Legislature(1997 - 1998)
10/24/1997 01:15 PM House FSH
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES
October 24, 1997
1:15 p.m.
Kodiak, Alaska
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Alan Austerman, Chairman
Representative Scott Ogan
Representative Mark Hodgins
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Ivan, Vice Chairman
Representative Gene Kubina
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 149
"An Act relating to the management of salmon fisheries; and
providing for an effective date."
- HEARD AND HELD
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: HB 149
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) KOHRING, Masek, Mulder, Cowdery
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
02/19/97 399 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
02/19/97 399 (H) FSH, RESOURCES, FINANCE
02/27/97 519 (H) COSPONSOR(S): COWDERY
04/28/97 (H) FSH AT 5:00 PM CAPITOL 124
04/28/97 (H) MINUTE(FSH)
04/30/97 (H) FSH AT 5:00 PM CAPITOL 124
04/30/97 (H) MINUTE(FSH)
05/05/97 (H) FSH AT 5:00 PM CAPITOL 124
05/05/97 (H) MINUTE(FSH)
05/07/97 (H) FSH AT 5:00 PM CAPITOL 124
09/12/97 (H) FSH AT 1:00 PM DILLINGHAM LIO
09/12/97 (H) MINUTE(FSH)
09/30/97 (H) FSH AT 1:00 PM MAT-SU
09/30/97 (H) MINUTE(FSH)
10/24/97 (H) FSH AT 1:00 PM KODIAK
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE VIC KOHRING
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 421
Juneau, Alaska 99801
Telephone: (907) 465-2186
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 149.
DONALD FOX, Commercial Fisherman
P.O.Box 2971
Kodiak, Alaska 99615
Telephone: (907) 486-4738
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified against HB 149.
LARRY MALLOY, Director
Kodiak Aquaculture Association
P.O. Box 3407
Kodiak, Alaska 99615
Telephone: (907) 486-4251
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified against HB 149.
JEFF STEPHAN, President
United Fishermen's Marketing Association
P.O. Box 2917
Kodiak, Alaska 99615
Telephone: (907) 486-4568
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified against HB 149.
DEE DEE PEARSON, Commercial Fisherman
P.O. Box 669
Kodiak, Alaska 99615
Telephone: (907) 486-5481
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified against HB 149.
BILL BARKER, Chairman
Kodiak Advisory Board
P.O. Box 2135
Kodiak, Alaska 99615
Telephone: (907) 486-0224
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified against HB 149.
VIRGINIA ADAMS, Commercial Fisherman
620 Hemlock Drive
Kodiak, Alaska 99615
Telephone: (907) 486-6834
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified against HB 149.
ANN BARKER, Commercial Fisherman and Business Owner
3848 Wood Land Drive
Kodiak Alaska 99615
Telephone: (907) 486-8229
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified against HB 149.
BRAD STEVENS, Federal Fisheries Biologist
National Marine Fisheries Service
P.O. Box 2472
Kodiak, Alaska 99615
Telephone: (907) 486-4305
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on issues regarding crab stocks.
CHRIS BLACKBURN, Representative
Alaska Groundfish Data Bank
P.O. Box 2298
Kodiak, Alaska 99615
Telephone: (907) 486-3033
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified against HB 149.
JOE MACINKO, Commercial Fisherman
2625 Spruce Cape Road
Kodiak, Alaska 99615
Telephone: (907) 486-3643
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified against HB 149.
MARK BUCKLEY, Bristol Bay Commercial Fisherman and Journalist
P.O. Box 649
Kodiak, Alaska 99615
Telephone: (907) 486-4680
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on subsistence issues.
DIANA BUFFINGTON, Bank Teller;
Kodiak District Chairman
Republican Party
317 Maple Drive
Kodiak, Alaska 99615
Telephone: (907) 486 2290
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified against HB 149.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 97-29, SIDE A
Number 0001
CHAIRMAN ALAN AUSTERMAN called the House Special Committee on
Fisheries meeting to order at 1:15 p.m. Members present at the
call to order were Representatives Austerman, Ogan and Hodgins.
Members absent were Representatives Ivan and Kubina.
HB 149 - PREFER CONSUMPTIVE USE SALMON FISHERIES
Number 0018
CHAIRMAN AUSTERMAN announced the first order of business to be HB
149 "An Act relating to the management of salmon fisheries; and
providing for an effective date." He stated that the hearing will
not be exclusively held to the bill as there are other issues that
people might want to address, although HB 149 is the impetus for
holding these hearings. He stated that Representative Kohring will
make an opening statement as sponsor of the bill.
Number 0030
REPRESENTATIVE VIC KOHRING, Sponsor, stated that he represents
Wasilla and Peters Creek. He stated that HB 149 is a reflection of
the Fairness in Salmon Harvest (F.I.S.H) Initiative that was deemed
unconstitutional. He stated that it was found unconstitutional
because it is the role of the legislature to decide issues of
allocation and can not be done through the initiative process.
REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING stated the intent of the bill is to direct
the Board of Fisheries to give the personal consumptive user first
priority of salmon in Cook Inlet. He has defined personal
consumptive user to be sport fishermen and subsistence and personal
users. He stated that the bill applies to areas in the state that
have an excess of 500,000 angler days per year, therefore it would
only be applicable to Cook Inlet.
Number 0325
REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING stated that whether HB 149 is the
appropriate bill to help feed the families in Southeast Alaska, by
giving a priority to the sport fishermen and the subsistence user,
he did not know. He stated that he wanted to work together with
the commercial interest and the personal use interest. He wanted
to make it clear that the intent is to give first priority to the
consumptive user after the minimum escapement goals are met. He
stated that his goal is to get 5 percent of the resource.
Currently consumptive users are getting 1 to 3 percent of the
resource, which is minuscule. He stated that 5 percent is a very
small percent in comparison to the overall pie. He stated that he
does not feel the reaction by the commercial industry is justified
as far as this bill threatening or having a devastating impact on
the commercial fishing industry. Although, he does respect the
opinions of the people who have testified.
Number 0653
REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT OGAN stated that there is a major problem in
the Mat-Su valley with fish returns. He stated that this year was
a good year for king salmon, but not for coho salmon. He stated
that there was not a personal use fishery in the Mat-Su valley. He
stated that Fish Creek was traditionally for residents to
participate in the personal use fishery. He stated that the fish
stocks are a real problem and the real investors of the resource
are the residents.
Number 0830
DONALD FOX, Commercial Fisherman, stated that he rather have the
Board of Fisheries settle allocation problems. He stated he has no
problem with allocating fish to the personal use fishery. However,
he stated that he does not agree with allocating fish to the
growing commercial guide industry, that makes a living by taking
nonresidents out fishing. He stated that the numbers of sport
guides need to be counted and their effects on the resource need to
taken into consideration. He stated that every year the Department
of Fish and Game's budget is being lowered. He stated that they
should be given adequate resources in order to manage the resource
properly.
Number 1043
LARRY MALLOY, Director, Kodiak Aquaculture Association and former
Alaska Department of Fish and Game Biologist, referred to the
Alaska Salmon Management Model and asked the legislature to support
and pass the model. He stated that HB 149 is a harmful piece of
legislation because it misrepresents the real concerns of the
voters. He stated that the United Fishermen of Alaska and the
Board of Fisheries would like the legislature to support the Alaska
Salmon Management Model. He stated that the public and the
regulatory stake holders want the fiscal support to ensure that
adequate information is available to monitor the status of the
salmon habitat and to monitor the development of the user groups.
He stated that the legislature should redirect their efforts away
from fish allocation legislation, and instead fiscally support the
Alaska Salmon Management Model which will yield a legacy of
sustainable resources. He stated that the Kodiak Aquaculture
Association is funded primarily from a 2 percent tax that is based
on the annual earnings of the commercial salmon permit holders in
Kodiak. He stated that the result is better salmon management and
research, salmon rehabilitation and enhancement, and habitat
monitoring and protection. He stated that because the Department
of Fish and Game's budget has been cut, the association has had to
fill some of the gaps, especially in habitat monitoring.
Number 1609
JEFF STEPHAN, President, United Fishermen's Marketing Association,
stated that the reference of 5 percent of the resource is an issue
because there is no distinction by area or by species in the bill.
He stated that it does not work for the association. He referred
to Representative Kohring's statement in the Daily News that the
king salmon were coming back to his area because the Kodiak
fishermen were on strike. He stated that the Department of Fish
and Game provided Representative Kohring with the technical
information that explained why the strike was not responsible for
the king salmon return. He stated that he has also just recently
read that same misstatement again by Representative Kohring. Mr.
Stephan stated that allocation is a real sensitive issue and it is
easy to blow issues out of proportion, but that does not create a
solution. He stated that if Representative Kohring had some
questions as to why there have been poor returns of salmon to his
area, there are some technical and logical explanations available.
He respectfully asked that Representative Kohring did not blame the
Kodiak commercial fishermen when there is no plausible or technical
proof to show that is the case.
Number 1953
MR. STEPHAN stated that the issue of not catching fish should not
be confused with escapement or conservation problems. If a person
does not catch their limit when fishing a particular area, it does
not necessarily mean there is a problem in that area. He indicated
that the timing and location of a fisherman guessing where the fish
are, plays a part in the catch success. He stated that he did
agree that there may be some problems with returns in the Susitna
drainage area. He stated that the congestion on the Kenai River of
jet boats does have an effect on the resource. He suggested that
the impact of the guides be looked into because it is not the fact
that all Representative Kohring's constituents are good, with
everything that they do is okay and the rest of the Alaskan
residents are bad and should be considered second. He stated that
he agreed the best use should go to residents. He stated that it
would be logical to compare the substantial increase of
nonresidents coming into the area to fish, with the problem of
escapement or availability to catch fish. He stated that in the
last ten years the number of commercial fishermen have remained
stable, it is the nonresident fishing licenses that have greatly
increased. He felt that the Sport Fish Division of the Alaska
Department of Fish and Game should have closed some of the areas
along the Susitna River and didn't, probably because they felt they
did not have the political support to do so.
Number 2540
REPRESENTATIVE OGAN stated that Fish Creek was closed and the
Deshka River has been closed to the taking of pink salmon for three
years. He felt that there has been some pretty gutsy actions taken
by the biologists. He agreed that there are problems with the
increase of the nonresident sport fishermen. He stated that there
needs to be parameters as to the number of sport fish that
nonresidents can take home. He stated that at the airports he has
seen people with cooler after cooler full of fish being taken out
of the state.
Number 2752
MR. STEPHAN responded that the problem is a economic issue in that;
all the nonresidents stay in the hotels and bed and breakfasts,
frequent the restaurants and giftshops and give business to the
guides. He stated that the recreational fishery is, in some
respects, an unmanaged fishery. He stated that the catches or
removal of fish are not being very well documented. He stated that
there is the issue of historical, traditional and customary use of
the fishery. Commercial fishermen provide food to the world and to
the nation. He stated that a lot of people can not afford the huge
cost to come up to Alaska to fish for their salmon. The commercial
fishermen allows them to have access to salmon by having it
available on the markets. He stated that a sport fish guide
blowing out gravel and salmon eggs on the river should not have any
higher right to the fish than a commercial fishermen.
Number 3117
REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING stated that his goal is to make HB 149 just
specific to Cook Inlet. He stated that he thinks the current
language states that by the reference to the 500,000 anglers per
year. He referred to Mr. Stephan's question of the 5 percent and
how that factors into the different species of salmon. He stated
that he would expect the department to make that determination.
REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING stated that he felt there might be a
correlation between the increase in king salmon and the Kodiak
seiners strike. He stated that perhaps we will never know. He
stated that he did get the Department of Fish and Game's letter of
disagreement, which stated that it was not possible that it was the
same king salmon because of the time that it would take for the
fish from Kodiak to migrate to Cook Inlet. He stated that he feels
the Department of Fish and Game's response does not definitely
determine whether there is a correlation or not.
Number 3344
MR. STEPHAN replied that there is an issue with giving
misinformation to local newspapers. He stated the proper problem
must be figured out, if the goal is to find a solution. He stated
that political statements or misstatements are made to inflame
people who do not know the facts of the issue except what they read
in the newspaper. The average person that reads Representative
Kohring's misstatement on the correlation between the Kodiak
Seiners strike and the king salmon in the River are not informed as
to the timing and age class of those fish. The age class of the
fish that are being caught in Kodiak do not match up to the mature
fish that are returning in the River. He stated that if the public
was knowledgeable about those facts they would realize that the
correlation between the Kodiak Seiners strike and the king catch in
the Kenai River could not be correct.
Number 3548
MR. STEPHAN referred to HB 149, Section 16.05.740, lines 17-21, "A
salmon stock may not be allocated to a fishery at any point along
its migration route unless the board and the department have
determined that the portion of the stock reserved under this
subsection to satisfy the harvest needs of a common consumptive use
fishery will be available for harvest by that common consumptive
use fishery." He asked if Representative Kohring was planning on
changing the wording to read, "along its migration route in Cook
Inlet."
Number 3620
REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING stated that he would be willing to add that.
Number 3652
DEE DEE PEARSON, Commercial Fisherman, stated that she has been
commercial fishing since 1947 and is about to retire. She stated
that commercial fishing is a very important factor in Alaska. She
stated that this bill would enable commercial sport fishing to
become more important. She stated that everyone should be working
together. She stated that she felt Alaskans are being out numbered
by the tourists that are coming in. She stated that she would like
to share the state of Alaska with the tourists, but not to the
point where it impedes her ability to make a living. She stated
that this issue is extremely important in Kodiak because commercial
fishing is all they have, everything else in Kodiak relates to
commercial fishing. She emphasized that commercial fishing is a
big industry in Alaska.
Number 3945
BILL BARKER, Chairman, Kodiak Advisory Board, stated that he has
been a participant of commercial fisheries for 27 years. He stated
that he would like there to be more education, not only of the
public, but of the legislature as to what is going on and what is
involved in the fisheries. He stated that he has looked at the
Kodiak stocks of salmon and believes that the resource is being
managed well and things are going along correctly in Kodiak.
However, this is not true for the stocks in the Northern Cook
Inlet. He stated the reason is due to management. In Kodiak,
escapement is checked by weirs, which are placed across the
streams, counting individual fish as they go through. He stated
that the harvest of fish are counted and updated daily to the
Department of Fish and Game, who then makes the judgement of
whether to continue or close the fishery. He stated that no
fishing is allowed on stocks if escapement is below the desired
levels. He stated that escapement goals are adjusted as the data
comes in each year. He stated that the aerial survey method is
used on minor systems, the major systems are monitored by weirs.
He stated that commercial fisherman bear the burden of
sustainability. He stated that Northern Cook Inlet is managed by
estimates. For example, there is a harvest of 40,000 king salmon
which was based on the average over the past fifteen years. He
indicated that the number of king salmon allowed to be harvested is
not calculated based on the strength of the run. He stated that
there were maybe three weirs on the entire system. He stated that
the numbers are based on estimates from the aerial surveys which
are not nearly as accurate as the weir surveys.
Number 4602
MR. BARKER stated that one of the main focuses of sport fish
management is to provide access to the resource. He stated they
are responsible for providing the launch ramps, access areas,
campgrounds and trails. He suggested that each of those factors
degrade habitat. He stated that habitats can exist without fish
stocks, but fish stocks can not exist without habitats.
TAPE 97-29, SIDE B
Number 0007
MR. BARKER stated that as a chairman of a local advisory committee,
he has some concerns as to what has been happening between advisory
committees and the Board of Fisheries. He stated that the Board of
Fisheries would rather not take the advisory committees' input.
For example, last year the Board of Fisheries changed the agenda to
reconsider Cook Inlet management and stated that they would not
take oral testimony at the meeting. He stated that under a change
of agenda the issue does not come to the advisory boards for
discussion, therefore they were not able to comment or testify on
the issue. He stated that there is a problem in communication
between the state advisory committees and the Board of Fisheries.
Number 0039
MR. BARKER stated that he has some budget concerns in regards to
protection of the resource. He stated that the funding can not be
cut back because then the resources are not able to be controlled
or managed well and then the state will lose them. He stated that
no one has a right to a resource, the only right is the resource
which needs to be protected because if not all rights are lost.
Number 0550
REPRESENTATIVE OGAN stated that no one has a right to the resource;
however, some people do have more rights than others and he
referred to the Public Trust Doctrine. He stated that as
legislators they have a duty to manage the resource for the good of
the people.
Number 0650
VIRGINIA ADAMS, Commercial Fisherman, stated that she has been
commercial fishing for 23 years and is married to a 13th generation
commercial fisherman. She stated that her nine-year-old son would
like to be a commercial fisherman, but she stated that she does not
feel that will be possible. Although, the reason is not because of
lack of stocks. She stated that she is on the board of the
Northwest Setnet Association, the United Fishermen's Association
and the United Salmon Association. She indicated that she spends
all her time, when she is not fishing, involved in allocation
battles. She stated that if this dispute goes on long enough, over
who will get that 5 percent, there will no longer be a percentage
to be had. She stated that when the F.I.S.H Initiative was
introduced the United Fishermen of Alaska and Salmon for Alaska's
Future hired a professional company for $75,000 to conduct a poll
of Alaskan residents regarding the fisheries. The resident anglers
had the common complaint of overcrowding on areas that they had
traditionally fished on by the growing commercial sport guide
industry. The F.I.S.H Initiative was supposedly speaking for the
resident sport fishermen. She suggested that the answer is to
regulate this growing industry so that the opportunities that
existed for the Alaskan angler are maintained. She stated that the
resource should not be taken away from the commercial fishermen and
given to the nonresident sport fishermen. She stated that the poll
indicated that the F.I.S.H Initiative was a result of the very
vocal minority commercial sport industry. She advised the
legislature to look at the results of the poll. The F.I.S.H.
Initiative was brought forth to the public in a very deceiving way.
Number 1045
MS. ADAMS stated that the commercial fisheries are under assault
and it needs the government to support this largest employer of the
state, or the commercial fishing industry will no longer exist.
She stated that she would rather not have these constant attempts
to take away her right to fish. The commercial fishing industry is
being politically crippled.
Number 1211
REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING asked Ms. Adams why the industry is crippled
and if it is a function of the price of salmon rather than the
volume of salmon that the industry is getting.
Number 1233
MS. ADAMS replied that it is not just politics, but she addressed
the political problem because the legislature deals with the
political side. She stated that the marketing aspects of the
salmon industry is really difficult to understand at this time,
Alaska is losing market share to farmed fish. She stated that if
the industry is not dealt with as a whole, nothing is going to be
solved. The problems always seem to be segmented off. She stated
that the commercial fishing industry is on the precipice of
stopping and government action is needed. She stated that as long
as there are people who pump up misconceptions and mistruths of the
commercial fishing industry, further harm is being done to a
fragile industry. She stated that many people are working very
hard to go forward in the commercial fishing industry, but all the
energy and resources are going towards constantly defending the
industry instead of on solutions to its problems. She stated that
the legislature should not be looking at this bill, but instead the
bigger picture. She stated that the problems can be solved, there
needs to be a handle on the commercial sport fishing industry in
order to hold the resources in Alaska for the Alaskans.
Number 1514
ANN BARKER, Commercial Fisherman and Business Owner, stated that
she appreciated the addition of the wording of Cook Inlet to limit
the area affected by the 5 percent. She stated that she felt the
bill is an overreaction to the problem, the remedy in excess of
what is needed to solve the problem.
Number 1645
MS. BARKER addressed issue of the budget cuts to the Department of
Fish and Game. She questioned why the funds to the permanent fund
are being increased when money is not be reinvested in one of the
greatest resources in the state. She stated that commercial
fishermen help pay their own way by giving a percentage of their
income to the state marketing institute, a severance tax to the
borough and by paying for habitat monitoring and restocking of the
fish through the aquaculture association. She stated that the
commercial fishing industry needs support and money for resource
development and research. She stated that the commercial sport
fishery should not come at the cost of the Alaskan lifestyle, it
needs to start to paying its own way.
Number 1858
MS. BARKER stated that her health has not been good she has had a
complete spinal fusion and then cancer in the last three years.
Therefore, she has had to ask for a medical transfer of her permit.
She received the medical transfers but received a letter from the
state recommending that if she was not going to be able to fish,
that she make arrangements to sell her permit well in advance of
the next fishing season. She felt that there was a pressure on her
to either get better or sell her permit. She also received a
letter from a commercial fisherman, suggesting that there be the
retirement option for fishermen to be able to lease their permit
each year. This would enable her to retain her permit although she
might not be able to fish it.
Number 2203
REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING commended the commercial industry for being
self-sustaining, especially in the marketing area. The Alaska
Institute for Salmon Marketing (ASMI) is paid for solely by
commercial fishermen. He stated that he does advocate cutting the
budget but he is willing to look at putting more money into the
commercial fishing industry part of the budget . He stated that he
is not saying that he will support putting more money in the budget
but he is open to give it consideration. He stated that there are
some unnecessary social programs that could be cut and the
resources may be redirected.
Number 2503
CHAIRMAN AUSTERMAN stated that he would like to have copies of the
letters that Ms. Barker referred to. He stated that he would like
to look at retirement options for commercial fishermen.
Number 2611
BRAD STEVENS, Federal Fisheries Biologist, National Marine
Fisheries Service, stated that snow crab is the largest shellfish
fishery in Alaska and at times it has been the largest fishery
in the United States. He stated that next year's fishery, starting
January 15, has the predicted quota of 234 million pounds and will
be worth well in excess of $200 million. He stated that the state
of Alaska does not have a single research biologist assigned to
study snow crab. He questioned why the Department of Fish and Game
has not allocated adequate funds to this and other crab fisheries.
He asked if funds for fishery research were allocated according to
the value of fisheries, what would the ratio be of crab biologists
to salmon biologists. He stated that Kodiak was once the center of
king crab fishing in Alaska. In 1980 statewide landings were over
130 million pounds of king crab. Since 1983 there has not been a
king crab fishery in Kodiak. Since 1994 there has not been a
tanner crab fishery Kodiak. He stated that the collapse of these
fisheries have not resulted in any increase funding for research on
these species. He asked what would be the results if this occurred
in the salmon fishery. He stated that Bristol Bay was declared a
disaster area because the sockeye salmon run contained only 15
million fish instead of a predicted 25 millon fish. He stated that
last year the expected catch of tanner crabs in the Bering Sea was
7 millon pounds but less than 1 millon pounds were caught. He
asked why this did not trigger concern in the Department of Fish
and Game to allocate resources to study the tanner crab fishery.
He stated that it is known that the crab fisheries are prone to
boom and bust cycles, probably caused by episodic recruitment. He
stated that king crab populations boom about every twenty years,
snow and tanner crabs every ten years. He stated that the cycles
can be predicted three to four years in advance. He questioned if
this is why the sockeye fishery is considered an emergency because
it was unexpected, whereas a complete closure of the tanner crab
fishery was not because it was predicted in advance. He stated
that he is not degrading the importance of salmon in Alaska, but
there are other fisheries as or more valuable than the salmon
fisheries. He stated that it is imperative that the state allocate
its limited resources among the entire sweep of marine resources
that it has to manage and not just focus on a single one. He
stated that he has no vested interest or personal benefit to gain
from these fisheries. He stated that he does not receive funds
from the state, nor does he make any personal income from the
fisheries. He stated he is concerned about the long term health of
the resource and supporting sustainable fisheries on those stocks.
Number 3055
REPRESENTATIVE OGAN stated that the legislature will allocate money
to a department and that department, sometimes against the
legislature's wishes, reallocates the money. He asked Mr. Stevens
what his feelings were.
Number 3157
MR. STEVENS replied that the shellfish biologists in the state
established a list of important issues and very few have been
addressed. He stated that he did not know why funding has not been
made available.
Number 3222
REPRESENTATIVE MARK HODGINS stated that crab are extremely
sensitive to the temperature of the water. He asked if there were
any studies relating to the crab and the rising water temperatures
that are occurring now.
Number 3253
MR. STEVENS replied that he would not say temperature is the
culprit, although changes in crab population are environmentally
related. He stated that there is no funding to look at the effects
of the environment on crab stocks.
Number 3343
REPRESENTATIVE HODGINS asked if there was any logic to what areas
the state and federal biologists take on or if there was
duplication.
Number 3354
MR. STEVENS replied that there is no duplication, and that there is
good coordination with the state shellfish research biologists. He
stated that they often work together.
Number 3415
REPRESENTATIVE HODGINS asked if he has given any thought to what
the research programs would cost.
Number 3435
MR. STEVENS referred to the Alaska Fishery Research Bulletin, Issue
1, Volume 1, "Results of a Questionnaire on Research and Management
Priorities for Commercial Crab Species in Alaska." He stated that
the priorities are laid out explicitly in the article. He stated
that research on red king crab is the highest priority, followed by
tanner and snow crab. Stock assessment is the highest area issue.
He stated that this is the plan in place, but the funds to
implement it are lacking.
Number 3625
CHRIS BLACKBURN, Representative, Alaska Groundfish Data Bank,
stated that Kodiak is a year round fishing and processing port.
She stated that Kodiak is the only port that runs its processing
plants with local residents. She stated that the trawlers that she
represents, who fish mostly in the winter months, are salmon
tenders in the summer months. She stated that the salmon seiners
are also long liners for cod and various other fisheries. She
stated that the community has spent their money on the community.
For example, the new dock was built with revenue bonds, paid off by
the users of that dock. She stated that they are also building a
new building for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) paid
for with revenue bonds and government grants. She stated that it
is a fishing community. Her job is to look for opportunities and
money for research because the unknown, could kill the industry and
community. Habitat loss and overfishing can kill a stock silently
if the research is not done to monitor the resource. She stated
that the federal government has a lot of money for NMFS but
congress does not want there to be any more employees. She stated
that this is an opportunity for the state of Alaska because NMFS is
contracting out a lot of their work to state agencies and private
contractors. She stated that if the Department of Fish and Game is
cut back to the point that they no longer have the people available
to do the work then the research is lost. She stated that the
University of Alaska, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences has
been returning $7 in research grants for every $1 of general fund
money that was spent on it, and yet it was the most drastically cut
unit in the university system. She stated that it does not make
much fiscal sense to cut the most profitable operation.
Number 4022
MS. BLACKBURN stated she also coordinates agencies to get together
and talk to each other about what they know about a resource. She
put together the Prince William Sound Pollock Summit that put out
a strategic plan for research funding money. They are also working
with various agencies to do surveys on the cod and groundfish
fishery. She stated that she has concern over how the University
does not coordinate with the Department of Fish and Game or with
NMFS. She stated that the biggest obstacle to ecosystem management
is that there is no long term data. She stated that this should be
considered by the legislature when allocating money to the
appropriate agencies. She stated that there is an ad hoc research
group in Kodiak that meets to exchange information and discuss
issues.
Number 4727
REPRESENTATIVE OGAN stated that he is the chairman of the House
Standing Resources Committee and he liked the idea of doing an
assessment of all the resources available.
TAPE 97-30, SIDE A
Number 0005
JOE MACINKO, Commercial Fisherman, asked Representative Kohring if
he is doing anything to help the habitat accommodate to the growing
number of anglers fishing in his area. He stated that
Representative Kohring's inflammatory remarks about Kodiak
fishermen may get a lot of votes, but asked whether it would solve
the problem. He stated that improving the habitat along the river
might help solve the problem but that would mean telling
Representative's Kohring's constituents that they can not do what
they want to do. He stated that salmon are not general fund
dollars that can be allocated. He stated that 5 percent of the run
can not be taken out of the Bristol Bay run and reallocated to Cook
Inlet. He stated that the most that can be done is to take the
best possible care of the stocks, which is not being done. He
referred to a letter that was published in the Daily News from a
resident in Representative Kohring's area. The resident stated
that he had been trying for a day and a half to report some people
on three-wheelers, driving through spawning beds, snagging fish
illegally but could not get troopers to respond to him. He asked
Representative Kohring if it really is the Kodiak fishermen that
are killing the king salmon or if it is his own constituents.
Number 0440
REPRESENTATIVE OGAN stated that he wanted to explain that it is the
responsibility of the legislature to delegate any authority to the
Department of Fish and Game and the Board of Fisheries. He stated
that he resents the statement that the only reason for HB 149 is to
get votes. He stated that the legislature has a public obligation
to manage the resource for the good of people. He stated that Mr.
Macinko is right that part of it is a habitat problem and there
needs to work done. He stated that he is concerned about the
resource and is not trying to just get votes.
Number 0702
MR. MACINKO replied he feels getting votes is the motivation for HB
149. He stated that in regards to allocation, it is impossible for
the legislature to be able to reallocate the physical location of
salmon. It is not possible to make fish that are not going to
automatically go to Cook Inlet, to do so. He stated that it is
possible to say that 90 percent of the Cook Inlet run will go to
sport fishermen, but HB 149 does not state that. HB 149 states
that 5 percent of the statewide run be allocated to sport
fishermen.
Number 0745
REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING stated that as a legislator, he has always
operated from the heart to always do what he thinks is best, which
is the case with this bill. He stated that he was thankful to
everybody for coming and being so polite and professional.
Number 0934
MARK BUCKLEY, Bristol Bay Commercial Fisherman and Journalist
stated that unless the impending federal government's takeover of
the subsistence fisheries is dealt with, there will no longer be a
problem because it will be in federal government's hands. He
stated that the federal government's take over will have an impact
on the sport fisheries in Alaska. He stated that he was at a
meeting in Naknek regarding the Bristol Bay Salmon situation. He
stated that a local Naknek resident, who is Native and on the
Federal Subsistence Advisory Counsel, made the statement that all
the sport fishing lodges on Lake Clark and Lake Iliamna were
catching fish while they were shut down from fishing. The Native
Naknek resident stated that when the federal government takes over,
the sport lodges will be the first to be shut down. Mr. Buckley
stated that the subsistence boards will have that extra-territorial
authority. He stated that the Federal Subsistence Board has the
power to allow the sale of subsistence caught resources. He stated
that a federal judge has determined that the residents of Southeast
Alaska can sell "subsistence caught herring" for up to $20,000 or
$30,000. He stated that it could quite possibly be allowed for
subsistence users to put a fish trap at the mouth of the Kenai
River. He stated that the council is working on allowing the sale
of subsistence caught halibut under the definition of trading it
for money. He stated that this will evolve into another commercial
industry that will not be able to be regulated. He stated that if
every rural resident is defined as a subsistence user it will
greatly affect the sport fishery. He stated that he would like to
have the opportunity to vote on the government's subsistence plan.
He urged that the legislators put the issue before the public on
the ballot.
Number 1415
REPRESENTATIVE OGAN stated that he is aware of these issues with
the commercial sale of subsistence fish. He stated that he would
not sign off on the government plan because he does not believe the
problem will go away with a rural priority, instead it will
probably get worse. He stated that there can be a solution without
creating the apartheid system of management under the Department of
Fish and Game. He stated that the rural priority is a political
fix, it will help the Governor get re-elected. He said, I don't
think Tony Knowles, personally, is that interested in solving it
other than for a political fix." He stated the problem can be
solved by putting Alaskans first. He stated that the problem is in
Washington D.C. and not in Juneau.
Number 1854
MR. BUCKLEY replied that the problem is in both Juneau and
Washington D.C. He stated that he is asking that the residents of
Alaska be able to vote on it.
Number 1940
DIANA BUFFINGTON, Bank Teller; Kodiak District Chairman, Republican
Party, would like the committee take a look at the Republican
Party's resolutions and platforms. She stated that there needs to
be a resolution in the legislature to support the Republicans'
platform on the subsistence issue because the party supported the
legislature's stand to not amend the state constitution. If it
does go to a public vote, she stated that the question should be
"Do we amend the constitution of Alaska to change the quality of
the people by rural subsistence or rural preference."
MS. BUFFINGTON stated that Kodiak passed a 37 percent property tax
increase, during the time when the commercial fishermen were on
strike. She stated that in addition to a bad fishing season, the
fishermen had their taxes go up, retroactive for the year. She
stated that there is an initiative on the ballot to cap the taxes.
She indicated that she would like to be able to vote on a property
tax, currently state law prohibits that.
MS. BUFFINGTON stated that everything needs to be done to protect
the fishing industry and its habitat. She stated that cutting
programs that help the resource is not effective. She stated that
it is important to protect the markets and the allocation in HB 149
is not the way to do it. She stated that any effect on the fishing
industry will affect the entire Kodiak community.
Number 3027
REPRESENTATIVE HODGINS stated that it was his understanding that
when municipalities are formed, there are tax limits induced,
therefore there was a vote on the tax, trusting that the people who
form the municipality will spend it wisely.
Number 3051
MS. BUFFINGTON stated that she agreed, but not being able to vote
on a 37 percent property tax increase was not fair. She stated
that the fishermen during the strike had very little input during
the fishing season. She felt that having it on the ballot in
October would enable the fishermen who make up most of the
community in Kodiak have a vote.
Number 3254
CHAIRMAN AUSTERMAN stated that the next meeting will be in Kenai on
November 5.
ADJOURNMENT
Number 3321
CHAIRMAN AUSTERMAN adjourned the House Special Committee on
Fisheries at 3:26 p.m.
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