03/08/1995 05:03 PM House FSH

 HFSH - 03/08/95                                                               
 HJR 23 - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FISHING QUOTAS                               
                                                                              
 Number 571                                                                   
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE GARY DAVIS moved to accept committee substitute for            
 HJR 23 as a working document.                                                 
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN AUSTERMAN hearing no objection, placed CSHJR 23(FSH)                 
 before the committee.                                                         
                                                                               
 JOHN WALSH, Aide to Representative Richard Foster, affirmed they do           
 support the committee substitute and encouraged passage of this               
 resolution.  He commented that the Community Development Quota                
 (CDQ) program has brought tremendous economic development potential           
 and opportunity for development in rural Alaska.  This experimental           
 program comes to an end at the end of this calendar year.  He                 
 stated the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council (NPFMC) is              
 not prepared to establish a permanent regime of comprehensive                 
 rationalization.  In order to prolong the current CDQ program, a              
 proposal is before the council to extend it for three years.  He              
 further stated that the resolution of endorsement would be                    
 appropriate and significant for the NPFMC to have before them at              
 their June meeting.                                                           
                                                                               
 Number 612                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE ELTON commented that there is probably no single               
 issue that is more important to Alaskan jobs than the CDQ program.            
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN AUSTERMAN acknowledged and agreed with Representative                
 Elton's comments.  The inshore/offshore issue of getting more fish            
 ashore means jobs to the coastal communities.  The CDQ program is             
 part of that issue and is really a boom to the Bering Sea area.               
                                                                               
 Number 634                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS also agreed with the importance of this                  
 program.  The CDQ's improve the job and economic base in that area            
 of the state.  He made a motion to move CSHJR 23(FSH) out of                  
 committee, with individual recommendations.                                   
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN AUSTERMAN upon hearing no objections, moved CSHJR 23(FSH)            
 out of the House Special Committee on Fisheries, with individual              
 recommendations.