Legislature(2015 - 2016)BUTROVICH 205
03/29/2016 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SJR12 | |
| HB128 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SJR 12 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 128 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 128-ALASKA WILD SALMON DAY
9:27:28 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE called the committee back to order and announced
the consideration of HB 128.
9:27:40 AM
KRISTINA ANDREW, Staff, Representative Bryce Edgmon, Alaska
State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, read the sponsor statement
for HB 128 as follows:
Alaskans prize wild salmon. No other of our fish plays
such a prevalent role in our lives and no other is so
nourishing and appetizing. According to a survey
conducted during the summer of 2011, 96 percent of
Alaskans feel that salmon is essential to their way of
life.
Salmon subsistence fishing has sustained Alaska Native
people for thousands of years. Recreational fishing
for salmon is a lifelong pursuit and passion for urban
and rural residents alike, along with many visitors to
our state. Commercial salmon fishing has been a
mainstay industry in Alaska for more than a hundred
years.
By establishing August 10th as Alaska Wild Salmon Day,
HB 128 will encourage the celebration of these Alaska
pastimes, professions, and ways of life. Alaska Wild
Salmon Day will also provide opportunities to promote
our wild salmon's deliciousness, purity, and
healthfulness to visitors from across the country and
around the world.
Prior to introducing this bill, our office has
consulted with people involved in the Alaska seafood
marketing industry, the Alaska restaurant and tourism
industries, and even representatives from Alaska's
airlines, and they all agree that Alaska Wild Salmon
Day can create endless opportunities to make salmon
lovers out of countless visitors to Alaska.
We are confident in upcoming support from the Alaska
Travel Industry Association, Visit Alaska, the Alaska
Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI), the United
Fishermen of Alaska, and Alaska Airlines.
9:29:40 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE asked why August 10th was chosen as the day to
celebrate Alaska Wild Salmon Day.
MS. ANDREW answered that the intent was to select a day that was
in the midst of the tourism season. She explained that July was
crowded with state holidays and early August was chosen.
CHAIR STOLTZE suggested that July 10th might be more appropriate
because the date coincided with the start of the Kenai-Kasilof
Personal Use Salmon Fishery.
MS. ANDREW pointed out that July 9th was Alaska Flag Day.
SENATOR MCGUIRE stated that she supported Alaska Wild Salmon
Day. She said she had two questions, the first was the status on
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski's challenge for the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) to rule on genetically modified
methods for farmed salmon. Second, she asked what the sponsor
envisioned for activities that would take place on Alaska Wild
Salmon Day. She inquired if local community councils would come
up with their own ideas and how would children be involved.
MS. ANDREW replied that she did not have an answer regarding a
FDA ruling on farmed salmon. She addressed Alaska Wild Salmon
Day and explained that the intent was to establish a day that
could be celebrated by the state, private industry, communities,
and families. She opined that HB 128 would be liken to a
birthday party for salmon that would be celebrated with cook-
offs and merchandise. She said HB 128 would let Alaskans and
visitors know that August 10th was a day to celebrate the
beloved salmon.
9:32:50 AM
SENATOR MCGUIRE recounted that the Legislature in the past had
grown tired of created new "days." She opined that "days" had
merit and her intent was to consider what the "days" were. She
suggested that Alaska Wild Salmon Day address a commercial
element where the cruise ship and tourism industries get
involved as was done with the Iditarod. She added that an
educational element for children be integrated as well during
the final month of school. She opined that children should learn
about "wild versus farmed" and why wild salmon was important in
one's diet.
MS. ANDREW revealed that the bill's original draft mentioned the
educational component. She concurred that both promotion and
education should be explored for Alaska Wild Salmon Day.
CHAIR STOLTZE remarked that HB 128 identified salmon in both
formal and less formal terms. He noted that Chinook was
identified as "king." He asked what provenance was used in
deciding on names for specific salmon species.
MS. ANDREW replied that there was not much behind choosing the
word "king" and offered that the name could be changed to
"Chinook."
CHAIR STOLTZE stated that his intent was to provide consistency.
MS. ANDREW noted that a previous committee debated "chum" versus
"keta," but chum was chosen.
CHAIR STOLTZE revealed that "keta" was considered for marketing
purposes.
9:36:31 AM
SENATOR HUGGINS suggested that Alaska Wild Salmon Day be thought
of in a broader sense where fishery shortages were addressed as
well. He opined that a broader-context approach would bring
attention to wild salmon's plight.
9:39:15 AM
CHAIR STOLTZ announced that he would offer an amendment to
change "king" to "Chinook" for consistency's sake.
9:39:32 AM
SENATOR COGHILL objected for discussion purposes. He noted that
he was almost an adult before he knew king salmon had a
different name because on the Yukon River, "kings" were what the
particular salmon was called. He suggested that if the bill's
intent had an educational component, that "known as" be
incorporated to provide colloquial salmon species names in order
to avoid confusion.
CHAIR STOLTZE announced that he would withdraw his amendment and
offered a conceptual amendment to draft the formal name and in
parenthesis indicate the common usage. He noted that "chum" or
"dog" salmon was changed to "keta" for marketing purposes. He
asked Ms. Andrew if she preferred "keta" or "dog."
MS. ANDREW replied that she had not heard the word "keta" until
she worked for the Legislature. She stated that she preferred
"chum" or "dog" salmon.
CHAIR STOLTZE stated that both would be used. He revealed that
he has been on the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute's (ASMI)
board of directors for 10 years and noted that ASMI made a
concerted effort to market keta salmon versus dog salmon.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI shared that he had reviewed the Alaska
Department of Fish and Game's (ADFG) website and pointed out
that ADFG identified salmon as: king, coho, sockeye, chum, and
pink. He added that ADFG noted salmon's other names in
parenthesis as well.
CHAIR STOLTZE replied that ADFG interchangeably used formal and
common names. He pointed out that the Legislature put money in
the budget for "Chinook" studies and "Chinook" enhancement. He
added that fishermen refer to the "sockeye" stamp and not the
"red" stamp.
9:42:25 AM
SENATOR MCGUIRE stated that she supported Chair Stoltze's
conceptual amendment because the change addressed both salmon
education and marketing. She suggested that the committee agree
on the scientific and commonly used names.
CHAIR STOLTZE asked if Representative Edgmon's office had any
objections to expanding salmon names for educational purposes.
MS. ANDREW replied that she personally liked the idea of
including the names for salmon, but noted that she could not
answer for Representative Edgmon. She remarked that she did not
anticipate an objection from Representative Edgmon.
CHAIR STOLTZE commented that he would not bow at the altar of
Fish and Game. He stated that he would make the "executive
decision" to move forward with his amendment and remarked that
he thought Senator Wielechowski would concur.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI opined that no one would read the
resolution, but people would celebrate Alaska Wild Salmon Day by
whatever name the salmon were called.
SENATOR MCGUIRE stated that her hope was the amendment would
inspire Representative Edgmon's office to think of educational
and marketing ideas to celebrate Alaska Wild Salmon Day.
9:45:55 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE restated his motion and detailed Conceptual
Amendment 1 as follows:
CONCEPTUAL AMENDMENT 1
Line 6 will read: Chinook (king), sockeye (red), coho
(silver), chum (dog/keta), and pink (humpy).
9:46:31 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE moved Conceptual Amendment 1. He announced that
hearing no objection, the amendment was adopted.
He referenced data from 2015 and asserted that over 36,000
Alaskan households benefited from the "Alaskan resident only"
personal-use Kenai-Kasilof and Chitina fisheries. He stated that
he could not think of a more unique fishery that benefited from
the wild bounty of Alaska's salmon.
9:48:25 AM
SENATOR COGHILL moved to report HB 128, as amended from
committee with individual recommendations and attached zero
fiscal note.
9:48:35 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE announced that hearing no objection, SCS HB
128(STA) is reported from committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 128 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SSTA 3/29/2016 9:00:00 AM |
HB 128 |
| HB 128 Support Document - Letter Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute 3-11-15.pdf |
SSTA 3/29/2016 9:00:00 AM |
HB 128 |
| HB 128 Support Document - Letter Alaska Trollers Association 3-16-15.pdf |
SSTA 3/29/2016 9:00:00 AM |
HB 128 |
| HB 128 Support Document - Letter United Fishermen of Alaska 3-16-15.pdf |
SSTA 3/29/2016 9:00:00 AM |
HB 128 |
| HB 128 Fiscal Note DOA-DGS 03-25-16 (Replaces #1 from 2015).pdf |
SSTA 3/29/2016 9:00:00 AM |
HB 128 |
| SJR 12 Support Document - CSG Attorneys General & Qualifications for Office (2015 Update).pdf |
SSTA 3/29/2016 9:00:00 AM |
SJR 12 |
| SJR 12 Current Governors and Attorneys General (Updated 03-28-16).pdf |
SSTA 3/29/2016 9:00:00 AM |
SJR 12 |
| SJR 12 Fiscal Note - LEG-SESS 03-28-2016 (Updated to 2016).pdf |
SSTA 3/29/2016 9:00:00 AM |
SJR 12 |