1997-07-10                     House Journal                      Page 1984
HB 141                                                                       
This bill is structured quite similar to fishery moratorium bills I signed     
last year: House Bill 547, regarding Southeast Alaska dive fisheries;          
and House Bill 538, regarding the Bering Sea Korean hair crab fishery.         
                                                                               
I accompanied the signing of last years bills with a letter expressing         
the need for the moratoriums in order to protect the resources, but            
noting management of specific  fisheries should not be conducted               
through legislation.  It is more appropriate that our professional             
fisheries administrators, boards and commissions manage these                  
valuable resources.                                                            
                                                                               
With the signing of HB 141, I reiterate it is unfortunate provisions in        
existing law regarding the imposition of a moratorium are cumbersome           
and ineffective, making impossible the quick and necessary imposition          
of a moratorium.  Rather than resorting to imposing moratoriums                
through legislation on a case by case basis, it is essential we rewrite        
our moratorium statutes so our professional fishery managers can               
implement them when necessary.                                                 
                                                                               
Legislation was introduced this past session to accomplish this goal.          
House Bill 204 passed the House unanimously and is now in the                  
Senate Resources Committee.  I urge the Legislature to pass HB 204             
in the 1998 session to avoid the need for further emergency legislation,       
such as this bill, for our developing fisheries.                               
                                                                               
							Sincerely,                                                              
							/s/                                                                     
							Tony Knowles                                                            
							Governor"                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
HB 198                                                                       
The following letter, dated June 20, 1997, was received:                       
                                                                               
"Dear Speaker Phillips:                                                        
                                                                               
On this date I have signed the following bill and am transmitting the          
engrossed and enrolled copies to the Lieutenant Governor's Office for          
permanent filing: