Legislature(1993 - 1994)
02/08/1993 08:30 AM House FSH
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES
February 8, 1993
8:30 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Carl E. Moses, Chairman
Representative Harley Olberg, Vice Chairman
Representative Gail Phillips
Representative Irene Nicholia
Representative Cliff Davidson
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
OTHER MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Ben Grussendorf
Representative Fran Ulmer
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
Overview: International Fisheries issues
WITNESS REGISTER
David Benton, Director
External and International Fisheries Affairs
Alaska Department of Fish & Game
1255 W. 8th St.
Juneau, AK 99802-5526
Phone: 465-4100
Position Statement: Commented on and gave a brief overview
of high seas salmon interception, high
seas driftnetting and the central Bering
Sea donut hole.
Representative Ben Grussendorf
State Capitol, Room 415
Juneau, Alaska 99811-1182
Phone: 465-3824
Position Statement: Commented on the differences in
negotiating with the former USSR and the
new Russian Republics.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 93-4, SIDE A
Number 000
CHAIRMAN CARL MOSES called the meeting to order at 8:40 a.m.
He noted all members in attendance and asked David Benton to
give an overview of international fishing issues that
affected Alaska.
DAVID BENTON, DIRECTOR, EXTERNAL AND INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES
AFFAIRS, ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME, began the
overview by pointing out the areas of intense high seas
driftnet fishing in the North Pacific. This area, known as
the Donut Hole area of the Central Bering Sea, is a body of
international water outside the jurisdiction of Russia and
the United States. He produced a map which showed the areas
of salmon and squid fishing by Japanese and Korean vessels
in 1991.
MR. BENTON showed a short video from 1989, put together by
his agency as part of a campaign to deal with high seas fish
interception. The video was to go to the United Nations to
help put an end to high seas driftnetting, which targeted
immature salmon. The video told of foreign driftnet vessels
illegally taking U.S. salmon in unauthorized waters. The
U.S. has convicted fishermen for illegally fishing for
salmon in squid territories. There were few regulatory
observers on board these ships, which resulted in a lack of
surveillance of their activities, he noted.
The video testimony of HAROLD THOMPSON told of reduced
catches and salmon marked by the nets of the high seas
driftnetting fleets.
MR. BENTON resumed after the video and said that in 1988,
the relations between the USSR and the U.S. allowed
negotiation of a comprehensive fisheries arrangement which
provided that each body would cooperate on salmon issues by
crafting a new International Salmon Treaty. In 1992, a
treaty was signed by Japan, Canada, the United States, and
the Russian Federation which resulted in new fishing areas
that allowed for no interception of salmon. The United
States also negotiated an agreement with the Russians last
August, that closed the Bering Sea and waters east of the
170 East Longitude Line. There now were no legal driftnet
operations, and Japanese, Taiwanese, and Korean vessels had
satellite transmitters on board to allow for tracking, he
said.
MR. BENTON noted the Central Bering Sea area was important
because there was no treaty to regulate fishing there and
the pollack stocks were being depleted. He advised that the
United States and Russia met to discuss the Donut Hole area,
and had decided on a strategy to get representatives from
six countries: Japan, Korea, China, Poland, Russia, and the
U.S. to secure interim measures to monitor fishing in the
area by having observers on the boats.
MR. BENTON added the U.S. had gotten the Central Bering Sea
Enforcement Act from Congress to use at the negotiation
table with the six countries. This Act allowed for
transmitters on fishing boats to be used as monitoring
devices. The U.S. had to restrict fishing off the eastern
shelf and the Russians ceased fishing adjacent to the Donut
Hole because of severely depleted stocks of salmon, he
added.
REPRESENTATIVE BEN GRUSSENDORF stated negotiations had
changed since the former USSR was now the Russian Republics
and enforcement that used to be handled by the USSR was now
impossible, due to disorganization and a lack of fuel for
boats.
MR. BENTON agreed and noted that Russian observers had been
caught under-logging quantities and types of fish taken on
Russian trollers, which was just one of many problems.
REPRESENTATIVE GAIL PHILLIPS asked if other countries had a
different underlying philosophy than that of the U.S. about
the detriment involved with high seas driftnetting.
MR. BENTON agreed that other countries, especially Japan,
saw no problem or implications with driftnetting. Now, the
Japanese were investing in hatchery production and were more
involved in conservation of the resource, he added.
REPRESENTATIVE CLIFF DAVIDSON stated that until Russia could
better manage their fleets, the Japanese could leverage them
to the detriment of American markets. He then asked if the
Japanese intent was to undermine the American salmon market.
MR. BENTON saw no other reason for the Japanese to be
operating the high seas driftnets.
TAPE 93-4 SIDE B
Number 000
REPRESENTATIVE GRUSSENDORF asked if the Japanese were
getting leases on krill and hatcheries.
MR. BENTON advised that the Japanese already had their
hatcheries in place.
ADJOURNMENT
CHAIRMAN MOSES asked members and the public if there were
further comments. Hearing none, he adjourned the meeting at
9:35 a.m.
Attached: 1991 High Seas Driftnetting map
1993 Salmon Fishing Areas map
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|