Legislature(2001 - 2002)
05/02/2001 12:40 PM House FSH
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES
May 2, 2001
12:40 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Gary Stevens, Co-Chair
Representative Peggy Wilson, Co-Chair
Representative Drew Scalzi
Representative Fred Dyson
Representative John Coghill
Representative Mary Kapsner
Representative Beth Kerttula
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 6
Supporting the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association's plan for
enhancement and rehabilitation of Cook Inlet fisheries.
- MOVED HR 6 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: HR 6
SHORT TITLE:COOK INLET AQUACULTURE ASSOCIATION
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S)CHENAULT
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
05/01/01 1429 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
05/01/01 1429 (H) FSH
05/02/01 (H) FSH AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 124
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE CHENAULT
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 432
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as the sponsor of HR 6.
JOEL MALATESTA, SR.
Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association (CIAA)
(No address provided)
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HR 6.
GARY FANDREI, Executive Director
Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association (CIAA)
(No address provided)
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions regarding HR 6 and CIAA.
DREW SPARLIN, Member
Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association Board
37020 Cannery Road
Kenai, Alaska 99611
POSITION STATEMENT: Encouraged the committee to pass HR 6 out
of committee.
BOB MERCHANT, President
United Cook Inlet Drift Association
PO Box 389
Kenai, Alaska 99611
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HR 6.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 01-21, SIDE A
Number 0001
CO-CHAIR PEGGY WILSON called the House Special Committee on
Fisheries meeting to order at 12:40 p.m. Representatives
Wilson, Stevens, Scalzi, Dyson, and Coghill were present at the
call to order. Representatives Kapsner and Kerttula arrived as
the meeting was in progress.
HR 6-COOK INLET AQUACULTURE ASSOCIATION
CO-CHAIR WILSON announced the only order of business before the
committee would be HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 6, Supporting the Cook
Inlet Aquaculture Association's plan for enhancement and
rehabilitation of Cook Inlet fisheries.
[Although there was a motion to adopt HR 6, Version A, as the
working document before the committee, it was an unnecessary
motion because the document was already before the committee.]
Number 0098
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE CHENAULT, Alaska State Legislature,
testified as the sponsor of HR 6. This resolution expresses
support for the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association (CIAA), which
is imperative to the strength and health of the fisheries in
Southcentral Alaska. Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association has
assisted the Cook Inlet fishermen for many years. Recently, the
Cook Inlet fisheries dwindled to the point that an economic
disaster was declared; furthermore, funding for CIAA has been
cut. Therefore, other means of funding need to be explored.
This resolution allows for the continuation of CIAA and support
for funding at federal levels. Representative Chenault said,
"It will also provide hope that all Cook Inlet fisheries have
hope of recovery and a bright future for all fishermen in
Alaska."
Number 0211
REPRESENTATIVE DYSON inquired as to how successful programs such
as this have been with sockeye.
REPRESENTATIVE CHENAULT deferred to those online.
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL clarified that this is a resolution that
merely says [the legislature] agrees with what CIAA is doing.
He understood that there are people online who can testify to
the federal funding issue.
REPRESENTATIVE CHENAULT indicated agreement to both questions.
CO-CHAIR WILSON asked whether HR 6 is requesting anything for
this area different from what is done in any other area in the
state.
REPRESENTATIVE CHENAULT replied, "I don't believe so." He
reiterated that HR 6 is merely a letter of support from the
legislature.
Number 0610
JOEL MALATESTA, SR., testified via teleconference. He informed
the committee that he is affiliated with the aquaculture
association on the Kenai Peninsula. Mr. Malatesta pointed out
that the aquaculture association has been established for many
years on the Kenai Peninsula, and it serves those from the
Matanuska-Susitna Borough to the Port Graham area. This
aquaculture association serves over 50 percent of the state's
population.
MR. MALATESTA said that over the years, the CIAA program has
been very successful, although there have been problems due to
the lack of fish and tax dollars from the commercial fishermen,
along with some regulatory closures. He informed the committee
that the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly has placed [CIAA] on
its federal wish list. The [CIAA] is attempting to obtain a
five-year federal grant since it is one of the key aquaculture
associations in Alaska. He pointed out that there are already
resolutions from the cities of Anchorage, Homer, Soldotna, and
Tyonek; the Kenai Resource Coalition Management Team; the Kenai
Peninsula Fishermen's Association (KPFA); United Cook Inlet
Drift Association (UCIDA); the United Fishermen's Association;
and the Central Peninsula Fish and Game Advisory Committee.
There also are pending resolutions in the cities of Kenai and
Wasilla.
MR. MALATESTA said, "All we're asking is that you give us a
resolution in support of our efforts to try to get some federal
monies to keep this most valuable asset going." It is important
to keep the [CIAA] hatcheries open, he added. However, [CIAA]
is on the brink of bankruptcy; thus, without federal assistance,
[CIAA] may be forced to close.
MR. MALATESTA addressed Representative Dyson's earlier question
by saying that over CIAA's 20-year life it has produced all
kinds of species of salmon. Much of the sport-caught salmon in
the Seward area is produced by [CIAA]. Mr. Malatesta
emphasized, "This association is so important to over 50 percent
of the population because we [provide fish] for subsistence,
recreational, personal use, and commercial."
REPRESENTATIVE DYSON restated his earlier question regarding the
success of hatcheries in enhancing red salmon recoveries.
Number 0727
GARY FANDREI, Executive Director, Cook Inlet Aquaculture
Association (CIAA), testified via teleconference. Mr. Fandrei
informed the committee that CIAA has had a number of projects
that have increased the production of [red salmon in] a number
of systems such as Tustumena Lake, Hidden Lake, Big Lake, and
systems in the lower peninsula.
REPRESENTATIVE DYSON asked if those projects were habitat
enhancements or were eggs or fingerlings being put out.
MR. FANDREI explained that the lower Cook Inlet area lakes do
not have fish in them. Fish are being placed in those systems
and the returning adults are available to the fishery, which
includes commercial and sport use. In some of the other lakes,
the natural production is being supplemented through a hatchery
program. Those systems that don't tend to have adequate
spawning grounds are supplemented through hatchery programs. He
agreed that he was speaking of reds.
REPRESENTATIVE DYSON asked if any of the introduced reds are
spawning.
MR. FANDREI answered that in the systems where some of those
fish are being supplemented, some of those fish are spawning.
Those fish in the lower Cook Inlet lakes are not able to spawn
because [those areas] are terminal harvest areas.
Number 0912
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL asked, "Under what plan is the federal
funding being sought?"
MR. MALATESTA explained that the plan is to only get funds from
the federal government, although there may be some borough
matching funds. He anticipated that the funds would be from
various agencies such as NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration) or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
These funds will go to the Kenai Peninsula Borough, which will
pass those funds through to CIAA. Mr. Malatesta stressed that
there are grant monies available and the application has been
produced in book form and presented in Washington, D.C.
Number 1015
DREW SPARLIN, Member, Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association Board,
testified via teleconference. Mr. Sparlin encouraged the
committee to pass HR 6 out of committee. He informed the
committee that he has been a CIAA board member for over 20
years. Mr. Sparlin said, "We need assistance very severely.
And we're hoping that we can get through the rough times, if you
... will help us by showing your support and maybe allow us to
better our chances of getting some assistance from Washington,
D.C."
REPRESENTATIVE SCALZI inquired as to the current tax assessment
for CIAA.
MR. SPARLIN answered that the current tax is 2 percent of
[CIAA's] gross income from salmon harvested by Cook Inlet permit
holders. In further response to Representative Scalzi, Mr.
Sparlin affirmed that it is for all salmon in all areas.
Number 1215
BOB MERCHANT, President, United Cook Inlet Drift Association
(UCIDA), testified via teleconference, stating that UCIDA is in
support of HR 6 and hopes that the committee passes it.
Number 1242
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL moved to report HR 6 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
note.
REPRESENTATIVE SCALZI noted that he supports the motion.
However, he wanted to address some of the earlier questions. In
regard to the fish stock, Representative Scalzi informed the
committee that across from Cook Inlet there is Kirschner Lake,
which is a terminal harvest area because there is a [waterfall]
there that the fish cannot go up. There is also a terminal
harvest area at Leisure Lake, which is shared by both sport and
commercial fishermen. The Kasilof River is also enhanced.
REPRESENTATIVE SCALZI reiterated Mr. Sparlin's testimony that
the 2 percent salmon tax is for all salmon in that area.
Although it is paid for with the commercial dollar, there are
multiple uses and benefits in those rivers and lakes. Some of
the loss of revenue correlates with the raising of escapement
goals in areas such as the Kenai River. Therefore, those fish
aren't being caught in the commercial sector; thus there is a
loss in revenue [for the aquaculture association]. In
conclusion, Representative Scalzi informed the committee that he
was a member of CIAA for several years as a representative of
the borough.
Number 1390
CO-CHAIR WILSON asked if there was any objection to the motion
to report HR 6 from committee. There being no objection, HR 6
was reported from the House Special Committee on Fisheries.
Number 1418
REPRESENTATIVE DYSON requested the ability to lay another issue
before the committee. He informed the committee that he and
Representative Kapsner have heard from fishermen in Bristol Bay
that the [the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G)] is now
going to be demarking the boundaries with latitude and longitude
rather than "Loran-C," which has been the boundary for the last
20 some years. Some from Bristol Bay feel that this is sudden.
Furthermore, it will be difficult to reequip [the fleet] in
order to accurately find the boundaries with a global
positioning system (GPS). One of the suppliers predicted that
there aren't enough GPS machines in Alaska or the Northwest to
outfit the fleet within the six weeks before the season begins.
REPRESENTATIVE DYSON said he had spoken with [ADF&G's] assistant
director, who said the Board of Fisheries discussed this in
January and the local advisory boards recommended it.
Representative Dyson explained that this is an enforcement issue
in that enforcement people want to have more "repeatable" data
that will stand up in court. Representative Dyson said he had
spoken with the department about 30 minutes ago, and the
department said it is probably too late to change [this
decision].
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER, in response to Representative Dyson,
said no one with the advisory boards was available during the
lunch hour.
REPRESENTATIVE DYSON asked if it would be acceptable for him and
Representative Kapsner to continue to explore this issue.
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER inquired as to the department's response
to a two-year phase-in.
REPRESENTATIVE DYSON reiterated that the department said it is
too late. Therefore, he suggested that the department enforce
this next year. Representative Dyson said if he and
Representative Kapsner determine that this is an issue that
requires intervention, then he suspects that they would bring a
letter for the committee members to sign or request that the
committee convene to take action on the matter.
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER said she was agreeable to that.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Fisheries meeting was adjourned at 1:03
p.m.
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