02/02/2004 09:01 AM House FSH
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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES
February 2, 2004
9:01 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Paul Seaton, Chair
Representative Peggy Wilson, Vice Chair
Representative Dan Ogg
Representative Ralph Samuels
Representative Les Gara
Representative David Guttenberg
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Cheryll Heinze
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT
Representative Mike Chenault
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 25
Relating to Alaska Wild Salmon Week, June 28 - July 4, 2004.
- MOVED HCR 25 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 32
Relating to the labeling of salmon and salmon food products.
- MOVED CSHJR 32(FSH) OUT OF COMMITTEE
DISCUSSION OF CUTS TO ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH & GAME,
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES DIVISION
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HCR 25
SHORT TITLE: ALASKA WILD SALMON WEEK
REPRESENTATIVE(s): WOLF
01/20/04 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/20/04 (H) FSH, RES
02/02/04 (H) FSH AT 9:00 AM CAPITOL 124
BILL: HJR 32
SHORT TITLE: LABELING OF SALMON FOOD PRODUCTS
REPRESENTATIVE(s): KERTTULA
01/20/04 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/20/04 (H) FSH, L&C
02/02/04 (H) FSH AT 9:00 AM CAPITOL 124
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE KELLY WOLF
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as the sponsor of HCR 25.
REPRESENTATIVE BETH KERTTULA
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as the sponsor of HJR 32.
CHRISTOPHER KNIGHT, Staff
to Representative Paul Seaton
Alaska State Legislature
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during discussion of
cuts to the Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Commercial
Fisheries Division.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 04-2, SIDE A
Number 0001
CHAIR PAUL SEATON called the House Special Committee on
Fisheries meeting to order at 9:01 a.m. Representatives Seaton,
Wilson, Ogg, Samuels, and Gara were present at the call to
order. Representative Guttenberg arrived as the meeting was in
progress.
HCR 25-ALASKA WILD SALMON WEEK
Number 0056
CHAIR SEATON announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 25, Relating to Alaska Wild
Salmon Week, June 28 - July 4, 2004.
Number 0079
REPRESENTATIVE KELLY WOLF, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor,
explained that the resolution is to promote Alaska wild salmon,
"whether it be in the commercial industry, subsistence, or for
traditional uses or tourism." He said Alaska has the largest
commercial wild salmon fishery in the world and employs 29,000
people; nearly 95 percent of commercially caught salmon in the
U.S. are harvested in Alaska. The state salmon harvest totals
more than $4.5 billion, making it extremely valuable to Alaska's
economy. For visitors and [Alaskans] alike, sport fishing is
one of the most popular activities; last year, approximately
370,000 resident and nonresident licenses were issued for sport
fishing in the state.
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF said salmon has been a nutritional source
for generations, and Alaskans consider wild salmon to be a large
part of the state's heritage. Rich in omega-3 oils, salmon is a
healthful food that can help lower cholesterol and reduce heart
disease. Noting that HCR 25 would proclaim June 28 - July 4,
2004, as "Alaska Salmon Week," he said this proclamation will
recognize the salmon industry as a huge part of Alaskan's lives
and will raise public awareness of one of Alaska's most
important industries by promoting and celebrating the catching
and eating of salmon.
Number 0286
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF informed members that last year his office
put together a poster to support and promote Alaska wild salmon;
it included pictures from several sources, including the tourism
industry and the commercial fishing industry, and was sent to
all the members of Congress and to the state administration. He
encouraged passage of HCR 25 and invited participation in
producing another poster to promote Alaska wild salmon, which is
what he said Alaska is most known for.
Number 0392
CHAIR SEATON informed members that Representative Wolf had
clarified earlier that the written sponsor statement should say
[370,000 instead of 470,000]. He noted that committee packets
contain a number of letters, mostly from the Kenai Peninsula,
but some from Southeast Alaska, the United Fishermen of Alaska
(UFA), and fishermen across the state.
AN UNIDENTIFIED MEMBER moved [to put HCR 25, the original
version, before the committee].
Number 0481
REPRESENTATIVE OGG [moved to report HCR 25 out committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes]. There
being no objection, HCR 25 was reported from the House Special
Committee on Fisheries.
Number 0540
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON commended the resolution and said she
couldn't believe it hadn't happened years before.
CHAIR SEATON asked whether there is a way to make it annual.
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF said that's being looked at and that he'd
like it to be an annual celebration.
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON asked whether there are other recognitions
taking place that week; she recalled one about drunken drivers,
for example.
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF said he didn't know, other than the Fourth
of July. [HCR 25 was reported from committee.]
HJR 32-LABELING OF SALMON FOOD PRODUCTS
CHAIR SEATON announced that the next order of business would be
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 32, Relating to the labeling of
salmon and salmon food products.
Number 0725
CHAIR SEATON requested a motion to adopt the original bill
version [Version 23-LS1508\D].
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON [moved to adopt HJR 32].
CHAIR SEATON announced that HJR 32 was before the committee.
Number 0773
REPRESENTATIVE BETH KERTTULA, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor,
introduced Aurora Hauke, her staff, as the person who has done
the majority of the work on the resolution. She told members
that she'd introduced a similar resolution two years before, in
an effort to get better labeling for fisheries products,
especially. She explained:
We all know how much better our fish is. And, indeed,
around America, people are starting to ask for our
fish. And I think that labeling will really help not
only the industry, but people's health. In addition
to just regular labeling of "wild" and "farmed",
there's a country-of-origin labeling that we'd like to
see placed on the fish when it's sold. So that's the
effort. We've taken to heart some really good
suggestions by members of the [Joint Legislative
Salmon Industry Task Force] and those of you from
fishing communities as well as the fishing industry.
REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA informed members that there was a
proposed amendment that a title amendment would go along with.
Number 0850
CHAIR SEATON brought attention to Amendment 1, a handwritten
amendment provided by the sponsor that read [original
punctuation provided]:
line 1: replace "salmon" with "fish", and replace
"salmon" with "fishery".
CHAIR SEATON explained that the latter replaces "salmon food
products" with "fishery food products".
Number 0880
AN UNIDENTIFIED MEMBER moved to adopt Amendment 1. There being
no objection, it was so ordered.
CHAIR SEATON clarified that Version H, a proposed committee
substitute (CS) in packets, wasn't being addressed.
Number 0954
REPRESENTATIVE OGG moved to adopt Amendment 2, also provided by
the sponsor, which read [original punctuation provided]:
Page 1, line 3 through Page 2, line 8
Delete all language
Insert the following
"WHEREAS Americans deserve wholesome foods and
information about the contents and production of their
food supply; and
WHEREAS concerns have recently been raised about
the safety of farmed fish; and
WHEREAS farmed fish are often fed antibiotics,
hormones, and coloring agents and their environments
are treated with various chemicals; and
WHEREAS Alaska's fish production is distinct from
farmed because our stocks are wild, free-ranging, and
therefore naturally wholesome and healthy; and
WHEREAS there are numerous outstanding issues and
questions regarding public policy, fair trade, and the
social and economic consequences of farmed fish
production; and
WHEREAS more and more consumers are expressing a
preference and requesting wild fish over farmed; and
WHEREAS both the Alaska Legislature and Congress
have passed labeling laws specifically to inform
consumers about fishery and other food products,
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature
supports the timely labeling of fishery food products
for country of origin; coloring and other additives;
genetic modification; and, to distinguish between wild
and farmed fish in the marketplace."
AN UNIDENTIFIED MEMBER objected in order to hear what it does.
Number 0983
REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA explained that there has been
controversy about some of the reports mentioned in "the original
CS" and to some of the stronger language, perhaps; it was felt
that it would be better to be more positive about stating the
desire to support [Alaska's] fish and have the labeling, but
avoid some of the other, more controversial issues. She said
Representative Ogg had pointed this out to her early on, and
when the resolution was circulated to "the fisheries group,"
this was clearly thought to be the better route.
Number 1022
REPRESENTATIVE GARA commended Representatives Ogg and Kerttula
for their efforts to not state as fact some things that are
controversial. He said sometimes the legislature is a little
loose with the language in resolutions.
AN UNIDENTIFIED MEMBER removed his objection.
CHAIR SEATON asked whether there was any further objection.
Number 1063
REPRESENTATIVE OGG complimented Representative Kerttula for
taking the comments and "putting together something that hits
right at the point and is very positive for Alaskans."
REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA credited Representative Ogg, her staff,
and Dale Kelley [executive director of the Alaska Trollers
Association], especially. She said it was a group effort.
[The committee aide informed members that no one was signed up
to testify.]
Number 1130
REPRESENTATIVE OGG moved to report HJR 32, as amended, out of
committee [with individual recommendations and the accompanying
fiscal notes]. There being no objection, CSHJR 32(FSH) was
reported from the House Special Committee on Fisheries.
^DISCUSSION OF CUTS TO ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH & GAME,
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES DIVISION
Number 1182
CHAIR SEATON turned attention to cuts to the Alaska Department
of Fish & Game (ADF&G), Commercial Fisheries Division. A member
of the commercial fisheries finance subcommittee, he said there
are approximately $2 million in budget cuts to commercial
fisheries; thus he'd requested that the division report on what
programs and positions those cuts would specifically affect.
Calling attention to his memorandum dated January 30, 2004,
Chair Seaton informed members that there is a listing by region
of the decrements from the GF [general fund] and the PERS
[Public Employees' Retirement System] rate increase.
CHAIR SEATON pointed out that this would eliminate such items as
sonar counters and weirs from the budget, which will definitely
impact the harvest of Alaska's fish. For example, in Southeast
Alaska it will cripple the management of the Yakutat gillnet and
Lynn Canal drift gillnet fisheries; eliminated will be any money
for herring; and there will be further cutbacks on sea cucumber
harvest opportunities because of inability to do assessments.
These proposed cuts will result in underharvest of the
resources, but also less collected from the raw fish tax. He
asked House Special Committee on Fisheries members to look at
the problems and perhaps provide a suggestion to the House
Finance Committee and its subcommittees as to what is desired in
the budget.
[Members offered observations, emphasizing monetary
contributions from various fisheries and regions of the state;
the need to maintain the habitat; the link between fishery
harvests and research/management; and the need to deal with the
budget crisis.]
CHRISTOPHER KNIGHT, Staff to Representative Paul Seaton, Alaska
State Legislature, answered questions, saying the industry
currently generates about $50 million; he mentioned raw fish
taxes, crewmember license fees, and permit licenses as examples
of contributions to the general fund. He said the division
currently accounts for about $25 million of a $50 million total
for the department, and said the industry has been paying quite
a bit back into the general fund. In further response, he said
he didn't know the exact breakdown of how much of the raw fish
tax goes directly to municipalities; he estimated 60 to 70
percent goes back to the general fund.
NOTE: This portion of the meeting was recorded and handwritten
log notes were taken. A copy of the tape(s) [Tape 04-2, Side A]
and log notes may be obtained by contacting the House Records
Office at State Capitol, Room 3, Juneau, Alaska 99801 (mailing
address), (907) 465-2214, and after adjournment of the second
session of the Twenty-Third Alaska State Legislature this
information may be obtained by contacting the Legislative
Reference Library at (907) 465-3808.
ADJOURNMENT
Number 2206
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Fisheries meeting was adjourned at
9:32 a.m.
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