Legislature(2011 - 2012)CAPITOL 120
03/01/2012 05:00 PM House FISHERIES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HCR25 | |
| HB332 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 332 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HCR 25 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HCR 25-WILDLIFE & SPORT FISH RESTORATION PROGRAM
5:04:31 PM
CHAIR THOMPSON announced that the first order of business would
be HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 25, Celebrating the 75th
anniversary of the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program.
5:04:57 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MARK NEUMAN, Alaska State Legislature, presented
HCR 25 as the prime sponsor. He said that the wildlife and
sport fish restoration program was being commemorated on its
75th anniversary with recognition to sportsmen, industry, and
state and federal agencies that have been active in preserving
this heritage. He reported that wildlife restoration began with
the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937, which
established funding for restoration of wildlife and the
acquisition, development, and management of habitats. He noted
that this act was amended in 1970 to provide funding for hunter
training programs and public shooting ranges. He noted that in
1950 the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act used a
federal excise tax on fishing gear and motor boat fuel to fund
grant money for fishery conservation, boating access, and
aquatic education. He declared that these all created an
effective "user pay - user benefit system." He declared that,
since 1939, the contributions to state fish and wildlife
agencies from wildlife and sport fish restoration programs had
exceeded $13 billion. He emphasized that this was "a model of
conservation unique to the rest of the world" and:
it is my hope that the Alaska State Legislature, on
the 75th Anniversary of the nation's greatest
conservation story, recognizes the leading roles that
hunters, anglers, boaters, recreational shooters, and
industry, and state and federal wildlife agencies all
have played in restoring healthy populations of fish
and wildlife and other natural resources by passing
this resolution.
5:09:00 PM
LISA EVANS, Assistant Director, Division of Sport Fish, Alaska
Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G), testified that the Alaska
Department of Fish & Game supported HCR 25 and its recognition
of the most successful fish and wildlife restoration and
management program in the world. She stated that the unique
"user pay - user benefit system" had allowed the ADF&G to
actively manage the state fish and wildlife resources to ensure
opportunities for the present and the future. She reported that
the wildlife and sport fish restoration program had paid nearly
$666 million to ADF&G since 1942, which had been essential to
the operation and management for research, education, and public
access to the resources.
5:10:33 PM
MS. EVANS reported that Whittier was the only natural, ice free,
deep water port in Southcentral Alaska, was close to Anchorage,
and was the gateway to Prince William Sound and its numerous
sport fishing and recreational boating opportunities. She
stated that the sport fish restoration and angler license
dollars had been used to rehabilitate and improve the old boat
launch ramp facilities and mooring dock. She said that a
significant amount of wildlife restoration dollars had been
spent on monitoring the population size, calf production and
survival, adult mortality, health and body conditions, and meat
assessment for human consumption of the Western Arctic Caribou
herd.
5:12:33 PM
MS. EVANS offered a final example of combined wildlife and sport
fish restoration dollars, which were leveraged with private
donations and volunteer efforts, to sponsor introductory events
to encourage anglers and hunters to enjoy the abundance in
Alaska. These skills-oriented programs, including Becoming an
Outdoorswoman, hunter education, outdoor youth days, and Alaska
Conservation camp, ensured the future of the "user pay - user
benefit system." She summarized that the Wildlife and Sport
Fish Restoration Program was an American legacy that was
beneficial to everyone, and she expressed her gratitude to the
user groups which provided the funding.
5:14:52 PM
REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN, in response to Representative Johnson,
said that an amendment to add others to the list of those
receiving copies of the resolution would be welcomed.
5:16:04 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment 1, as
follows:
Page 2, line 27, after "sent to the"
Insert "Safari Club International (SCI) Alaska,
National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses,"
There being no objection, it was so ordered.
5:16:43 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON moved to report HCR 25, Version 27-
LS1350\M, as amended, out of committee with the accompanying
individual recommendations and zero fiscal note. There being no
objection, CSHCR 25(FSH) was reported from the House Special
Committee on Fisheries.