Legislature(2001 - 2002)
04/17/2002 03:35 PM Senate RES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SCR 30-ALASKA SALMON DAY
CHAIRMAN TORGERSON announced SCR 30 to be up for consideration.
MS. SARA NIELSON, staff to Senator Ben Stevens, said that SCR 30
proclaims June 30, 2002 as Alaska Salmon Day. It recognizes that
the salmon industry has a huge part of all Alaskan's lives and
will raise public awareness of one of Alaska's most important
industries by promoting and celebrating the catching and eating
of salmon. Alaska is the largest commercial wild salmon fishery
in the world. In the last decade state salmon harvest totaled
more than $4.5 billion, making it extremely vital to Alaska's
economy. Last year almost 450,000 resident and non-resident
licenses were issued for sport fishing.
CHAIRMAN TORGERSON asked why this resolution is being sent to
Alaska's congressional delegation instead of someone in Alaska.
He noted, "They're not going to celebrate salmon day back there."
SENATOR STEVENS said he would entertain some instate suggestions
as well.
CHAIRMAN TORGERSON said it should be sent to organized fishing
groups and maybe hatcheries.
MS. BARBARA BELKNAP, Executive Director, Alaska Seafood Marketing
Institute (ASMI), thanked Senator Stevens for introducing this
resolution. ASMI is trying to augment its promotions with seafood
stores and retailers this summer and actually wanted a National
Alaska Salmon Day declared by the President, but wasn't able to
do that. She said ASMI would also send the resolution to chambers
and tourism bureaus.
SENATOR WILKEN asked why it wouldn't be an Alaskan Salmon Week.
MS. BELKNAP answered that ASMI wants to have a "kick off" with
particular retailers. She got the idea from British Columbia,
which established last year as the Year of the Bear. Everyone who
went through there was inundated with information about bears.
She thought it would be terrific to have the Year of the Salmon
here, but it was too late to go that far and ASMI didn't have the
budget to make it what they would like.
CHAIRMAN TORGERSON asked that copies go to ASMI with instructions
to distribute the resolution throughout the state and to Senators
Frank Murkowski and Ted Stevens.
MS. BELKNAP replied that she would be happy to do that.
SENATOR ELTON said on page 1, line 15 there are two extraneous
words "to and".
SENATOR LINCOLN commented that the resolution emphasizes just
catching and eating, not marketing of salmon.
MS. BELKNAP said ASMI wanted to expand this into something
statewide that would actually celebrate the industry as well and
the cultural importance of salmon.
SENATOR WILKEN moved to insert, "Alaska Seafood Marketing
Institute" on page 2, lines 5 - 7.
SENATOR ELTON asked if they could also send a copy to the
Governor.
SENATOR WILKEN moved to add the Governor to the list of
recipients. There were no objections and it was so ordered.
SENATOR STEVENS moved to pass CSSCR 30(RES) from committee with
individual recommendations and its attached zero fiscal note.
There were no objections and it was so ordered.
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