Legislature(2023 - 2024)GRUENBERG 120
01/31/2023 10:00 AM House FISHERIES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation(s): Yukon Kuskokwim Fisheries Collapse Update | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES
January 31, 2023
10:00 a.m.
DRAFT
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Sarah Vance, Chair
Representative Kevin McCabe
Representative CJ McCormick
Representative Ben Carpenter
Representative Louise Stutes
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT
Representative Mike Cronk
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION(S): YUKON KUSKOKWIM FISHERIES COLLAPSE UPDATE
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
DOUG VINCENT-LANG, Commissioner
Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave a Yukon Kuskokwim Fisheries Collapse
Update presentation.
ACTION NARRATIVE
10:00:12 AM
CHAIR SARAH VANCE called the House Special Committee on
Fisheries meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. Representatives
Carpenter, Stutes, and Vance were present at the call to order.
Representatives McCabe and McCormick arrived as the meeting was
in progress.
^PRESENTATION(S): YUKON KUSKOKWIM FISHERIES COLLAPSE UPDATE
PRESENTATION(S): YUKON KUSKOKWIM FISHERIES COLLAPSE UPDATE
10:02:04 AM
CHAIR VANCE announced that the only order of business would be
the Yukon Kuskokwim Fisheries Collapse Update presentation.
10:02:17 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 10:02 a.m. to 10:09 a.m.
10:09:02 AM
DOUG VINCENT-LANG, Commissioner, Alaska Department of Fish &
Game (ADF&G), gave a Yukon Kuskokwim Fisheries Collapse Update
presentation via PowerPoint [hardcopy included in the committee
packet], entitled "Status of Arctic Yukon and Kuskokwim (AYK)
Fisheries." He started on slide 2, which shows a map of Alaska
and the Salmon Management Areas. He explained there are also
treaty obligations when salmon spawn in both the U.S. and
Canada.
10:11:42 AM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG continued on slide 3 showing a bar
graph of "Yukon River King Salmon Drainagewide Total Run," which
shows salmon run size fluctuations, and he pointed out that in
the last several years there has been a decline in king salmon
production which has been observed statewide. He mentioned
resulting restrictions being put in place. Also, under the
Pacific Salmon Treaty there is an obligation to pass up to
55,000 fish into Canada. This obligation hasn't been met in
recent years, as shown on the graph.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG continued on slide 4, showing a
graphic of "Yukon River King Salmon Harvest," and he pointed out
that it has failed to meet the amount necessary for subsistence.
It has been met only twice over the past 15 years, and a result
of that is the treaty taking precedence over subsistence.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG moved onto slide 5, which shows a bar
graph of "Yukon River Summer Chum Salmon Total Run," and the
difference on this graph is that it shows fish that spawn
entirely in U.S. waters. It shows very poor escapement even
though it was expected to be average.
10:15:19 AM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG showed slide 6, "Yukon River Summer
Chum Salmon Harvest by Type." He explained that ADF&G has been
meeting amounts reasonably necessary for subsistence (ANS), but
from 2020 to 2022 there was severely restricted commercial and
subsistence fishing, and in 2021 to 2022 there was not any
commercial fishing. He moved to slide 7, "Yukon River Fall Chum
Salmon Run Size." He pointed out, like summer runs, the failed
escapement goals from 2020 through 2022. He noted that 2022
showed improvements which indicate a slight rebuilding. He then
discussed slide 8, "Yukon River Fall Chum Salmon Subsistence and
Personal Use Harvests," which, again, failed escapement goals
from 2020 to 2022. He pointed out a chart on slide 9,
"Kuskokwim River King Salmon Escapement, 1990-2022," which shows
leading escapement goals in the last ten years.
10:17:57 AM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG moved to a graph on slide 10,
"Kuskokwim River King Salmon Subsistence Harvest, 1990-2022."
This graph shows the current ANS range, and that although
escapement goals are being met, ADF&G is not meeting ANS ranges.
He noted the jurisdictional issues in the lower part of the
Kuskokwim River that also contribute to the outcome. He
displayed slide 11, "Kuskokwim River Chum Salmon," and said this
is similar to what has been seen in the Yukon River: 2020
through 2022 were all way below average in terms of returns and
ANS. He highlighted the graphs on slide 12, "Kuskokwim River
Coho Salmon," which show a reduced production rate from 2018
forward. Slide 13, "Kuskokwim River Sockeye Salmon," he called
a "bright spot" in that sockeye salmon perform well across
coastal Western Alaska. He moved to slide 14, "Summary," which
shows reduced productivity, results of reduction, and increased
productivity - all learned in prior slides. He stressed the
impact on local communities, cultural practices, and economy.
He then paused for questions from committee members.
10:22:29 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE asked why the federal government has
control over the king salmon on the lower Kuskokwim River.
10:22:47 AM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG answered that last spring, the U.S.
Government sued him [as Commissioner of ADF&G], and the State of
Alaska, claiming the state's management was interfering with the
management of the Federal Subsistence Board. A federal judge in
Alaska has restrained ADF&G from issuing emergency orders in the
lower part of the Kuskokwim River until the case is heard. In
response to a follow-up question, he said it is an injunction he
suspects would be put in place this year until the case is
heard. He also added that the Kuskokwim River is a navigable
waterway that is owned by the state but is adjacent to or near
abutting federal land.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE asked if the "404 primacy" that the state
is working on would be helpful for a resolution.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG responded that the state believes in
statehood compact, and as a result the authority to manage fish
and game resources is the state's - not the Federal
Government's. He said ADF&G will fight to maintain this
authority. In response to a follow-up question, Commissioner
Vincent-Lang explained ADF&G wants to manage the salmon
resources for the sustainability of the resource as well as the
fisheries that are dependent upon that resource. The minimum
that the department is trying to get back is the minimum into
that escapement goal range. He made it clear the state does not
believe these resources are in danger of extinction. He went on
to explain several of the things ADF&G is moving forward on,
ranging from using Covid-19 funds, working with governmental
organizations, implementing a marine science program, and
utilizing money in the budget to extend into the north Gulf of
Alaska to find out if there are common linkages. He noted that
projects also require cooperation of other international
entities.
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER asked for more details on the evidence
that points to impact on survival and what the science program
has learned specifically.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG answered that the evidence being seen
is that salmon are generally coming back at reduced numbers,
size, and younger ages - the latter adding to the indication
that something is affecting most fish out there. He added that
warmer waters are a contributing factor.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG continued on slide 16, "Bycatch Task
Force," and "Other Actions." He confirmed the use of the
recommendations within the task force to determine actions to be
taken by ADF&G.
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES said she thought it may be important to
recognize different sectors that were represented in the Bycatch
Task Force.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG responded that the task force is made
up of a wide range of individuals across the state of Alaska
including members of various commercial and sport fishing groups
and industries, and the AYK region. In approximately nine
months the group conducted up to 50 meetings. As a result, he
opined, ADF&G came up with a set of solid recommendations.
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES asked if the Bycatch Task Force should
remain in place permanently, instead of doing the job and then
being dissolved.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG responded that the conclusion
regarding that has not been made yet; ADF&G does not know if
there will be anything more to report to the Task Force until
some of the recommendations are implemented. Other actions
ADF&G has taken was that they recognized chum salmon was a huge
issue in the Bering Sea, and in the past year worked with the
Bering Sea trawl fisheries to learn about self-regulation, which
resulted in significant reductions of chum salmon bycatch. He
said ADF&G is asking the industry to look at innovative ways to
reduce their bycatch of all species.
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES asked how ADF&G is working with the long
line or pot fisherman insofar as their bycatch situation.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG explained that ADF&G is looking at
electronic monitoring and increasing observer coverage to avoid
bycaught fish, and to get better estimates of what is happening
in those two gear types [long line and pot fishing]. In
response to a follow-up question asking if there is observer
coverage required on long line or pot fishing in the Bering Sea,
Commissioner Vincent-Lang responded some of the bigger fisheries
have coverage, but the smaller and medium size do not have 100
percent coverage.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE asked about the difference between bycatch
in a pot, and bycatch in trawl fisheries. He also questioned
the bycatch mortality in the different kinds of fisheries.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG responded the methods are all unique
in how fish are caught. In response to bycatch mortality, he
explained it depends on a wide range of issues associated with
the gear. He continued on slide 17, which highlights "Fisheries
Disasters," and "Working with Partners to Address Science Issues
Inriver." The slide highlights the development of spend plans,
disaster funding, and inriver studies with partners in hopes of
affecting returns and survival.
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER inquired what percentage the research
portion is of this spending plan, what percentage remains in
administration for research, and what portion is planned to go
into individual fishers for the disaster relief.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG explained that ADF&G have been
successful in getting additional federal money though the
Pacific Salmon Treaty; there is money going into answering these
questions. He then responded that 15 to 20 percent of the money
is going out to non-research.
CHAIR VANCE asked Commissioner Vincent-Lang to speak briefly
about the spend plan, positive changes for Alaska, and
specifically, how distribution will occur for communities'
subsistence users.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG acknowledged the frustration over
Pacific states being the designated federal entity to develop
spend plans, and the amount of time it takes. He said ADF&G has
taken steps with the Pacific states to speed the process up.
Public review also plays a major part in how the money is spent,
although it takes more time. In response to a follow-up
question, Commissioner Vincent-Lang confirmed positive responses
to community involvement in the spend plans.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG continued on the final slide, 18, -
"Other Efforts," and "Federal" - summarizing the number of
entities ADF&G is working with while being open to working with
other partners.
CHAIR VANCE asked whether the inriver incubation boxes would be
under the educational permit system.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG responded it is through the hatchery
permitting program.
CHAIR VANCE asked if there was a difference between a full scale
hatchery and the incubation boxes that are being proposed.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG explained that survival could be
increased by using the incubation boxes.
CHAIR VANCE commented on having some members of the Bycatch Task
Force present on their work in the near future to get a better
understanding as to what the task force has done, and how the
state can proceed.
11:14:40 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Fisheries meeting was adjourned at 11:15
a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| (H)FSH ADF&G Presentation on AYK Fisheries 1.31.23.pdf |
HFSH 1/31/2023 10:00:00 AM |
(H)FSH ADF&G Presentation on AYK Fisheries 1.31.23 |