Legislature(2003 - 2004)
03/28/2003 08:33 AM House FSH
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES
March 28, 2003
8:33 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Paul Seaton, Chair
Representative Peggy Wilson, Vice Chair
Representative Cheryll Heinze
Representative Dan Ogg
Representative Ralph Samuels
Representative David Guttenberg
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Ethan Berkowitz
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 98
"An Act relating to sport fishing seasons and areas for persons
under 16 years of age."
- MOVED HB 98 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 22
"An Act relating to commercial fishing permit brokers; and
providing for an effective date."
- SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: HB 98
SHORT TITLE:SPORT FISHING SEASONS FOR YOUTH
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S)SAMUELS
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
02/14/03 0214 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
02/14/03 0214 (H) FSH, RES
03/28/03 0669 (H) FSH RPT 6DP
03/28/03 0669 (H) DP: OGG, HEINZE, WILSON,
SAMUELS,
03/28/03 0669 (H) GUTTENBERG, SEATON
03/28/03 0670 (H) FN1: ZERO(DFG)
03/28/03 0670 (H) FN2: ZERO(DPS)
03/28/03 (H) FSH AT 8:30 AM CAPITOL 124
WITNESS REGISTER
KELLY HEPPLER, Director
Division of Sport Fish
Alaska Department of Fish & Game
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified that the department is very
supportive of HB 98.
KATHY HANSEN
Juneau-Douglas Fish and Game Advisory Committee
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in full support of HB 98.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 03-22, SIDE A
Number 0001
CHAIR PAUL SEATON called the House Special Committee on
Fisheries meeting to order at 8:33 a.m. Representatives Seaton,
Wilson, Samuels, and Guttenberg were present at the call to
order. Representatives Heinze and Ogg arrived as the meeting
was in progress.
HB 98-SPORT FISHING SEASONS FOR YOUTH
CHAIR SEATON announced that the only order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 98, "An Act relating to sport fishing seasons and
areas for persons under 16 years of age."
Number 0067
REPRESENTATIVE SAMUELS, sponsor of HB 98, mentioned that a
provision exists in statute for the Board of Game that gives
authority to the Board of Game to establish age-specific youth
hunts for those [not more than 17 years of age] - an age at
which a license to hunt is not necessary. He informed the
committee that this allows the Board of Game to have father-and-
son hunts, for example and to limit the number of hunters in
areas where animal populations are limited; it also allows young
children the opportunity to go out and enjoy what Alaska has to
offer. He stated that HB 98 is a similar provision, but
pertains to the Board of Fisheries.
Number 0164
REPRESENTATIVE SAMUELS said that HB 98 is aimed mostly, but not
solely, at urban environments, so that kids in the cities who
don't have a chance to go out and catch a salmon can have access
to that experience. He referred to several possibilities, such
as stocking king salmon at Campbell Creek or having a kids' day
at Ship Creek, saying that HB 98 would allow the Alaska
Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G) and the Board of Fisheries to
better manage the fisheries and would also afford kids the
chance to enjoy the sport of fishing. Representative Samuels
concluded by saying "this is apple pie, Mr. Chairman."
Number 0214
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON said she thought that kids 14 years old
and under did not need a license, but had been informed,
informally, by committee members that the age was 16 and under.
REPRESENTATIVE SAMUELS said this bill does not mandate but
rather simply gives the Board of Fisheries the authority to
allow for a fishery for persons under the age of 16. He pointed
out that the Board of Fisheries already allows for a fishery for
senior citizens - for persons 60 years of age and older.
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON asked if this might mean that that kids
who were under 16 years of age could go out fishing with their
dads, but the dads couldn't fish.
REPRESENTATIVE SAMUELS confirmed that this was so.
Number 0302
REPRESENTATIVE SAMUELS referred to a silver [coho salmon] run in
a stream that runs through his neighborhood where everybody
fishes, commenting that ADF&G sets the regulatory environment so
that there are not too many people there. He said that ADF&G is
concerned about the traffic patterns at that location as well as
at Bird Creek, outside of Anchorage. He indicated that HB 98
assists with limiting the number of fishermen as well as
allowing "the neighborhood kid to walk down there and catch a
fish without being trampled to death at a Ship Creek--type
situation."
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON suggested that this bill might encourage
more participation on the part of the dads.
REPRESENTATIVE SAMUELS said there are a lot of people who live
in Anchorage who cannot get out of town to go to where the
salmon are; he reiterated that this bill offers an opportunity
"for a kid to catch a fish."
Number 0411
REPRESENTATIVE SAMUELS added that there was a zero fiscal note
accompanying the bill.
Number 0422
CHAIR SEATON referred to the Homer Spit Lagoon, which at times
is open for snagging and becomes a real rat race. He noted that
HB 98 allows for kids to fish on a different day, or perhaps for
half of a day, saying that this would be advantageous.
Number 0492
REPRESENTATIVE SAMUELS mentioned that the bill has more to do
with families than it has to do with fish.
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON asked if the bill only pertained to
Alaskan [residents].
REPRESENTATIVE SAMUELS said that this would apply to anybody,
noting that a license is not necessary if a person is under the
age of 16.
CHAIR SEATON said the person would need to demonstrate that
he/she was under the age of 16.
REPRESENTATIVE SAMUELS wondered how ADF&G determines the truth
of a situation in which a person claims to be under the age of
16 and therefore does not possess a license.
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON similarly wondered how proof of a person's
age would be confirmed, since [a person] under 16 years of age
does not have identification.
REPRESENTATIVE SAMUELS indicated that if a person is under 16
years of age, he/she can already go fishing without the need for
a license. He said if a problem [regarding proof of age]
exists, it exists independently of this bill; this bill does not
exacerbate that problem.
Number 0603
KELLY HEPPLER, Director, Division of Sport Fish, Alaska
Department of Fish & Game, testified that the department is very
supportive of HB 98. He said that in working for the Board of
Fisheries for more than 20 years, there were many discussions
from users and advisory committees indicating interest in the
capabilities being expressed in this bill. He pointed out that
this gives the Board of Fisheries an option; it does not issue a
mandate. He suggested that the procedure would involve the
normal public process of adopting the proposal and would involve
the local communities.
Number 0707
MR. HEPPLER continued by saying that enhancing the opportunity
to "get kids excited about fishing" contributes to Alaskan
traditions such as hunting and fishing, suggesting that
involving kids away from computers and malls in urban areas can
be a positive thing. He said he was thinking of the Homer Spit,
where there might be an opportunity for a "take your
daughter/son fishing day," wherein other people could be cleared
out of the area and just the kids could be there with their
families. He mentioned Campbell Creek as an area that is now
very healthy, since there are about 700 or 800 fish over the
escapement goal. He suggested that with 60,000 or 70,000
registered anglers in Anchorage, opening up the area to adults
would cause some concern. However, opening it up for one or two
days of "kid fishing" would be "a neat opportunity for a kid to
get a king salmon in a small stream," because he/she may not
have that opportunity anyplace else. He also mentioned Twin
Lakes in Juneau as another area where fish are stocked. Mr.
Heppler concluded his testimony by referring to a letter of
support in the committee packet that was from the Board of
Fisheries.
Number 0835
REPRESENTATIVE SAMUELS asked Mr. Heppler how the correct age of
a youth was determined.
MR. HEPPLER responded that because a lot of high school kids in
Anchorage are required to have identification cards, there is
some sort of identification being carried. He stated that in
fairness, oftentimes there is faith and trust when interviewing
kids when you "look them in the eye" because there are some kids
who look like they are 22 or 23, and some who look younger than
16. Mr. Heppler said that when there's been a problem in the
past, for example, when somebody under 16 is seen breaking an
obvious law, the parents are always called. He said the parent
would be called right there from the stream bank. He added that
this hasn't really been a problem in the past.
CHAIR SEATON asked if there was any anticipation of fines being
suggested by the Board of Fisheries. He also asked if the Board
of Game experienced the types of problems being discussed.
Number 0973
MR. HEPPLER said that to his knowledge the Board of Game had one
hunt outside of Fairbanks that he thought turned out pretty
well. He reported that 15 or 16 moose were taken that would not
have been taken otherwise and that there were no safety
complaints; people were happy and the parents were happy. He
said [regarding HB 98] he'd like to get a note out, letting
people know of the opportunity - certainly to the advisory
committees - indicating a "heads up" and then involving the
public process around the state for discussion.
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON offered that almost everybody who travels
on the airlines these days needs to have some sort of
identification. She said that it is probably fairly standard
that kids also need to have identification.
MR. HEPPLER said he hoped that they all have identification,
adding that when the kids are small, identification has been
obtained through the [Alaska State Troopers.] He said that
although "not everybody has that," identification has not been a
problem in the past. He commented that the department doesn't
like to put kids in handcuffs to haul them off to jail.
Number 1075
KATHY HANSEN, Juneau-Douglas Fish and Game Advisory Committee,
testified that the advisory committee completely supports HB 98.
She stated that especially in an area such as Juneau, where
things are getting more restrictive, it is increasingly
difficult to provide good opportunities for the younger kids to
fish. She noted that on one of the streams that kids go to,
there was a request for catch and release. She emphasized that
it is slowly becoming more difficult for families to go out and
have those fun fishing days because the need to regulate occurs
more and more. She stated that this bill would be a good tool
for the Board of Fisheries to use in the future in order to
combat some of that. Ms. Hansen concluded by saying that other
advisory committees, such as those in Wrangell and Ketchikan,
are supportive of this bill as well, even though they have not
taken an official action.
Number 1232
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON moved to report HB 98 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HB 98 was reported from the
House Special Committee on Fisheries.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Fisheries meeting was adjourned at 8:55
a.m.
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