05/06/2021 10:00 AM House FISHERIES

                    HB 52-TUTKA BAY HATCHERY                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
10:04:36 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR TARR  announced that the  first order of business  would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL NO. 52, "An Act  providing that operation of the Tutka                                                               
Bay  Lagoon  Hatchery in  Kachemak  Bay  is compatible  with  the                                                               
functions  of  Kachemak Bay  State  Park;  and providing  for  an                                                               
effective date."   [Before  the committee,  adopted as  a working                                                               
document on  4/29/21, was the proposed  committee substitute (CS)                                                               
for HB 52, Version 32-LS0327\I, Bullard, 4/29/21 ("Version I").]                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  TARR  announced  that  the  committee  would  hear  public                                                               
testimony on HB 52, which had been opened on 4/29/21.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
10:05:03 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
JEFFREY LEE, Member, Kachemak Bay  Advisory Board, said the Tutka                                                               
Bay   Lagoon   Hatchery  in   Kachemak   Bay   has  been   highly                                                               
controversial.   The current plan has  undergone extensive public                                                               
review; it happens  every 25-30 years and is  a two-year process.                                                               
He  indicated that  [current review]  has been  going on  for six                                                               
years  and  has  led  to  the conclusion  that  phasing  out  the                                                               
hatchery  is a  good choice.    He warned  against degrading  the                                                               
public process  and urged the committee  to take no action  on HB
 until the advisory board can review the proposed legislation.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
10:07:20 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
ROBERTA HIGHLAND testified in opposition to  HB 52.  She said the                                                               
process has been rushed.  She  mentioned a management plan with a                                                               
ten-year  timeframe.   She said  the proposed  legislation "could                                                               
set a precedence for other parks  where there's a conflict of the                                                               
uses."    She  spoke  of negative  environmental  impacts.    She                                                               
indicated there was  an increase in pink salmon  in the hatchery,                                                               
which has  led to problems,  such as "dumping of  the carcasses,"                                                               
and that has led to a lawsuit.   Further, placing pens in the bay                                                               
itself would increase boat traffic  into "the heart of the park."                                                               
She requested  the issue  be given time,  especially in  terms of                                                               
land swapping,  which has not had  public review.  She  asked the                                                               
committee not to pass HB 52.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
10:09:51 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
BRENT   JOHNSON,    Past-President,   Cook    Inlet   Aquaculture                                                               
Association, said  all the hatcheries  work together to  fund the                                                               
Cook  Inlet  Aquaculture Association  to  release  fish that  are                                                               
important to those  who fish.  He said he  favors studies, and he                                                               
does  not  think   there  have  been  studies   that  prove  that                                                               
hatcheries are  detrimental to  the environment.   He said  he is                                                               
eager for those studies to take  place.  He opined that the Tutka                                                               
Bay Lagoon  Hatchery is important  to the Homer economy  and Cook                                                               
Inlet seiners.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
10:10:52 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR TARR, after  ascertaining there was no one  else who wished                                                               
to testify, closed public testimony on HB 52.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
10:11:24 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE, as prime  sponsor, noted wide-range support                                                               
from the  Kenai Peninsula to  Kodiak.   She stated her  intent to                                                               
include further discussion related to  the idea of the land swap,                                                               
which was  introduced last  week.  She  spoke of  separating "the                                                               
hatchery issue" and "the land issue."                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
10:12:16 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR TARR announced that HB 52 was held over.