Legislature(2023 - 2024)GRUENBERG 120
04/25/2024 10:00 AM House FISHERIES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HR8 | |
| SCR10 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SCR 10 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HR 8 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HR 8-FISHERIES BYCATCH REGULATIONS
10:04:01 AM
CHAIR VANCE announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 8, Encouraging the Department of Fish and
Game to adopt certain regulations relating to fisheries bycatch.
10:04:21 AM
CHAIR VANCE opened public testimony on HR 8.
10:04:33 AM
CARL HOLMAN, representing self, provided public testimony in
support of HR 8. He shared that he lived and worked in Dutch
Harbor from 1997 to 2004. He stated that he serviced fishing
vessels and handled gear in the pollack fishery. He stated that
the fishery is a midwater fishery and described the gear used.
He stated that after the boats returned from a 30-day opener,
the gear would be shredded. He expressed the understanding that
this was because the gear was scraping the bottom of the ocean;
therefore, he pointed out that this would not be midwater
fishing. After this work, he stated that he went out on a trawl
vessel and witnessed the bycatch going overboard. He described
seeing king crab, halibut, flounder, salmon, and other species,
noting that this is not indicative of midwater fishing. He
argued that this type of fishing is destroying the bottom of the
ocean, creating a dead zone. He expressed the opinion that
action needs to happen now; otherwise, there will not be a
fishery in the Bering Sea.
10:07:25 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE requested that the testifier submit a
written testimony to the committee.
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES requested a written statement from the
testifier on the details of bycatch from different fishing gear
types.
10:08:36 AM
EDWARD C JOHNSON, representing self, provided public testimony
in support of HR 8. He stated that he has been a commercial
fisherman for 42 years. He stated that he has been to Dutch
Harbor many times, where he saw bycatch sorted out, put into
totes at the processers, and then driven to the grinder to be
destroyed.
MR. JOHNSON addressed the state's appointments to the North
Pacific Fisheries Management Council (NPFMC). He argued that
these appointments should no longer be a "revolving door" of
trawling lobbyist and big industry players and balance should be
brought back to the board by supporting conservation. He argued
that the governor has too much power in these appointments. He
suggested there be a 10-year moratorium, so lobbyist and
government officials cannot continually participate as returning
board members and be involved in the managerial decisions. He
argued that the [way the fisheries are being managed] is not
sustainable, as the fisheries are "crashing."
10:11:51 AM
JULIAN RAMIREZ, Salmon and Clear Water Organizer, Alaska Center,
provided public testimony on HR 8, on behalf of the Alaska
Center. He expressed support for the removal of the utilization
language from HR 8. He expressed the opinion that other actions
could be taken to remove bycatch at its source, leaving these
fish to be legally caught and utilized in this way. On behalf
of the Alaska Center, he expressed support for the following:
24-hour observer coverage in the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea
trawl fisheries; the nomination of a Tribal member to a
designated seat on NPFMC; and a connection between the state and
federal managed fisheries so fishing closures could be
coordinated. He discussed the effects of climate change on
cold-water fisheries; however, he urged that controlling bycatch
could have a positive effect on sustaining these fisheries.
10:13:42 AM
DAVID BOUGHT, representing self, provided public testimony in
support of HR 8. He expressed the opinion that keeping trawlers
off the bottom of the ocean floor would be the most important
action that could be taken. He pointed out that there is a
loophole in the language that protects the gear being used, even
in protected areas. He explained that this type of gear
dramatically affects the ability of fisheries to recover. He
noted that there have been no studies on recovery times of the
Arctic's ocean floor, estimating that this recovery could take
centuries. He stated that often climate change is blamed for
the decline in the fisheries in Alaska; however, he suggested
that this is an excuse for not taking responsibility for
destructive fishing practices. He opined that climate change
may be having an impact, but this would not justify making it
worse. He noted a study that suggested that bottom trawling
puts carbon in the atmosphere. He expressed concern on wanton
waste in the fisheries. He pointed out that the Constitution of
the State of Alaska requires sustainable management of the
state's resources and argued that this does not exist in the
trawl industry.
10:16:35 AM
KIRIL BASARGIN, Member, K-Bay Fisheries Association, provided
invited testimony on HR 8, on behalf of K-Bay Fisheries
Association. He stated that the association represents over 200
fishermen and 600 community members. He discussed the
association's concern about the trawl fleet, as it has exploited
fishing. He expressed the opinion that this fleet has destroyed
Kachemak Bay and the Gulf of Alaska around Seward, as no cod
fishery remains in these areas. He discussed the destruction in
Prince William Sound, as there are no king salmon or shrimp
there. He stated that in January he saw 20-plus trawlers in
Shelikof Strait, which he described as "a sanctuary for fish."
He discussed how trawling is destroying the spawning grounds for
multiple species. He recommended that trawl fishing be banned,
and the trawl fishermen need to be held accountable.
10:19:24 AM
TONY ARSENAULT, representing self, provided public testimony in
support of HR 8. He shared that for 39 years he has run a sport
charter business in Homer. He expressed agreement with the
previous public testifiers. He recommended that the top
priority for the proposed legislation should be to reduce
bycatch. He expressed disappointment with the governor and the
commissioner of ADF&G, as they had informed NPFMC that no action
was needed on bycatch. He discussed the trawl fishery in
Shelikof Strait, pointing out that there are not many observers
on board the trawl vessels there.
10:20:53 AM
BROOKE WOODS, representing self, provided public testimony in
support of HR 8. She stated that she is a Tribal member on the
Yukon River, where the subsistence fishery for king salmon has
been closed for seven years, and the chum salmon fishery is
declining. She expressed concern that bycatch could be a profit
for industry. She stated that the SeaShare program has been
unable to provide bycatch donations to remote villages. She
argued that the state needs to act so wild salmon will return to
impacted villages [indisc.]. She discussed the consequences of
bycatch in the Bering Sea.
10:22:19 AM
CHAIR VANCE, after ascertaining that there was no one else who
wished to testify, close public testimony.
[HR 8 was held over.]
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HR 8 - Proposed CS v.B (04-24-24).pdf |
HFSH 4/25/2024 10:00:00 AM |
HR 8 |
| CSSCR 10 - Amendment #1 (S.A.2) by Chair Vance.pdf |
HFSH 4/25/2024 10:00:00 AM |
SSCR10 |
| CSSCR 10 - Amendment #2 (S.A.1) by Rep. McCormick.pdf |
HFSH 4/25/2024 10:00:00 AM |
SSCR10 |
| HR 8 - Written Public Testimony (Uploaded as of 04-25-24).pdf |
HFSH 4/25/2024 10:00:00 AM |
HR 8 |