04/04/2005 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES

                 HJR 15-OPEN OCEAN AQUACULTURE                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
CHAIR WAGONER announced HJR 15 to be up for consideration.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
IAN  FISK, staff  to Representative  John  Harris, sponsor,  said                                                               
that  HJR  15  bluntly  opposes fish  farming  in  the  Exclusive                                                               
Economic Zone  (EEZ) from  three miles  out to  200 miles.  He is                                                               
concerned  about biological  problems with  fish farming  such as                                                               
the   introduction  of   genetically   modified  organisms,   the                                                               
transmission  of disease,  escapes into  the natural  environment                                                               
and the effects on human of eating these fish.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
There are economic concerns, as well.  In 1990 the state passed a                                                               
ban  on fish  farming  in  state waters.  While  the farmed  fish                                                               
industry has hurt  the Alaskan salmon industry,  it's also helped                                                               
identify Alaskan salmon as unique  and good. People are concerned                                                               
what will  happen to that  reputation if fish farming  is allowed                                                               
in  the EEZ.  This resolution  also asks  for the  legislature to                                                               
prepare  an  environmental  impact  statement  to  accompany  any                                                               
proposal before Congress.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:14:29 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  SEEKINS didn't  agree with  the first  whereas statement                                                               
that  all  of   Alaska's  wild  fish  stocks   were  healthy  and                                                               
sustainable. He said he knows of occasional localized problems.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WAGONER  agreed with most of  what Mr. Fisk said,  but took                                                               
exception to  the fact that  it's not  going to have  an economic                                                               
impact and that there  is a zero fiscal note. "In  a lot of cases                                                               
it could have  a very negative impact on the  State of Alaska and                                                               
the fish stock that we have protected over the years...."                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:16:52 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  DYSON  moved   to  pass  HJR  15   from  committee  with                                                               
individual recommendations and attached  fiscal notes. There were                                                               
no objections and it was so ordered.