Legislature(2025 - 2026)BUTROVICH 205
04/09/2025 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB130 | |
| SB135 | |
| SB131 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 130 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 135 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 67 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 131 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 131-DUTIES OF ASMI BOARD; MEANING OF SEAFOOD
4:04:46 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 131
"An Act relating to the duties of the Alaska Seafood Marketing
Institute; and relating to the seafood marketing assessment."
4:05:37 PM
ANNA LATHAM, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Commerce,
Community and Economic Development (DCCED), Juneau, Alaska, said
SB 131 would allow the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI)
to market aquatic farm products (e.g. kelp and oysters). She
said that Alaska has an ideal environment for mariculture
industry growth and highlighted the long coastlines and history
of maritime activity in the state. The mariculture industry also
has federal and state support. She stated that Alaska produces
more than half of the seafood in the United States.
MS. LATHAM opined that expanding mariculture as a renewable
resource is a natural progression. The State of Alaska has shown
its commitment to developing the state's mariculture industry
over the past decade, which creates year-round jobs and supports
communities that have experienced a decline in harvest volume
and revenue. This expansion would also diversify Alaska's
economy. She stated that ASMI has done well in its task of
developing an international brand for Alaska's seafood industry.
Expanding ASMI's scope to include shellfish could incentivize
growth in that emergent sector. SB 131 aligns with the
administration's food security initiatives, as successful
marketing efforts would allow for the increased production of
shellfish. She stated that this would ultimately lead to an
increased availability of fresh food in local markets.
4:07:20 PM
JEREMY WOODROW, Executive Director, Alaska Seafood Marketing
Institute, Juneau, Alaska, paraphrased the sectional analysis of
SB 131:
[Original punctuation provided.]
SECTIONAL ANALYSIS
SB 131: Duties of ASMI Board; Meaning of Seafood
Version A
Section 1: Technical change amending AS 16.51.100(3)
to include "or harvest" related to the development of
quality specifications and handling of Alaska seafood
"from the moment of capture" under duties of the ASMI
board.
Section 2: Amends AS 16.51.180(7) to include "aquatic
farm products" in the definition of "seafood" in
ASMI's chapter of statute.
MR. WOODROW said that "aquatic farm products" are defined in AS
16.41.099. He explained that current statute prohibits ASMI from
marketing mariculture products. He said SB 131 is not tied to SB
108 (which relates to fin fish farming). He emphasized that,
should SB 108 pass, SB 131 would not give ASMI the powers to
market farmed fin fish. He said ASMI is supportive of two
nascent industries in Alaska: farmed shellfish (primarily
oysters) and farmed kelp. He stated that in a recent board
meeting ASMI unanimously passed a motion in support of changing
ASMI statutes to include powers to market Alaska's mariculture
products. If SB 131 passes, ASMI would immediately begin to
include those products in its global marketing efforts. He
briefly described those marketing efforts. SB 131 would also
allow ASMI to pursue grant funding for those marketing efforts,
on behalf of the mariculture industry. He said that he is not an
expert in Alaska mariculture. He added that he anticipates ASMI
would adopt a structure that would include Alaskan mariculture
experts in ASMI activities and committees. This would ensure
that ASMI's actions align with the needs of Alaska's mariculture
industry.
4:09:56 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR directed attention to SB 131, page 2, line 11,
which refers to "aquatic farm" and commented that this term
brings to mind farmed fish. He asked whether "mariculture" would
be a more accurate term. If so, he wondered if the committee
should amend SB 131 and replace "aquatic farm" with
"mariculture."
4:10:40 PM
MR. WOODWROW shared his understanding that "mariculture " and
"aquatic farm" are often interchangeable. He added that there
may be nuances with those definitions when used outside of the
legislative process.
4:11:04 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR said he has heard the term "mariculture" many
times; however, he has not heard the term "aquatic farm." He
wondered if someone involved in drafting SB 131 could address
the question.
4:11:30 PM
MR. WOODROW clarified that the term "aquatic farm" is defined in
AS 16.41.99. He said the term has been in statute for many
years. He shared his understanding that "mariculture" is a newer
term and surmised that changing "aquatic farm" to "mariculture"
would require changes to other areas of statute. He added that
"aquatic farm" seems to be the preferred term in Alaska Statute.
He said that "aquatic farm products" refers to products in a
controlled environment.
4:12:21 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR noted that oysters are grown in a semi-controlled
way that often involves open water. He said he does not think of
this as "farming" but acknowledged that it is farming of a kind.
He opined that, in this case, "mariculture" would be a better
term. He expressed his support for SB 131.
4:13:03 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI directed attention to the following definition
of "aquatic farm" in AS 16.40.199:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Sec. 16.40.199. Definitions.
In AS 16.40.100 16.40.199,
(1) "aquatic farm" means a facility that grows,
farms, or cultivates aquatic farm products in
captivity or under positive control;
SENATOR KAWASAKI noted that this definition is also used in SB
108 (which relates to fin fish farming). He expressed concern
about this overlap and emphasized that he does not want farmed
fish to be considered "seafood" - even if it is farmed "under
positive control." He noted that some farmed fish are raised in
tanks rather than in bodies of water and are therefore not
considered "seafood" by the State of Alaska.
4:13:58 PM
MR. WOODROW indicated his understanding and suggested that this
definition may need additional consideration if the legislature
does not want seafood and farmed fish to intersect.
4:14:21 PM
SENATOR HUGHES returned to an earlier comment on adjusting the
ASMI board to include mariculture expertise. She asked if ASMI
has the authority to add board members and/or change board
member qualifications - or whether a statutory change is
required.
4:14:41 PM
MR. WOODROW replied that ASMI does not have authority to change
the board. The board membership is set in statute, and members
are chosen by the governor. He explained that the ASMI board is
authorized to create advisory committees. He explained that
advisory committees increase inclusivity, and members are from
various sectors of the Alaska seafood industry. He shared his
vision (which the ASMI board has discussed) that these
committees would expand to include mariculture experts - or
perhaps the ASMI board would create a mariculture committee.
This would enable the mariculture sector to advise the ASMI
board and ensure that decisions made by ASMI are aligned with
that sector's needs.
4:15:37 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL asked about the current composition of the ASMI
board.
4:15:42 PM
MR. WOODROW said the board has seven voting members. Five of
those are seafood processors (including one small processor).
The remaining two members are harvesters. He noted that the
harvesters must be engaged in commercial fishing in Alaska.
4:16:50 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL opened public testimony on SB 131.
4:17:06 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL held public testimony on SB 131 open.
4:17:25 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL held SB 131 in committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 130 - Support Letter - RDC.pdf |
SRES 4/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 130 |
| SB 130 - Support Letter - Trident - 4.8.25.pdf |
SRES 4/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 130 |
| SB 130 Fiscal Note DOR.pdf |
SRES 4/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 130 |
| SB 130 Seafood Product Development Tax Credit.pdf |
SRES 4/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 130 |
| SB 130 - Support Letter - PSPA - 3.27.25.pdf |
SRES 4/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 130 |
| SB 131 Transmittal Letter 3.13.25.pdf |
SRES 4/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 131 |
| SB 131 Sectional Analysis version A 3.17.25.pdf |
SRES 4/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 131 |
| SB 131 version A 3.14.25.pdf |
SRES 4/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 131 |
| SB 131 Fiscal Note DCCED-ASMI 3.13.25.pdf |
SRES 4/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 131 |
| SB 131 Fiscal Note DCCED-DCRA 3.13.25.pdf |
SRES 4/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 131 |
| SB 135 Fiscal Note DCCED.pdf |
SRES 4/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 135 |
| SB 135 Fiscal Note DOR.pdf |
SRES 4/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 135 |