2016-02-05                     Senate Journal                      Page 1777
SB 172                                                                                                                        
SENATE BILL NO. 172 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                                               
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
          "An Act relating to management of enhanced stocks                                                                     
          of fish; authorizing the operation of nonprofit                                                                       
          shellfish hatcheries; relating to application fees for                                                                
          salmon and shellfish hatchery permits; and providing                                                                  
          for an effective date."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                

2016-02-05                     Senate Journal                      Page 1778
was read the first time and referred to the Resources and Finance                                                               
Committees.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal information was published today:                                                                           
 Fiscal Note No. 1, Department of Fish and Game                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Governor's transmittal letter dated February 4:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Dear President Meyer:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska                                                                   
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to management of                                                                
enhanced stocks of fish; authorizing the operation of nonprofit                                                                 
shellfish hatcheries; and application fees for salmon and shellfish                                                             
hatchery permits.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
The bill would authorize the Commissioner of Fish and Game to                                                                   
permit the construction and operation of shellfish hatcheries by                                                                
nonprofit corporations for the purpose of enhancing shellfish fisheries.                                                        
The bill would also make several other related amendments to State                                                              
law relating to shellfish hatcheries.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
The Board of Fisheries is statutorily tasked to manage fish stocks in                                                           
the state; fish stocks include invertebrate species, such as shellfish.                                                         
Currently, under AS 16.40.100 - 16.40.199 the Commissioner may                                                                  
permit the construction and operation of shellfish hatcheries for the                                                           
purpose of supplying shellfish to an aquatic farm, but may not permit                                                           
the construction and operation of shellfish hatcheries for the purpose                                                          
of enhancing shellfish fisheries. The bill is largely modeled after                                                             
AS 16.10.375 - 16.10.480, which authorizes the Commissioner of Fish                                                             
and Game to permit the construction and operation of salmon                                                                     
hatcheries for the purpose of enhancing salmon fisheries.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
The bill would also make conforming amendments to the                                                                           
determination of authorized gear to allow use of legal gear to harvest                                                          
shellfish, to allow donations of shellfish to a food bank, and to exempt                                                        
from State corporate income tax income from a nonprofit corporation                                                             
holding a permit to operate a shellfish hatchery for enhancement of                                                             
shellfish stock.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

2016-02-05                     Senate Journal                      Page 1779
In addition, the bill would update the application fee for a salmon                                                             
hatchery permit.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Enhancement of the State's shellfish fisheries would benefit the state's                                                        
economy by providing a method to increase the available harvest of                                                              
shellfish for public use in an environmentally safe manner.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action of this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Bill Walker                                                                                                                     
Governor