01/27/1993 08:30 AM House FSH

                                                                               
                                                                               
              HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES                             
                        January 27, 1993                                       
                            8:30 a.m.                                          
                                                                               
                                                                               
  MEMBERS PRESENT                                                              
                                                                               
  Rep. Carl E. Moses, Chair                                                    
  Rep. Harley Olberg, Vice Chair                                               
  Rep. Gail Phillips                                                           
  Rep. Irene Nicholia                                                          
  Rep. Cliff Davidson                                                          
                                                                               
  MEMBERS ABSENT                                                               
                                                                               
  None                                                                         
                                                                               
  COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                           
                                                                               
  Organizational meeting with suggestions from members.                        
                                                                               
  WITNESS REGISTER                                                             
                                                                               
  Ray Gillespie                                                                
  Lobbyist                                                                     
  9478 Riverbend Court                                                         
  Juneau, AK  99801                                                            
  Phone:  364-3375                                                             
  Position Statement:  Asked committee to review ADF&G's                       
                       proposed transfer of state hatcheries                   
                                                                               
  Richard "Rick" Lauber                                                        
  Lobbyist                                                                     
  Pacific Seafood Processors Association                                       
  321 Highland                                                                 
  Juneau, AK  99801                                                            
  Phone:  586-6366                                                             
  Position Statement:  Asked committee to be aware of impact                   
                       from the Russian Federation                             
                                                                               
  Jerry Near                                                                   
  35670 Spur Hwy.                                                              
  Soldotna, AK  99669                                                          
  Phone:  262-4461                                                             
  Position Statement:  Commented on the impact of increased                    
                       guided sport fishing on the Kenai River                 
                                                                               
                                                                               
  ACTION NARRATIVE                                                             
                                                                               
  TAPE 93-1, SIDE A                                                            
  Number 000                                                                   
                                                                               
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN  CARL MOSES  called the  meeting to  order  at 8:35                 
  a.m..    He noted  all  members  in attendance  and  invited                 
  committee members to discuss their priorities for review and                 
  action by the Fisheries Committee.                                           
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE GAIL PHILLIPS said she  would like to see the                 
  committee address the following:                                             
                                                                               
       1)   the  impacts of sport  fish guides and  use on the                 
            Kenai River;                                                       
                                                                               
       2)   the impacts of salmon enhancement and hatcheries;                  
                                                                               
       3)   what direction the state should  take in marketing                 
            fish, including the issue of value-added products;                 
                                                                               
       4)   the CDQ program, and whether  it could be expanded                 
            to other fisheries and other areas;                                
                                                                               
       5)   the three federal  acts up for  reauthorization by                 
            Congress this year:  the Magnusson Act, the Marine                 
            Mammal Protection Act, and  the Endangered Species                 
            Act.                                                               
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE CLIFF DAVIDSON reviewed  the following issues                 
  as ones that concerned him:                                                  
                                                                               
       1)   a thorough review of the  state's hatchery program                 
            to make sure it was equitable across the state;                    
                                                                               
       2)   a   review   of  the   Alaska   Seafood  Marketing                 
            Institute's efforts and funding, and the impact of                 
            Tyson  Food's  entrance  into the  Alaska  seafood                 
            industry;                                                          
                                                                               
       3)   review of the state position of IFQ's.                             
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE HARLEY OLBERG noted his concerns:                             
                                                                               
       1)   possibility  of  a  one   percent  tax  on  salmon                 
            fishermen for marketing; and                                       
                                                                               
       2)   he would  like to  address proposed water  quality                 
            requlations.                                                       
                                                                               
  RAY GILLESPIE, representing  four aquaculture  associations,                 
  asked the committee to review  the Alaska Department of Fish                 
  & Game's (ADF&G)  proposed transfer  of state hatcheries  to                 
  the aquaculture  associations to  determine the  need for  a                 
  transition  program.    He said  his  groups  have  taken no                 
  position on a marketing tax,  but would not support reducing                 
  current  salmon enhancement  taxes, which  are essential  to                 
  their operating budgets.                                                     
                                                                               
                                                                               
  RICK  LAUBER,  representing the  Pacific  Seafood Processors                 
  Association,  asked the  committee to  be aware  of what  is                 
  happening with fisheries  in the new Russian  Federation and                 
  the impacts they are having on Alaskan fisheries.                            
                                                                               
  JERRY NEAR,  who has lived  in the  Kenai River area  for 30                 
  years,  reiterated  Representative Phillips'  concerns about                 
  the impact  of increased guided  sport fishing on  the Kenai                 
  River.                                                                       
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE IRENE NICHOLIA noted the importance of  water                 
  quality around the state fisheries.                                          
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN MOSES  asked members and  the public if  there were                 
  further comments.  Hearing none, he adjourned the meeting at                 
  9:35 a.m.