Legislature(2001 - 2002)
03/04/2002 09:10 AM Senate FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
CS FOR SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 28(RES)
Establishing the Joint Legislative Salmon Industry Task Force.
This was the first hearing for this bill in the Senate Finance
Committee.
Senator Austerman, sponsor, testified this resolution was proposed
to address the "evolution" in the salmon industry, which would
continue for several years.
Senator Austerman detailed that meetings would be held before the
2001 salmon fishing season begins, and again after the season
concludes. The purpose of the task force, he said, would be to
identify solutions, including finding methods in which the
legislature could assist in "resolving some of the problems that
are in this industry". Just as important, he stressed, the task
force would identify efforts that could be undertaken within the
industry.
SUE ASPELUND, Executive Director, Cordova Fisherman United
testified in Juneau in support of the bill on behalf of the fishing
fleets in the Copper River and Prince William Sound represented by
the organization. She asserted the fishing industry is "in crisis"
and there is a need to "comprehensively evaluate where we are and
how we can move forward into the future." She emphasized a
successful approach to a solution would include three components:
the issue must be addressed on a statewide basis, in Alaska and by
Alaskans; fishing industry representatives, including fisherman,
tenders, and processors, must be involved in the evaluation at the
"very basic level and throughout the process" and; a funding method
is required because the industry does not have the resources to
address all the impacts to stakeholders in the state. She expressed
that commercial fishing is the "lifeblood" of many communities in
coastal Alaska.
Senator Ward remarked, "Clearly, this is something that needs to be
done." However, he questioned the limited panel membership of nine
public members, as he identified more than nine user groups.
Ms. Aspelund responded that "the fishing industry in Alaska is
extremely complex" and there are many user groups involved. She
relayed discussions on the issue, which determined that the task
force is the "starting point" to address the problems. She asserted
the public members would need to "leave their peer group at the
door". She stated the resolution allows "plenty of opportunity" for
discussions involving the impacts to all stakeholders and
communities. Therefore, she said, it is anticipated the nine public
members of the task force would serve as representatives of the
balance of the stakeholders in the area they represented and would
be responsible for consulting and obtaining input from their
respective communities.
Senator Ward clarified the task force would be comprised of a 13-
member panel with subcommittees operating within the group.
Senator Austerman affirmed and detailed the intent to utilize
subcommittees to take up "specific issues in specific areas". He
stressed the intent to address the salmon industry as a statewide
industry, while recognizing there are regions in the state with
different problems.
Ms. Aspelund added to her testimony that government involvement is
required to enable the seafood processing sector to participate in
this effort, to protect them from anti-trust violations. She noted
the inability to gather with this group, because of anti-trust
issues, has hindered earlier efforts at identifying possible
solutions for the fishing industry.
JERRY MCCUNE, United Fishermen of Alaska testified in Juneau in
support of the proposed task force. He stated that the organization
anticipates the task force would "answer a lot of the questions we
haven't been able to answer in the past" due to the inability to
gather the harvesters, processors, hatcheries and the public. He
expressed the pink salmon fishery is of particular concern given
competition with farmed fish.
KATHY HANSON, Executive Director, Southeast Alaska Fishermen's
Alliance, testified in Juneau and described the organization that
represents salmon, crab, shrimp and long-line fishermen. She stated
the organization supports the proposed task force. She further
described the anti-trust issue and the need for government
involvement to allow meetings between the harvesters and
processors.
Ms. Hanson stressed that although salmon is the primary focus of
the task force, other fisheries and "gear groups" must be
considered as well as they could be impacted either positively or
negatively.
BRUCE SCHACTLER, Commercial salmon fisherman, At-Large Member,
Board of Directors, United Fishermen of Alaska, and, President,
United Salmon Association, testified via teleconference from Kodiak
that this resolution is "a wonderful piece of leadership". He
approved of the public participation on the taskforce membership,
noting it gives latitude to appoint the most qualified people. He
stressed the salmon fishery is "tremendously complicated" and is
specifically designed to be such.
Co-Chair Kelly commented that his only disagreement with the
witness' statement is that this action is "timely" as it should
have been addressed sooner.
AT EASE 9:34 AM / 9:37 AM
Senator Ward thanked Senator Austerman for sponsoring this
resolution. He referenced US Senator Frank Murkowski's address to
the Legislature where he called for a task force consisting of
federal and state officials. He asked if Senator Austerman had
discussed the matter with the Congressman.
Senator Austerman replied he had not spoken to Senator Murkowski
directly about this although he had discussions with Senator Ted
Stevens on the matter.
SENATOR BEN STEVENS shared he had conversations with Dave Russell,
staff to US Senator Ted Stevens, with regards to coordinating these
efforts. Senator Ben Stevens noted Alaska's congressional
delegation supports SCR 28. He said the understanding is that most
of the changes must be made at the state level, but that federal
resources could assist in the process.
Senator Ward pointed out that federal assistance would be
necessary, for instance in relation to the Canadian government.
Co-Chair Kelly surmised the task force would not be restricted from
addressing matters not specifically listed in this resolution.
Senator Green questioned the change made in the Senate Resources
committee substitute with regards to the public membership on the
task force. This change stipulated the public members would be
representatives of the commercial salmon fishing industry. She did
not support the restriction to commercial fishing representatives
when decisions made by this body could impact the sport fishing
industry.
Senator Austerman explained the change was made to avoid a region
sending a representative that is not "in tune" with the situation.
He assured the intent to involve people who want to resolve the
issue and for the process to be "industry driven" rather than
bureaucratic.
Co-Chair Kelly opined the intent of the task force is not to
address the relationship between commercial fishing and sport
fishing, but rather to identify ways the commercial fishing
industry could adapt to a changing world market and technologies.
Senator Austerman agreed, but stressed this discussion must take
place as sport fishing activities do impact commercial fishing.
Senator Olson asked for assurances that the proposed task force
would not adversely impact other "harvesters of the sea".
Senator Austerman agreed all uses must be considered and stressed
the primary intent of the task force is to consider the issues
related to salmon.
Senator Austerman mentioned the rising mari-culture industry and
the impacts it would have on salmon. He warned that as the
aquaculture industry evolves, "it will have some real impacts on
the salmon industry."
Co-Chair Kelly requested Senator Austerman work with Senator Green
and Senator Ward to address their concerns.
Co-Chair Kelly ordered this bill HELD in Committee.
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