Legislature(1999 - 2000)
03/22/1999 05:05 PM House CRA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
JOINT MEETING
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES
HOUSE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
March 22, 1999
5:05 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Bill Hudson, Chairman
Representative Fred Dyson
Representative Carl Morgan
Representative Mary Kapsner
Representative Harold Smalley
Representative Andrew Halcro, Co-Chairman
Representative Lisa Murkowski
Representative Reggie Joule
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Jim Whitaker
Representative John Harris
Representative Albert Kookesh
OTHER MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Alan Austerman
Representative Carl Moses
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
OVERSIGHT HEARING: WESTERN ALASKA FISHERIES DISASTER
WITNESS REGISTER
PAT POLAND, Director
Division of Municipal and Regional Assistance
Department of Community and Regional Affairs
333 West Fourth Avenue, Suite 220
Anchorage, Alaska 99501-2341
Telephone: (907) 269-4580
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on the Western Alaska fisheries
disaster.
CAROL CARROLL, Director
Administrative Services Division
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
400 Willoughby Avenue, Suite 500
Juneau, Alaska 99811
Telephone: (907) 465-4730
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on the Western Alaska fisheries
disaster.
DIANA ALCANTRA, Recovery Manager
Division of Emergency Services
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
P.O. Box 5750
Fort Richardson, Alaska 99505-5750
Telephone: (907) 428-7000
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on the Western Alaska fisheries
disaster.
DOUG EGGERS, Chief Fisheries Scientist
Division of Commercial Fisheries Management
and Development
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
P.O. Box 25526
Juneau, Alaska 99802-5526
Telephone: (907) 465-6117
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on the Western Alaska fisheries
disaster.
TOM KRON, Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwin Regional Supervisor
Division of Commercial Fisheries Management
and Development
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
333 Raspberry Road
Anchorage, Alaska 99518-1599
Telephone: (907) 267-2166
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on the Western Alaska fisheries
disaster.
TAPE(S)
99-6, SIDE(S) A & B
99-7, SIDE(S) A
CHAIRMAN BILL HUDSON AND CO-CHAIRMAN ANDREW HALCRO called the joint
meeting between the House Special Committee on Fisheries and the
House Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee meeting to
order at 5:05 p.m. Present at the call to order from the House
Special Committee on Fisheries were Representatives Hudson, Dyson,
Morgan and Smalley. Present at the call to order from the House
Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee were
Representatives Halcro, Morgan and Joule. Representative Murkowski
arrived at 5:08 p.m. Representative Kapsner arrived at 5:09 p.m.
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION
PAT POLAND, Director, Division of Municipal and Regional
Assistance, Department of Community and Regional Affairs (DCRA),
explained the role his division played in working with communities
and administering a grant program. He noted that, in July of 1997,
in recognizing that the season was a disaster in Bristol Bay and
the Yukon-Kuskokwin area, Governor Knowles declared a disaster that
encompassed 51 communities and included 2 organized boroughs. The
Department of Community and Regional Affairs was given the
responsibility of coordinating state agencies in responding to the
disaster, and Mr. Poland explained how the various departments and
agencies were organized. He reported the state submitted a request
to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to declare a
national disaster for federal assistance; however, that was
ultimately denied. In the fall of 1997, United States Senator Ted
Stevens secured about $7 million in federal Magnuson-Stevens
Fisheries Disasters Funds. This is the first time a disaster has
been applied to that fund, so it was a learning experience for
everyone involved.
MR. POLAND explained that there was a match requirement for that
federal money. Through the legislative process, it was decided
that the match should come from local communities. He reported
that the federal directive associated with this fund was to
identify labor-intensive projects in the communities, which was
accomplished in the majority of the communities. It has been a
major struggle, however, for these small villages to come up with
matching funds; consequently, no projects were going on in May and
June of 1998. At that time, the 1998 fish disaster started to
become evident. The Governor advised the legislature of their
option to come into special session, and, as a function of that
declaration, he was able to access disaster funds. Mr. Poland
stated that a portion of those funds were used as a match for the
community grants to begin projects last summer. He said,
"Unfortunately, by that point we are so late into the construction
season in rural Alaska that, if projects literally aren't ready and
if the materials aren't sitting there, chances of getting things
going again are pretty slim. So, we lost close to a second
construction season." He felt that approximately 30 to 40 of the
projects had some activity.
MR. POLAND reported that all of the projects were articulated and
ready to go by the fall of 1998, in terms of an actual grant
agreement with the communities. Subsequent to that, the match was
not approved by the legislature, so DCRA is again working with
communities and with the federal government. He observed that DCRA
is cautiously optimistic that the federal government is going to
let them use expenditures the state made in support of the 1998
disaster that were not reimbursed to make up that community match.
The Department of Community and Regional Affairs is also going to
reprogram unused loan funds that the federal government had given
them for individual loans to fishermen, and this will help meet the
$1.5 million match. As a result, those projects should begin this
year.
MR. POLAND indicated that DCRA was involved, along with the
Department of Commerce and Economic Development, with a loan
program for individual fishermen. A little over $1.5 million was
originally designated for that purpose, and, basically, any
fisherman can get a loan for $1000 by simply applying.
Approximately 500 fishermen took advantage of that opportunity, and
those individuals had to dedicate their permanent fund dividend to
assure payment of the loan. Mr. Poland informed the committee,
"There are a couple of other relatively minor grants that were a
function of that original $7 million secured by [U.S.] Senator
Stevens, and that included some monies for fisheries research, a
little less than $500,000, and for looking at economic alternatives
out there. Those funds are being matched either by some kind of
local government or by the organization which secured the grant,
and those are all in place and going at the moment."
CAROL CARROLL, Director, Administrative Services Division,
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), explained her
department's role in the disaster relief. She reiterated that the
legislature felt that no special session was needed to be called;
however, at that time, the Disaster Relief Fund was empty. A loan
was obtained from the general fund by means of the supplemental
process, and DMVA went out into communities to take applications
for the Emergency Living Expense Program. This program gave
eligible individuals living in that area payments of approximately
$1,400 to be used for fuel, food, electric and other bills.
MS. CARROLL provided the committee with a spreadsheet titled,
"Western Alaska Fisheries Disaster", that showed exactly how the
$12 million disaster relief money was spent. Approximately $8
million was spent for the Emergency Living Expense Program, and a
portion was spent on fish purchase, processing and delivery for
three communities (Hooper Bay, Chevak and Scammon Bay). She
reported approximately 6,000 individuals applied for the Emergency
Living Expense Program, and she thought roughly 5,500 were finally
eligible for the grant. She summarized by stating, "We were the
operational portion of this disaster. We provided the teams that
went out into the areas and took the applications, and we provided
the accounting and the ... operational methods for the money in the
Disaster Relief Fund. We coordinated a lot with the other
departments on which communities should be declared under the
fisheries disaster, and I believe we relied on the Department of
Fish and Game for that type of information."
DIANA ALCANTRA, Recovery Manager, Division of Emergency Services,
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, testified via
teleconference from Fort Richardson. The division provided credits
to vendors for specific categories of assistance: food, fuel,
water and sanitation. To be eligible for this assistance, she
explained, an individual had to live in the area, hold a commercial
license or crew permit, or be a cannery or process worker.
Approximately $3 million was extended in the food category, $2.7
million in fuel, $1.8 million in electric, approximately $381,000
in water and $102,000 in sanitation. These grants have been nearly
completed. The Division of Emergency Services is currently
assisting DCRA in applying for a federal assistance program that
will mirror the Emergency Living Expense Program.
MS. CARROLL, in response to a question from Chair Hudson,
confirmed that the state program was limited to state residents of
the affected area; however, federal monies were available to each
U.S. resident affected by the fisheries disaster in Western Alaska.
She indicated that the federal program money has not yet been
received; although, she believed that they have received
applications for the federal portion. They also have a signed
grant agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture,
but they have not yet received that fund.
MR. POLAND, in response to a question from Representative Kapsner,
reported that the principle problem with the affected communities
has been getting a financing plan solid enough to rely on, so they
can start ordering materials and get things in place, and to do so
in time with the rhythm of the season. What happened in 1998, he
explained, was that the issue of a match did not become clear until
May of 1998. The problems were largely solved by the latter part
of summer, and all of the communities are primed and ready to
either complete or begin a project this spring.
MS. CARROLL, in response to an inquiry from Co-chairman Halcro,
explained that regularly budgeted program funds are used first;
however, disasters generally impact social problems, which results
in increased need for funding.
MR. POLAND, in response to a question from Representative Kapsner,
explained that the reason only 500 people received a loan was due
to a lack of applications, as literally everyone who was eligible
that applied was approved. The Department of Community and
Regional Affairs estimated that the $1.5 million could have been
used up in its entirety by eligible applicants, had they chosen to
apply.
MS. CARROLL answered a question from Representative Dyson regarding
what the departments have learned from this experience to be better
prepared in the future. She testified that the DMVA's operational
management of the disaster seemed to work amazingly well.
MR. POLAND added that there was no system in place to deal with a
situation like this, so people with good intentions were trying to
bend definitions and make systems work in the best way they could.
He said, "When you declare something in the fall in rural Alaska,
there is just no way, at best, that you are going to get a
construction program going before next spring. So, if your
intention is really to get money into people's pockets, you
probably ought to just write checks and stick them in the mail."
He agreed that things worked extraordinarily well, given the
constraints in place; however, fixing the definitions for clarity
would improve things the next time. He reported that federal
officials have actually traveled out into rural Alaska this past
summer, and this has resulted in a major shift in flexibility and
responsiveness since they have gotten first-hand experience.
MS. CARROLL pointed out that DMVA does an "After Actions Report"
after every disaster, where they get together to discuss what they
could have done better and what worked well.
CO-CHAIRMAN HALCRO suggested that future instruction booklets
include the special transportation problems that arise in rural
Alaska, in an effort to facilitate the timely arrival of funds with
regard to seasons. He asked for specifics regarding the efforts
made to educate affected individuals about loans and grants
available to them. Because seven or eight groups were dispersing
disaster aid funds, his concern was that someone who might have
qualified for a specific type of loan might not have known that it
existed.
MR. POLAND explained that letters were mailed to every permit
holder, but he was uncertain about crew members and cannery
workers. The Department of Community and Regional Affairs went
through regional non-profit organizations to "get the word out."
He felt that the lack of applications could be attributed to the
fact that it was a relatively small amount of money and that the
individual's permanent fund dividend had to be dedicated to
repayment.
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER felt, based on communications from
individuals in her district, that the problem was not a lack of
education, but more of a belief that these individuals would be
getting further into debt. She explained that these people have
the highest poverty level in the nation, and she asked, "Why would
a person, living under the poverty line, want to get into debt?"
She said that most of her constituents have already dedicated their
dividend funds to paying for electricity bills, buying
transportation for the year, and other necessary things. She
summarized by stating, "I don't think it was a lack of education.
I think that they were just weighing the costs and benefits, and
the costs far outweighed the benefits to get a loan."
REPRESENTATIVE MORGAN pointed out that the average income for a
fisherman in the Yukon river area before 1998 was $8,900; however,
it dropped to $2,800 by 1998.
CHAIRMAN HUDSON emphasized that it is important to measure how much
money actually goes to the end recipient and how much is involved
in administering the program. The goal of doing this, he advised,
would be streamlining the process, in an effort to make more money
available to the people who need it, as opposed to the bureaucracy
or those hired to administer the disbursement.
MR. POLAND, in response to a question by Representative Joule,
explained that the federal dollars are on the table, and that DCRA
is working with the granting agency - the U.S. Department of
Commerce. It is looking hopeful that they will get credit for
expenditures the state made, particularly for the Emergency Living
Expense Program. The communities will be short what the match
would have been, he added, but they are hoping to use the balance
of the loan funds that were not used, approximately $900,000, to
make up a portion of that $1.5 million. As a result, the net
effect would be that the communities would have about $600,000 less
for their projects, but they will have the projects. He explained
that their actual entitlement was based on the number of permit
holders, and the match varied from $5,000 to $8,000 to over
$100,000 in places like Bethel and Dillingham. The Department of
Community and Regional Affairs looked at capital match, he
reported, but the process involves getting the city council to
declare the new project, bringing it to the legislature, and
actually having the capital match appropriated for that particular
purpose. In addition, all changes have to be approved by the U.S.
Department of Commerce, and, although they have tried to be very
responsive, it generally takes another 10 days to 2 weeks.
DOUG EGGERS, Chief Fisheries Scientist, Division of Commercial
Fisheries Management and Development, Alaska Department of Fish and
Game (ADF&G), came forward to testify on scientific research
regarding the fisheries disaster in Western Alaska. He reported
that sockeye salmon runs have increased in Bristol Bay since the
late 1970's, and production has been at historically high levels
through 1996. Salmon runs to the Yukon River have been relatively
stable, coho salmon has been increasing in the Kuskokwin River, and
chum salmon stocks have been more variable in the region. Large
and unanticipated declines in salmon runs occurred throughout
Western Alaska rivers in 1997 and 1998. These declines may have
been caused or accentuated by unusual or localized weather
conditions that occurred recently in the Bering Sea. There is also
indication that there may be longer-term climate changes taking
place in the North Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea that would
result in lowering future salmon productions. Mr. Eggers explained
that climate change cannot be prevented, but there are things that
government, as stewards of the resources, can do to restore
fisheries to anticipated changes in production, and to prepare
those dependent on the salmon resources for those changes. The
long-term resource program was proposed to address the
responsiveness of the state's harvest management and stock
monitoring programs to change productivity. Aspects of that
responsiveness include being able to protect and manage fisheries
on weak salmon runs that occur during periods of decreased
productivity. The state also needs to evaluate the appropriateness
of current management policies in escapement goals during the
regimes of lower productivity, and improve pre-season forecasts of
abundance for industry planning and establishing quotas for the
South Alaska Peninsula June fisheries.
MR. EGGERS noted that monies have been made available to conduct a
fisheries research program and mitigate the disaster. Research
money will be used by ADF&G in implementing plans to focus on
salmon stocks in the Alaska Peninsula area, Bristol Bay area,
Kuskokwin and Yukon rivers. He explained that key issues addressed
in the plan include: understanding the fresh water production and
carrying capacity of the Bear Lake and Chignik Lake systems;
understanding the fresh water production of sockeye salmon in the
Kvichak River system, which is the largest river system producer of
sockeye salmon in Bristol Bay; investigating smolt estimates, which
forecasts are based on; developing significant improvements in
escapement assessment and management of Bristol Bay sockeye salmon;
developing assessments of total escapement of coho and chum salmon,
by age, for the Kuskokwin River system; and, finally, developing
assessments of total escapement of Chinook salmon and chum salmon,
by age, to the Yukon River.
MR. EGGERS pointed out that the ADF&G's strategy has not been to
rely on forecasts of salmon runs to manage fisheries. They have a
large program to assess the abundance of salmon in season, so that
they are able to detect weak runs and react accordingly to protect
the potential for future productivity and escapements. The
department has fairly complete assessments of escapement and
recruitment return, per spawner, in all of the Bristol Bay river
systems since 1956, and there have been periods of fairly poor
productivity in the past that seem to be related to climate
conditions in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea. He reported
that declines in productivity began to be noticed in Bristol Bay in
the late 1980's; unfortunately, there is a fairly long lag between
the time that reduced recruitment is seen and the time weak runs
are manifested, as sockeye salmon live to be six years old. He
summarized by stating that low escapements and low productivity
produce very weak runs.
MR. EGGERS, in response to questions from Representative Dyson and
Chairman Hudson, defined recruitment as the production from
escapement, or return per spawner. This information has been very
useful in detecting the influence of ocean climate on fish
productivity. He noted that there was a period of lower ocean
temperatures with fairly poor salmon productions in the 1950's and
1960's, but, in the mid 1970's, ocean temperatures went up and the
state entered into a period of higher activity. He emphasized that
intense research and global-scale monitoring of ocean conditions is
very beneficial in establishing these trends of climate; however,
the Bering Sea is an area with high cloud cover, so sea surface
temperatures and atmospheric pressures are the primary indicators
of climate in that area.
MR. EGGERS, in response to questions from Co-chairman Halcro,
explained that the research they are proposing to do under the
Disaster Mitigation Research Program strictly involves assessment
of adult escapement and returns, and monitoring productivity,
particularly of sockeye salmon, in freshwater lakes. There is also
some joint research proposed with the Russians to look into the
legal driftnet fishery in the Russian zone, in an effort to assess
the level of interception of North American salmon, particularly of
the Bristol Bay and Western Alaskan fisheries.
TOM KRON, Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwin Regional Supervisor, Division of
Commercial Fisheries Management and Development, Alaska Department
of Fish and Game testified via teleconference from Anchorage. He
stated the response teams that visited Hooper Bay, Chevak and
Scammon Bay learned very interesting information from some elderly
ladies in that area. These women were of child-bearing age during
the 1950's, and they could remember a time "when the salmon did not
come." The winter food was gone, the salmon did not come, and the
seals that followed the salmon did not come. Those ladies talked
about how they had lost their milk, and their babies had died.
They recounted that, since that time, the salmon have always come
and they have had food. He also noted that the winds were
different than normal off the Yukon River mouth this past year, and
that the fish did not come through there on their usual migration
pattern.
CHAIRMAN HUDSON wondered how information was gathered about the
open ocean pressures and weather conditions, and Mr. Eggers
explained that there is an active research and enforcement activity
coordinated by treaty with the North Pacific Fishery Management
Council. Boats in Canada, Russia and the United States actively
cooperate in surveillance of illegal driftnet fisheries on the high
seas. He noted that there is a lot of research activity going on
currently, specifically involving the distribution, migration and
feeding habits of salmon, and the federal government is supporting
that research. Marked salmon released from hatcheries provide a
good tool for identifying the origin of the fish in open ocean
distribution, and that research is ongoing. He explained that they
are trying to understand reasons for downturns of productivity, and
the long-term objective is to be able to anticipate such weak
returns in their management activities.
MR. KRON noted a few observations of the Yukon River Chinook salmon
were signs of classic environmental stress. The numbers were down
considerably - the smallest Chinook salmon run, and the lowest
commercial harvest on the Yukon River since statehood. In
addition, the fish were smaller than average, and the heads were
larger in relation to their body size. There were also concerns of
internal and external health issues. He cited an internal muscular
fungus as an example. There were also very high instances of
lamprey bites and other multiple bites that were unhealed. The
fish were not in good shape.
REPRESENTATIVE DYSON asked Mr. Kron whether he heard any of the
anecdotal reports of net-marked fish, even in Area M. Mr. Kron
replied that wasn't something he saw on the Yukon and Kuskokwim
Rivers. Mr. Eggers noted that he has heard instances of net-marked
fish, but it is difficult to differentiate [those types of marks]
because they are caught with gillnets.
REPRESENTATIVE DYSON said that elders in the Naknek area have seen
more belugas laying in the shallow waters of the Kvichak River, and
asked Mr. Kron whether something like that was reported in the
other rivers or estuaries. Mr. Kron replied that he saw exactly
the same thing on the Yukon River. The last time a large number of
marine mammals, both seals and belugas, came into the Yukon River
was in 1993 when there was the chum salmon disaster. This year
there were a large number of belugas and seals entering the Yukon
River and he has heard similar reports for the Kuskokwim River. It
seemed that the seals were having a tough time and were following
the salmon right up into the rivers.
REPRESENTATIVE DYSON asked Mr. Kron whether he may infer that
belugas collecting and feeding is the result of the crash rather
than a cause of it. Mr. Kron replied there is some of both. The
locals indicated that the marine mammals were following the fish to
find dinner.
REPRESENTATIVE DYSON said a few years ago the Alaska Department of
Fish and Game harvested belugas and found hundreds of smolt. He
asked Mr. Kron whether it's his understanding that belugas feed on
mature salmon and not smolt. Mr. Kron replied it is his
understanding that they feed on both adults and smolts. Mr. Eggers
replied there could be an increased aggregation of beluga whales.
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and others have been
monitoring the population of belugas and found that they have been
fairly stable in Western Alaska.
REPRESENTATIVE MORGAN noted Mary C. Pete [Director, Division of
Subsistence, Department of Fish and Game] indicated that everybody
met their subsistence needs in the Kuskokwim area which is
primarily from king salmon. The target fish for commercial fishing
are chum and silver. Ironically, those types are down in the
rivers like the Kuskokwim. Mr. Kron stated in 1997 for the first
time there was a cooperative appeal to the subsistence users along
the entire length of the Kuskokwim River to attempt to save chum
salmon spawning grounds. The Chinook salmon harvest was fine.
However, in late 1997, the coho salmon run failed. In 1998, the
Chinook salmon run was down, while the chum and coho salmon runs
were up. Some areas and species are doing better than others, but
a lot of the problems have been centered around the Bering Sea.
REPRESENTATIVE JOULE asked Mr. Kron about the spawning conditions
and what the people should expect for the next cycle. Mr. Kron
replied the failures on the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers were totally
unexpected. In particular to the Yukon River, there have been very
good escapements and conditions for Chinook salmon, summer and fall
chums, and the department was expecting a good return. But, it
didn't happen. In 1998, the department thought it was looking at
a relatively good return, but was below. The future is a good
question. Staff has indicated that they are nervous about the
projections that they are putting out because they have been wrong
in the past. In term of next year's return, the stocks are coming
off of the 1995 winter which was harsh. In addition, in spite of
the actions taken, the escapements have been very poor. In 1997,
the escapements for chum were considerably down for the Kuskokwim
River. Similarly, Chinook, summer and fall chums were down on the
Yukon River, in spite of no commercial fishing for fall chum and
subsistence restrictions.
REPRESENTATIVE DYSON said last year there were indications of a
lack of confidence in information from False Pass and the Port
Moller test fishery. Mr. Eggers replied they have always been
uncertain indicators because of variations and vulnerabilities. In
1997, there were high catches at Port Moller, but the weather
conditions were very good for fishing. The industry suffered from
those projections and errors in forecasts because they make
business decisions based on them.
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER asked Mr. Eggers whether he will be in
charge of the research this summer and what is on the agenda. Mr.
Eggers replied he will be organizing the staff responses. The
money for the Disaster Mitigation Research Program will be
available on July 1 from NMFS. It is unlikely that anything will
"be in the water" for this fuel season, however. It is a
three-year program. The plan is for fuel studies in fiscal years
2000, 2001 and 2002. Mr. Kron indicated that the study is in the
formative stages, but the intent is to continue and expand upon the
cooperative programs in the areas.
REPRESENTATIVE SMALLEY asked Mr. Eggers whether there has been any
cooperative research with foreign countries to determine whether
they are suffering as well. Mr. Eggers replied the salmon runs in
Russia have been declining in the last several years, and Japanese
hatchery runs have been lower.
REPRESENTATIVE SMALLEY asked Mr. Eggers, in looking at those
studies, whether Alaskan fish are showing up in foreign locations.
MR. EGGERS replied it is the department's intent to engage in
cooperative research with Russian scientists to collect genetic
data from their stocks and to get samples from catches in Japanese
fishery vessels. He will be attending bi-lateral meetings in the
near future with the Russians at which time these issues will be
discussed.
REPRESENTATIVE JOULE asked Mr. Kron whether he is aware of any
unusual patterns of salmon being caught further north than
Kotzebue. Mr. Kron replied he has heard reports of subsistence
fishers around the Barrow area of larger than normal catches of
King salmon. There have been warmer temperatures in the Bering Sea
and the fish could be moving further north.
REPRESENTATIVE JOULE stated he has heard that just about every
species was available out of Barrow and Point Hope. He wondered
whether the salmon were coming in late. Mr. Kron noted that the
department saw a number of late returning Chinook salmon on the
Yukon River. Fall chum salmon were about 10 days late on the Yukon
River. In a number of systems, where there are a large number of
spawning stocks, there are some fish coming in under the ice.
CHAIRMAN HUDSON asked Mr. Eggers whether there are any residual
indications of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Cook Inlet for
example. Mr. Eggers replied that Western Alaskan salmon were not
impacted by the Exxon Valdez oil spill. The department has no
indication of any effect of the spill on salmon, even for pink
salmon, which have been monitored after the oil spill, the
department has seen minimal effects. Mr. Eggers further said that
the climate cycles are persistent and we could be entering an era
of low salmon runs as seen in the late 1970's and 1980's. Mr. Kron
noted in terms of looking into the future that the ice of the
Bering Sea is further south than ever before. In addition, the
department saw large blooms of coccolithophores in 1997 and 1998.
Currently, there is a bloom at the leading edge of the Bering Sea
ice.
CHAIRMAN HUDSON asked Mr. Eggers what is the furthest north that
Atlantic salmon have been recovered. Mr. Eggers replied there was
a report of an Atlantic salmon taken in the Bering Sea. It was
probably a stray from British Columbia.
REPRESENTATIVE DYSON said that the largest by-cath in British
Columbia waters is Atlantic salmon. Southeast waters is a good
environment for them. He expects the population to bloom. Mr.
Kron noted in the late 1980's, when the Canadians first started to
put Atlantic salmon in their net pens, there were many statements
of concern of them spawning in the streams and getting out of their
pens. This is an example of the adaptability and impressiveness of
a biological organism.
REPRESENTATIVE JOULE asked Mr. Poland, as the result of two
consecutive poor seasons, whether he has any indication that
permits are being sold. Mr. Poland replied the department doesn't
have any indication that they are being sold other than heresy.
Mr. Kron noted that the impact on infrastructure two years in a row
means people will be going out of business. The price of salmon
has also been down. In the Kuskokwim area, there has been a
significant decrease in permits as a function of its value and the
run size.
REPRESENTATIVE JOULE commented that there are other fisheries in
the state where an emergency has not been declared where the stocks
are suffering. He cited the chum salmon in the Kotzebue Sound as
an example. He hopes that those areas will be included in the
studies as well.
CHAIRMAN HUDSON AND CO-CHAIRMAN HALCRO adjourned the joint meeting
between the House Special Committee on Fisheries and the House
Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee meeting.
NOTE: The meeting was recorded and handwritten log notes were
taken. A copy of the tape(s) and log notes may be obtained by
contacting the House Records Office at 130 Seward Street, Suite
211, Juneau, Alaska 99801-2197, (907) 465-2214, and after
adjournment of the second session of the Twenty-first Alaska State
Legislature, in the Legislative Reference Library.
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