Legislature(2011 - 2012)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/11/2012 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB160 | |
| HB60 | |
| HB78 | |
| HB261 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 25 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 160 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 60 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 78 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 261 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HOUSE BILL NO. 60
"An Act relating to aquatic farm permitting involving
geoducks and to geoduck seed transfers between
certified hatcheries and aquatic farms."
10:05:19 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PAUL SEATON, introduced HB 60 and referred
to the sponsor statement (copy on file).
Shellfish farming has the potential to diversify the
economic base of coastal communities impacted by the
changing dynamics of the fishing industry. HB 60
allows this expansion of this clean water industry by
permitting geoducks to be farmed sub tidally in the
Gulf of Alaska even if wild geoducks are not present.
The bill does not exempt farmers from any health,
safety, or other transfer provisions relating to
hatchery seed.
The Alutiiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery is the only
hatchery that supplies mariculture spat and seed in
the State. It was initiated by the State to be a self-
sustaining operation in association with the private
mariculture farms permitted by the State. Their
business plan relies on the sale of geoduck seed.
However, an informal policy of the Department of Fish
and Game prevents geoduck seed from being utilized by
farms anywhere outside of southeast Alaska. These
restrictions on the sale of geoduck seed cause the
sole hatchery for the mariculture industry in Alaska
to require continual subsidy by the State. HB 60 will
allow the mariculture industry to develop around the
Gulf of Alaska, providing a potentially strong market
for seed and private sector financing for the
operation of the hatchery.
As non-mobile filter feeders eating plankton, farmed
geoducks will not prey on any local commercial, sport
or personal use fish. There have been no reports of
species displacement in the sedimentary habitat by
geoduck clams. Farmed geoducks will not interfere with
personal recreational boaters as they are cultivated
in the sediment below low tide and without the
numerous buoys and floating cages used in oyster
farms. No infectious disease has been identified in
any wild geoduck population or the geoduck farming
industries of Washington, British Columbia, or Alaska.
The conflict involving geoducks in southeast Alaska is
between the dive fishermen who harvest wild stock and
farmers who wish to farm in areas with existing wild
stock. HB 60 would circumvent this conflict because
there is no wild geoduck stock in the proposed area.
This bill will not override any Department of Natural
Resources farm site leasing or Department of Fish &
Game permit regulation.
HB 60 eliminates unnecessary hindrances to the growth
of the mariculture industry in Alaska and provides a
potential alternative economic
10:09:48 AM
JEFF HETRICK, DIRECTOR ALUTIIQ PRIDE SHELLFISH HATCHERY,
SEWARD (via teleconference), testified in support of HB 60
and related that legislation reflected the support of the
Mariculture Industry. He shared that geoducks would grow
well in southeast Alaska and that they would not conflict
with any natural species.
ROGER PEINTER, PRESIDENT, ALASKA SHELLFISH GROWERS
ASSOCIATION, KAKE (via teleconference), expressed support
for HB 60 and stated the legislation was a clean economic
development opportunity for south central Alaska.
Co-Chair Stedman discussed the two zero fiscal notes from
the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Department of
Fish and Game (DFG).
HB 60 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.