02/15/2011 05:00 PM House FISHERIES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Overview(s): Sportfish Sector | |
| HB60 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | HB 60 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES
February 15, 2011
5:04 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Steve Thompson, Chair
Representative Craig Johnson, Vice Chair
Representative Alan Austerman
Representative Bob Herron
Representative Lance Pruitt
Representative Scott Kawasaki
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Bob Miller
OTHER MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Bill Stoltze
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
OVERVIEW(S): SPORTFISH SECTOR
- HEARD
HOUSE BILL NO. 60
"An Act relating to aquatic farm permitting involving geoducks
and to geoduck seed transfers between certified hatcheries and
aquatic farms."
- MOVED OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 60
SHORT TITLE: GEODUCK AQUATIC FARMING/SEED TRANSFER
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) SEATON
01/18/11 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/7/11
01/18/11 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/18/11 (H) FSH, RES
02/15/11 (H) FSH AT 5:00 PM CAPITOL 120
WITNESS REGISTER
RICKY GEASE, Executive Director
Kenai River Sportfishing Association (KRSA)
Kenai, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided an overview of the Kenai River
Sportfishing Association (KRSA)
REPRESENTATIVE PAUL SEATON
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 60, as the sponsor.
SUE ASPELUND, Acting Director
Division of Commercial Fisheries
Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified officially neutral on HB 60, on
behalf of the department.
JEFF HETRICK, Director
Alutiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery
Seward, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 60.
RODGER PAINTER, President
Alaskan Shellfish Growers Association
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 60.
WILLARD DUNNAM, Mayor
City of Seward
Seward, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 60.
PAUL FUHS
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 60.
DAVID OTTNESS
Cordova, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 60.
ACTION NARRATIVE
5:04:05 PM
CHAIR STEVE THOMPSON called the House Special Committee on
Fisheries meeting to order at 5:04 p.m. Representatives
Thompson, Austerman, Johnson, and Herron were present at the
call to order. Representatives Pruitt and Kawasaki arrived as
the meeting was in progress.
^OVERVIEW(S): Sportfish Sector
OVERVIEW(S): Sportfish Sector
5:04:32 PM
CHAIR THOMPSON announced that the first order of business would
be an overview from the sportfish sector.
5:05:12 PM
RICKY GEASE, Executive Director, Kenai River Sportfishing
Association (KRSA), Kenai, Alaska, outlined his slide
presentation of the Kenai River Sportfishing Association (KRSA),
and began by stating that the 25 year old association is a
501(c)(3) charitable non-profit, with over 300 members.
Fundraising events held throughout the summer include: the
Kenai River Classic, Kenai River Junior Classic, and the Kenai
River Women's Event. During the last 15 years, over $10 million
has been raised and contributed to activities, which include:
river based conservation programs; habitat restoration and
access programs; ADF&G cost share program for habitat
restoration; angler access; fisheries management through the
Board of Fisheries (BOF) and related agencies; habitat,
fisheries and economic research; and angler education. He said
that sportfishing is significant in Alaska, underscoring the
point by establishing: the Kenai River is considered a world
class fishing destination, fishing supports a quality of life
for many Alaskans, angling effort represents an important aspect
of the tourism industry, and sportfishing represents a major
economic engine. The most recent Alaska Department of Fish &
Game (ADF&G) report, released in 2007, demonstrates the economic
scope of sportfishing in Alaska. He projected slide 7 to read
the statistics, which include:
$1.4 Billion Total Sportfishing Expenditures, All
Anglers
$733 Million from Residents (53 percent)
$652 Million from Nonresidents (47 percent)
$123 Million Generated in State & Local Tax Revenues
Supported 15,879 Full & Part-time Jobs
475,534 Licensed Anglers
Resident: 190,644
Nonresident: 284,890
2.5 Million angler days
Resident: 1.4 Million days (56 percent)
Guided: 9 percent
Unguided: 91 percent
Nonresident: 1.1 Million days (44 percent)
Guided: 43 percent
Unguided: 57 percent
MR. GEASE continued to expand on the initial statistics with
charts to indicate the days of sportfishing in Alaska by regions
and residency, expenditures by region, angler spending by
category, and average per day expenditures for trip-related
items only, including package trips by residents, non-residents,
and with fresh and saltwater effort distinguished. He pointed
out that the guided trips, in all categories generate
significantly higher daily spending, which will be addressed
further regarding the development of a professional services
board.
5:14:27 PM
CHAIR THOMPSON asked whether the trip expense totals include
airfare.
MR. GEASE answered no, the figures do not include airfare to and
from Alaska; only expenses incurred while in the state.
5:14:46 PM
MR. GEASE said the KRSA was included as part of the governor's
transition, along with other entities involved with fish and
game interest. The team was asked to provide consensus
recommendations, and seven primary points, for better
integration of business intelligence, were agreed upon, which he
outlined [original punctuation provided]:
Smart Management - Involve Stakeholders
Strategic Planning
Program Evaluation
Identify Bottlenecks
Customer Service
Access & Infrastructure - Prioritize & Invest
Ensure Public Access to Fish, Game & Recreational
Resources
Strategic Planning Process with ADF&G, DNR, DOT &
Stakeholders - Prioritized Projects List
Capital Budget - Like STIP, create a State Public
Access Improvement Program (SPAIP)
Human Resources - Prioritize & Invest
Recruitment & Retention of Key Permitting &
Scientific Staff is an Ever-Increasing
Concern in ADF&G, DNR & DEC
Competition from Feds & Private Sector
Recognize Serious Nature of Issue
Formulate Management Strategies
Digital Age - Prioritize & Invest
Go Digital - Fisheries Data Collection Systems
Engage Private Sector Technological Expertise
Wherever Possible:
Incorporate Visual Learning Systems
Invest in Fisheries Modeling Systems
Economic Data & Analysis - Prioritize & Invest
Comprehensive, real-time data collection &
analysis systems are lacking for
recreational, social & economic values for
sport, personal use, subsistence &
commercial fisheries
Difficult to regulate & manage for optimal yields
of fishery resources without such data
Compensated Reallocation - Halibut
Train wreck for SE Alaska coastal economy
Negative impacts commercial & guided sport
Feds: minimal guided sport stakeholder input
Limited Entry Program & Catch Share Plan - good
intentions, poor implementation
State Management Options?
Professional Sportfishing Guide Services Board
Assure Alaska's guided sport industry competes
favorably as a world class destination
Diligent oversight for sport fishing services
industry - like any prudent investment
Benefits of Industry Recognition & Regulation
Logbook program - permanent, vital tool
5:20:21 PM
MR. GEASE elaborated on the individual points. Smart management
of Alaska's fish and game resources needs stakeholder
involvement, which allows strategic planning to be inclusive of,
and benefit from, experienced entities representing state
divisions, federal agencies, and private interests. Program
evaluation, by these stakeholders, is important to identify the
management aspects users have found to be helpful, meaningful,
useful, and effective. Additionally, bottlenecks caused by
regulatory compliance can be identified, through this process,
and government can be made more efficient and effective in its
framework. The customer service component should also be
considered a priority, and not be lost in the governance of the
resources. Mr. Gease addressed the topic of access and
infrastructure to stress the need for prioritizing and ensuring
access to the public lands. Over time, encroachment has
hampered access to many areas. It was recommended that a
strategic planning process be established with the government
agencies to create prioritized project lists, which could then
be handled similar to the STIP (Statewide Transportation
Improvement Program) and State Public Access Improvement Program
(SPAIP); as established by the Department of Transportation
(DOT). The legislature can then receive capital budget
recommendations assured that the proposed projects have been
thoroughly vetted, prioritized, and represent a strategic access
investment. Continuing to the next major topic, human
resources, he underscored the need for recruitment and retention
of key permitting and scientific staff, with the state agencies;
Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G), Department of Natural
Resources (DNR), and Department of Environmental Conservation
(DEC). The state no longer holds the competitive edge, for
filling these important positions, that it once enjoyed, but the
need for qualified individuals has risen with the increased
sporting effort.
5:22:40 PM
MR. GEASE moved on to address the digital age and the
recommendations for converting the fisheries data collection
systems from paper based to technologically oriented. His
pointes included: determine how to thoroughly embed digital
technology, particularly in terms of fisheries data collection
systems; adopt mentality of paperless data collection; engage
private sector technological expertise whenever possible;
incorporate visual learning systems; and invest in fisheries
modeling systems in order to crunch large volumes of data.
5:26:19 PM
MR. GEASE said a key theme emerged based on the importance of
economic data and analysis. There are twin constitutional
mandates for Alaska's resources: conservation and long-term
sustainability of resources, and the optimization of
recreational, social, and economic values. In order to meet
these mandates comprehensive data collection and analysis is
required; a deficit in the current system. The implementation
of the digital e-landings system and the $.5 million dollar
investment in the sportfishing survey, are steps in the right
direction which need to be expanded and built upon. When data
is lacking, a default occurs in the decision making process, he
warned.
5:29:54 PM
MR. GEASE continued to the halibut issue, pointing out that this
species is governed by federal regulation. He opined that
recent actions were a response to the harvest pressure from
sportfishing activity. A compensated reallocation program is
recommended to provide a healthy economy for both the commercial
and sportfishing industries. A train wreck has occurred in the
Southeast Alaska coastal economy and both sport and commercial
fisheries are struggling. The limited entry and catch share
programs represented good ideas, but were poorly implemented.
State management options were discussed, including the
development of a professional sportfishing guide services board;
under consideration as SB 24. The concept is to ensure that
Alaska's guided sportfishing industry competes favorably
worldwide. The state invests funds and resources and a board
would provide oversight of that investment, and assure that the
industry is benefiting from the standards and regulations being
established. The log book program has proven to be a vital tool
for collection of data, and it was recommended to remove the
sunset clause from the source statute. He said that consensus
was brought to these recommendations, now being considered in
the governor's office.
5:36:01 PM
REPRESENTATIVE AUSTERMAN asked for a fuller vision of the
proposed professional sportfishing guide services board, and
what to expect from the passage of SB 24.
MR. GEASE offered his understanding that SB 24 promotes two
concepts for industry recognition and accountability. The
intent is not to change how the guiding industry works, but to
provide minimum standards of operation.
5:38:18 PM
REPRESENTATIVE AUSTERMAN agreed that industry accountability is
important. Further, he acknowledged the difficulty of
addressing the combined sport and commercial fishing allocations
to meet both entities needs and not damage the resource.
MR. GEASE opined that the state has management authority and
needs to remember that the resources are to be managed for
optimized yield. Therefore, it is crucial to have a
comprehensive, all encompassing, understanding of the actual
numbers. He compared the state resources to a stock portfolio,
which is diversified and changes over time. An investment is
not made in only one area, and, as the population and tourism
has grown, more use of the resource occurs. The guided
sportfishing effort is a value-added industry, which should work
in concert with the commercial industry for smart, optimal
economic gains. He said one of the confusing aspects of the BOF
process is that a full, comprehensive picture of both industries
is not required, when presenting a proposal, and he questioned
the wisdom behind economic decisions made by the board; save
subsistence, which, in his opinion, is well managed.
5:42:55 PM
REPRESENTATIVE AUSTERMAN expressed frustration with the way in
which the legislature is limited in its ability to allocate
funding to the divisions. He expressed interest in passing
legislation to solve the problem and provide sustainability of
the resource. The proposed board may be the place to start, he
said.
5:44:33 PM
CHAIR THOMPSON acknowledged and thanked the associations
involved in the wounded warriors program.
5:45:17 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON noted that KRSA has stated that the sport
fishing industry is not recognized by the state, making it
subject to harmful laws and regulations. He asked for two
examples to qualify this statement.
MR. GEASE described what occurred at a recent BOF meeting in
Kodiak. Nearly half of Kodiak's sport fleet will be affected,
with the recent change in the halibut regulation, and thus, to
remain in business, these fishermen will gear up to target
salmon or other species. The BOF routinely uses time allotment,
area restrictions, and fishing methods and means to regulate
harvest levels. One of the fisheries that will be targeted, as
the fleet readjusts, is the slow growing rock fish. Expecting
this, the BOF reduced the bag and possession limits of rock fish
in the Kodiak area. He said that it may have been a
conservation concern, but the only tool that the BOF used was
bag limits. He offered that a professional services board might
have provided options. Lacking a system that deals with the
guided fishing component, resident interests are affected by the
same sportfishing restrictions. The Kenai River is the most
heavily sport fished river in the state. The largest majority
of sportfishing licenses are sold in the Kenai area. He said
that it's important for anglers to have the option to fish the
saltwater, and have a comparable experience. These components
all affect one another, like a balloon being pushed. If
saltwater fishing opportunities crater, more pressure will be
exerted on the already overcrowded freshwater areas of the
Kenai.
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON asked if the sportfishing industry
considers itself to be an orphan.
MR. GEASE responded yes, and stressed the need to appropriately
address the effect that commercial fisheries have on
sportfishing, particularly regarding conservation and bycatch
issues. The North Pacific Management Council (NPMC) has 11
members, one of which is a public seat, but there is not a seat
for subsistence.
5:52:12 PM
REPRESENTATIVE AUSTERMAN interjected that fishery councils, in
the southeastern United States, have seats specifically
designated for sport fishing representation, and asked whether
these models have been discussed.
MR. GEASE said the issue of council management has been
discussed, most recently at the NOAA (National Oceanic &
Atmospheric Administration) recreational sportfishing summit,
held in Washington, D.C., April 2010. The sticking point
appears to be a lack of economic data. He opined that without a
thorough understanding of the economic contributions from each
sector, councils are asked to make decisions and it becomes a
game of math. One concept brought forward at the summit was
that the allocation set point be based on economics, from which
variations may be allowed in order to optimize the economies.
It could be considered that conservation builds healthy
communities and economies, but, he opined, in Alaska, a healthy
economy creates healthy communities and is the bedrock to great
conservation. Finishing, he said, economies must be built on
sportfishing effort, as well as the commercial sector.
REPRESENTATIVE AUSTERMAN clarified that the NPMC is a federal
council, but 6 of the 11 members are appointed by the Alaskan
governor and, thus, control the process. If action is taken to
change the council, it will come from the governor's office or
the federal government; not the legislature.
The committee took an at-ease from 5:56 p.m. to 5:58 p.m.
HB 60-GEODUCK AQUATIC FARMING/SEED TRANSFER
5:58:33 PM
CHAIR THOMPSON announced that the final order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 60, "An Act relating to aquatic farm
permitting involving geoducks and to geoduck seed transfers
between certified hatcheries and aquatic farms."
5:58:38 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PAUL SEATON, Alaska State Legislature,
established that the premise of HB 60 is to prevent the Alaska
Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) from citing the absence of
wild geoducks as a basis to deny a geoduck farming permit. He
then provided a three minute video; illustrating the geoduck
species.
6:02:36 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON said HB 60 upholds all existing
mariculture farming conditions regarding health, safety, and
transfer. Additionally, the bill permits sub tidal farming in
areas north of Alaska's southeastern region. Sub tidal farming
will eliminate the concerns for interfering with existing uses,
such as subsistence, sport fisheries, and boat landings.
Questions have also arisen specifically related to shellfish
farming that occurs in Kachemak Bay, however, as a designated
critical habitat area, restrictions would prohibit geoduck
cultivation. Another point of concern has to do with the
esthetic of an area being used as a geoduck farm; oyster farms,
for instance require a myriad of buoys. He explained that the
sub tidal geoduck farm is not visible on the surface. Thus, the
areas where these farms are developed will receive an economic
benefit, with no visual impact. Further, because of the water
temperature, the geoduck will not spawn in the cold northern
waters, which will be helpful with marketing, producing no
spawning stage bitter taste, as well as dispel introduced
species concerns. Mature, native geoduck will be collected in
the southeast region, transported to the Seward hatchery for
spawning purposes, and reared to seed in preparation for
introduction to a subtitle bed in waters north of Yakutat.
Currently, geoducks are only allowed to be farmed where they
naturally occur, which generates concern for management of wild
and farmed stocks in proximity to each other. Locating the
farms north of Yakutat will eliminate these concerns. Genetic
contamination has been discussed, as well as the need to
maintain stocks only in larval drift zones where the species is
indigenous. However, there will not be genetic contamination
given the described scenario. He provided specific, salient
points regarding this species, to wit: the geoduck industry
relies on clean water; geoducks dig down one inch a year to a
depth of three feet where they reside to maturity; these are not
mobile animals; as filter feeders, geoducks feed on plankton and
algae; no reportable disease of transport significance has been
found; a muddy/silt landscape is the animals preferable habitat,
resulting in minimal disruption of habitat for other species;
and studies indicate the primary species that shares the same
habitat are polychaetes, a segmented worm whose numbers appear
to increase with the introduction of geoducks. Representative
Seaton reviewed the farming method and said it's good for Native
communities as harvest time is variable and would not interfere
with other activities/industry of a local coastal economy. When
the geoduck is marketed, the farmer can expect to receive $12-
$15 per pound. The bill retains the current regulatory
protections regarding mariculture farming, and testing for
paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) is required.
6:11:24 PM
CHAIR THOMPSON inquired about the timeframe for rearing a
marketable geoduck.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON responded five to seven years, depending
on the water temperature; it may be longer in colder climates.
He elaborated that, unlike oysters which are reared in hanging
bags requiring pull-out three times a year to perform various
cleaning tasks, geoducks seeds are not disturbed until maturity.
To a follow-up question, he stated his belief that geoducks will
not reproduce in the colder climate, but it would not
necessarily be a negative impact should that occur.
6:14:02 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON inquired why geoducks are not found in
regions of the state outside of southeast, and asked if there is
a possibility that a natural population would eventually occur.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON suggested that ocean currents, as well as
water temperature, appear to restrict geoducks populations. The
natural range is from Puget Sound, through British Columbia, and
into the southern aspect of Southeast Alaska.
6:15:47 PM
REPRESENTATIVE AUSTERMAN commented that HB 60 represents good
economic development.
6:15:59 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT asked whether controversy might arise
regarding the introduction of a non-native species into various
areas of the state.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON assured the committee that introduction of
a species is of great concern. A thorough investigation has
indicated that this species will not prove to be problematic;
the rearing substrate does not conflict with other clam species,
and the restriction for importing geoduck seed from outside of
state waters is not being overturned by HB 60.
6:19:06 PM
REPRESENTATIVE AUSTERMAN interjected that ADF&G has opposed this
concept, and may continue to object, based on the invasive
species concern.
6:20:00 PM
SUE ASPELUND, Acting Director, Division of Commercial Fisheries,
stated that the division is neutral on HB 60, and noted that
precautionary policies are in place. Although the department
has limited knowledge regarding this species, she said due to
the lack of wild stocks and the minimal likelihood of
reproduction, the passage of HB 60 appears to pose no
significant risks.
CHAIR THOMPSON commented that the possibility of geoducks
becoming an invasive species is perhaps the biggest concern.
6:21:11 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI asked what scientific background would
be required in the permitting process, particularly regarding
the invasive species aspect.
MS. ASPELUND replied that there is an existing process model
that would be used, and deferred comment on the particular
details.
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI cited how various, costly, invasive
species situations have occurred, even when assurances were
given that it would be an impossibility. He said that, although
reproduction is not expected to occur, he maintains concerns
that introducing a species could present unforeseeable problems.
Noting the speaker's previous statement that ADF&G lacks in-
depth science/research to answer questions surrounding geoduck
introduction, he said asked for further comment on introducing
this possibly invasive species.
MS. ASPELUND offered the theory that, due to an unidentifiable
reason, there is an ecological block keeping geoducks from
naturalizing in the Southcentral Gulf of Alaska. She indicated
that a research project was begun, but not completed, in
Washington State, and maintained that the division is
comfortable that geoduck will not represent an invasive species.
6:25:02 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI began to ask a question, acquainting the
placement of Wood bison, in the Fairbanks area, with the
introduction of geoducks on the Seward Peninsula, but retracted
the question stating that perhaps it would be better directed to
the Department of Law (DOL).
6:26:11 PM
REPRESENTATIVE AUSTERMAN raised the possibility that geoducks
haven't always been resident to Southeast Alaska.
MS. ASPELUND concurred with the possibility, and pointed out how
climatic changes have allowed pink salmon runs to expand to the
North Slope. She said further geoduck history can be provided
to the committee.
REPRESENTATIVE AUSTERMAN stated his assumption that geoducks did
migrate to Alaska, and thus doesn't believe it will become an
invasive species.
6:27:50 PM
REPRESENTATIVE AUSTERMAN asked whether there have been issues in
Southeast Alaska regarding the presence of geoduck.
MS. ASPELUND said none has been reported.
6:28:09 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT presented a theoretical scenario of an
area, introduced with geoduck, and then becoming a protected
area, to ask how this type of situation would be handled; would
the removal of geoduck be required, at what cost, and would
other measures be required.
MS. ASPELUND deferred.
6:30:33 PM
JEFF HETRICK, Director, Alutiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery, stated
support for HB 60, and indicated that this provides an
opportunity for the hatchery to expand the customer base and
allow alternative revenue streams; rearing geoduck seed will be
lucrative. How geoducks will behave in Southcentral waters is
not known, but he stated his belief that they will prove to be a
species that can be grown, won't reproduce, and will be easy to
manage.
6:32:43 PM
REPRESENTATIVE AUSTERMAN recalled that the hatchery warms the
sea water to encourage the geoducks to spawn and hatch.
MR. HETRICK said it's necessary to maintain a higher temperature
for prolonged periods. He opined that it is not plausible that
the bottom temperatures, of the Southcentral waters, could
stimulate natural reproduction of geoduck.
6:34:02 PM
RODGER PAINTER, President, Alaskan Shellfish Growers
Association, stated support for HB 60, noting that this is the
third time this legislation has been brought forward and the
reasons for not passing it remain nebulous. He agreed with
Representative Austerman's statement that geoducks migrated to
Southeast Alaska, and cited the fluctuation in the various
Alaskan fisheries to illustrate how dynamic the ocean
environment has been in recent decades. The currents of the
Gulf of Alaska (GOF) could be the reason that geoducks have not
populated Southcentral. He pointed out that Prince William
Sound once supported an abundance of razor clams; prior to the
1964 earthquake. Following the tremors, the razor clams were
wiped out and he suggested it would be good to reintroduce clams
to the substrate that still exists.
6:38:47 PM
WILLARD DUNNAM, Mayor, City of Seward, stated support for HB 60,
indicating that it may provide stabilization for the hatchery,
which has struggled through ups and downs. He reported that he
has dug horse clams, referred to today as geoducks, in two areas
of Resurrection Bay, out of Seward, in the 1940s and 1950s. The
earthquake affected many changes in the clam populations and the
shrimp, which at one time supported five canneries around
Seward. He said he views the geoduck industry as a plus for
Alaska, and he urged passage of HB 60, without further holdup.
6:43:14 PM
PAUL FUHS stated support for HB 60, reported that the first
harvest of farmed geoducks in Southeast has occurred, and passed
around market sized clams; one and one half to two pound
animals. He reviewed the complete process: purchase of seed
from the Seward hatchery; air shipment to Southeast; hiring of
commercial divers to plant and harvest; contract with boat to
support divers; and finally delivery of product to the local
processing plant - in this case, the Ketchikan Trident facility.
The clamming activity allows Trident to keep workers for longer
periods of the year. Following processing, the product is flown
to Anchorage for packaging, and then sent to the markets of
China and Japan. He reported that, thus far, the company has
planted about 250,000 seed, but next year that will be doubled;
perhaps as many as one million will be planted. The farming
situation seems similar to oysters, and should not pose any
problems.
6:46:23 PM
DAVID OTTNESS stated support for HB 60, and said he has been
involved in the shellfish industry on a number of occasions. He
applauded the efforts of the sponsor for bringing this
opportunity to Alaska. Geoduck production represents a good
food source to have close at hand, as well as providing coastal
communities economic diversity.
CHAIR THOMPSON closed public testimony.
6:49:16 PM
REPRESENTATIVE AUSTERMAN stated support for passage of the bill.
6:49:24 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI expressed concerns that science is not
available to back up introduction of this species. The proposed
legislation states that the commissioner can't use the absence
of geoduck stock as a reason for disallowing the introduction of
seed, and, recalling that a previous version used the term "sole
reason," asked the sponsor to comment.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON opined that the reference could be
considered insignificant, and pointed out that five permitting
requirements/conditions remain in the bill.
6:51:07 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI noted the comment that the proposed
farmer hatchery may not significantly affect the fishery, and
there's appropriate science to back up it up, and asked for
elaboration.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON explained that the substrate inhabitants
and associated species of Southeast are similar, to those of
Southcentral. It is difficult to determine why with similar
habitats, geoducks would somehow become invasive in one region
and not the other. Geoducks appear in concert with the species
mix of Southeast and it is fully expected that similar
cohabitation will occur further north. Neither will geoduck
become competitors with other clam species, which reside on high
energy beaches in alternative habitat. There is no real
indication that this animal will become invasive, he finished.
6:53:56 PM
REPRESENTATIVE AUSTERMAN moved to report HB 60, 27-LS0318\A, out
of committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying two zero fiscal notes. There being no objection,
it was so ordered.
6:54:24 PM
CHAIR THOMPSON announced the agenda for the next meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Fisheries meeting was adjourned at 6:55
p.m.