Legislature(2001 - 2002)
03/04/2002 03:38 PM House FSH
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HJR 45-SALMON LABELING CO-CHAIR STEVENS said that the first matter before the committee was HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 45, Relating to the labeling of salmon food products. Number 0111 REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA, speaking as the sponsor of HJR 45, referred to U.S. Senator Murkowski's address to the Alaska State Legislature and his mention of pending federal legislation that would require the labeling of farmed fish. She said she prepared the resolution in response to Senator Murkowski's statement that a resolution might help in the passage of that federal legislation. Representative Kerttula said she would like to turn over the testimony to Sarah Bryner, an intern in her office. Representative Kerttula told the committee Ms. Bryner had done a great job helping with the resolution. Number 0191 SARAH BRYNER, Intern to Representative Beth Kerttula, Alaska State Legislature, testified before the committee. She said the issue of farmed salmon has entered the spotlight this legislative session. She stated that foreign fish farms are causing economic and ecological harm to Alaska's fishing industry. She told the committee that Alaska's U.S. Senators have highlighted the need to require seafood labeling to give Alaskan salmon a "fair footing," and to let Americans know what is in their food and where it came from. MS. BRYNER said HJR 45 supports the actions of Alaska's congressional delegation to require labeling. She told the committee that a recent amendment to the "farm bill" requires such labeling. She said that it is the aim of this resolution to help that bill become law. Number 0376 JERRY MADDEN, Executive Director, United Southeast Alaska Gillnetters Association, testified before the committee. He said his association believes that an important part of the marketing and harvesting of salmon is consumer education. He thanked Representative Kerttula and the Alaska congressional delegation for bringing the issue forward. He said when ordering salmon "down south," people don't seem to know where it comes from. Nevertheless, the price of salmon does not seem to go down much. He stated his belief in the importance of the consumer's knowing where the salmon comes from and what the quality is. Number 0578 DANI BROWN, Alaska Conservation Voters, testified before the committee. She said Alaska Conservation Voters is a not-for- profit organization dedicated to protecting Alaska's environment through public education and advocacy. She said it represents over 3,500 registered Alaskan voters through 34 member organizations. Many of the members support the harvesting, processing, and marketing of Alaskan salmon. She stated that wild salmon bring critical economic benefits to Alaskan communities. She said the commercial fishing industry is the largest private employer in the state, and that to keep the wild Alaskan salmon market viable in a time when it is being threatened by farmed salmon from abroad, the unique features of Alaskan wild salmon must be taken into account [by consumers]. MS. BROWN announced that labeling Alaskan salmon food products will provide consumers with information to make informed decisions about the food they eat. She expressed her organization's belief that consumers have a right to know where their food comes from. She said Alaska Conservation Voters recognizes the value of promoting the unique features of Alaskan wild salmon while also providing consumers the information needed to make informed decisions about the food they eat. She urged all legislators to support HJR 45. Number 0722 GERALD (JERRY) McCUNE, Lobbyist for United Fishermen of Alaska (UFA), testified before the committee. He said U.S. Senator Murkowski has already put forward the farm bill to help make a distinction between farmed fish and wild salmon. This is already the case for most other foods. He stated that it would be a big boost for consumers to know what they are buying. Number 0787 SUE ASPELUND, Cordova District Fisherman United (CDFU), testified before the committee. She said CDFU is pleased with Representative Kerttula for bringing forward HJR 45, which is a great example of state government working with the federal government in the same direction. She said that it will help those who market their own Alaskan wild salmon, and it will educate consumers. She conveyed CDFU's full support of the resolution. Number 0865 KATHY HANSEN, Executive Director, Southeast Alaska Fisherman's Alliance, testified before the committee. She said that her group supports the bill. She characterized it as a fairly simple [resolution] and as something long needed. Number 0905 REPRESENTATIVE SCALZI moved to report HJR 45 out of committee with individual recommendations and zero fiscal notes. There being no objection, HJR 45 was moved out of the House Special Committee on Fisheries.
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