Legislature(2013 - 2014)CAPITOL 120
04/11/2013 10:00 AM House FISHERIES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB156 | |
| SB54 | |
| HB192 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 156 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 54 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 192 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 156-EXTEND HAIR CRAB & SCALLOP LIMITED ENTRY
10:04:25 AM
CHAIR SEATON announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 156, "An Act extending the termination date of
the authority of the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission to
maintain a vessel-based limited entry fisheries system for the
weathervane scallop and Bering Sea hair crab fisheries; and
providing for an effective date by amending the effective date
under sec. 28, ch. 137, SLA 2002."
10:05:09 AM
KATE WOLGEMUTH, Staff, Representative Bob Herron, Alaska State
Legislature, presented HB 156, paraphrasing from a prepared
statement, which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
House Bill 156 extends the "sunset" date of the
vessel-based limited entry programs for the
weathervane scallops and the Bering Sea hair crab
fisheries from December 30, 2013 to December 30, 2023.
Although, it is recognized that there are two
fisheries affected here, I will be mostly speaking to
the Bering Sea hair crab fishery, as:
It is being brought forth as requested by a CDQ in the
Bering Sea Region who has interest in two hair crab
permits.
Vessel-based limited entry permits are not widespread
in the state of Alaska.
Limited entry into the vast majority of commercial
fisheries has been implemented with a skipper-based
system that awards permits to individual fisherman
based on their prior history of participation in and
economic dependence on each specific fishery.
Created by the Alaska State Legislature about a decade
ago, vessel-based limited entry is a very narrow
exception to the individual-based system.
In 2002, the Legislature amended that Limited Entry
Act to allow vessel-based limited entry permits to be
given to vessels (instead of individuals) with a
history of fishing for weathervane scallops and Bering
Sea hair crab in state waters.
These permits were issued as a result of an
adjudicative process that considered past fishing
history and other criteria that provide a rational
basis for the issuance of those permits. This process
complied with the constitutional mandate limiting the
establishment of exclusive rights of fishery.
That said, conservation concerns have not allowed for
any commercial openings for the Bering Sea hair crab
fishery in the last decade.
Although, keep in mind that these permits are still
held by vessels that are ready and able to harvest
hair crab if and when fisheries managers decide that
circumstances allow this fishery to open.
Bering Sea hair crab are of significant economic
interest for the Bering Sea Region, as there already
exist successful opilio and king crab fisheries that
provide job opportunities for residents of said
region.
It is expected that when the hair crab fishery is
reopened, those same great opportunities will be
available in the Bering Sea region for those aboard
hair crab vessels.
Extending the sunset date for the vessel-based limited
entry programs within the Limited Entry Act will serve
the Bering Sea region well, as it allows for a
potential future opening of the hair crab fishery.
10:08:00 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GATTIS asked how the fishery was handled prior to
the limited entry approach.
MS. WOLGEMUTH responded that the fisheries were open access
prior to moratoria being imposed and the vessel based limited
entry scheme implemented.
10:08:41 AM
CHAIR SEATON asked what has occurred for the vessels during the
ten year moratoria; have any left the fisheries.
MS. WOLGEMUTH offered to provide the information to the
committee.
CHAIR SEATON announced that the bill would be held.