AS 16.05.260; and 31 (4) three members appointed by the president of the senate as follows:
01 (A) one member who is a self-guided fishing operator in Southeast 02 Alaska with relevant policy experience; 03 (B) one member recommended by a regional Southeast Alaska 04 organization that represents guides in the sport fishing service sector; 05 (C) one member who possesses relevant policy experience and is 06 currently representing the interests of commercial fishermen on a Southeast Alaska 07 advisory committee established under AS 16.05.260; and be it 08 FURTHER RESOLVED that 09 (1) the task force may meet between and during legislative sessions; 10 (2) a majority of the members of the task force constitute a quorum; 11 (3) a vacancy on the task force shall be filled in the same manner as the 12 original selection or appointment; 13 (4) the legislative members of the task force shall serve as co-chairs; 14 (5) the task force shall meet at the call of one of the co-chairs; 15 (6) the co-chair who is a member of the house of representatives shall call the 16 first meeting; 17 (7) the staff of the legislative members of the task force shall serve as staff for 18 the task force; 19 (8) the task force may request support from the Legislative Affairs Agency, 20 the Department of Fish and Game, and the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission; 21 (9) members of the public on the task force serve without compensation and 22 are not entitled to per diem and travel expenses; and 23 (10) members of the task force may virtually attend meetings of the task force; 24 and be it 25 FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall submit a report of findings and 26 recommendations to the senate secretary and the chief clerk of the house of representatives by 27 January 20, 2026, and notify the legislature that the report is available; and be it 28 FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force expires on February 1, 2027.