Legislature(2009 - 2010)BARNES 124
02/12/2009 10:00 AM House FISHERIES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Overview(s): Department of Fish and Game | |
| Commercial Fisheries Division | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES
February 12, 2009
10:04 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Bryce Edgmon, Chair
Representative Craig Johnson
Representative Wes Keller
Representative Charisse Millett
Representative Cathy Engstrom Munoz
Representative Robert L. "Bob" Buch
Representative Scott Kawasaki
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
OVERVIEW(S): ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH & GAME; COMMERCIAL
FISHERIES DIVISION
- HEARD AND HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
DENBY LLOYD, Commissioner
Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided an overview of ADF&G.
JOHN HILSINGER, Director
Division of Commercial Fisheries
Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided an overview of the Division of
Commercial Fisheries.
ACTION NARRATIVE
10:04:08 AM
CHAIR BRYCE EDGMON called the House Special Committee on
Fisheries meeting to order at 10:04 a.m. Representatives
Edgmon, Munoz, Keller, Buch, and Kawasaki were present at the
call to order. Representatives Millet and Johnson arrived as
the meeting was in progress.
^OVERVIEW(S): DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
10:04:56 AM
CHAIR EDGMON announced that the only order of business would be
an overview of the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G) and
a specific overview of the Commercial Fisheries Division.
10:07:04 AM
DENBY LLOYD, Commissioner, Alaska Department of Fish & Game
(ADF&G), directed attention to the committee packet and the
handout entitled "Overview of the Alaska Department of Fish and
Game, February 12, 2009." He then noted that the members should
also have a statewide facilities map for the department, which
provides a good geographic description of the location of area
offices and fishery management programs. Commissioner Lloyd
then began his overview. He highlighted that the Alaska State
Constitution is unique in that it expressly describes the
state's ability to manage its natural resources on a sustained
yield basis. In fact, Article VIII of the constitution has a
number of key phrases, including the following:
The legislature shall provide for the utilization,
development, and conservation of all natural resources
belonging to the State, including land and waters, for
the maximum benefit of its people.
Fish, forests, wildlife, grasslands, and all other
replenishable resources belonging to the State shall
be utilized, developed, and maintained on the
sustained yield principle, subject to preferences
among beneficial uses.
COMMISSIONER LLOYD explained that the aforementioned has been
translated into various statutory and regulatory mandates as
well as the mission of the department. The mission of ADF&G is:
"To protect, maintain, and improve the fish, game, and aquatic
plant resources of the state, and manage their use and
development in the best interest of the economy and the well-
being of the people of the state, consistent with the sustained
yield principle." He highlighted that it refers to sustained
yield not maximum sustained yield. Therefore, constant
attention must be given to a base abundance while striving to
achieve ongoing yields. Commissioner Lloyd then reviewed the
goals of ADF&G, which include the following:
Optimize economic benefits from fish and wildlife
resources;
Optimize public participation in fish and wildlife
pursuits;
Increase public knowledge and confidence that wild
populations of fish and wildlife are responsibly
managed
COMMISSIONER LLOYD explained that the goals of the department
were used to structure the department around core services that
are common to all the operating divisions of ADF&G.
Fundamentally, ADF&G needs to be able to manage whatever harvest
in order to ensure that the biomass base isn't being accessed
and thus unduly impacting productivity. The department is also
responsible for assessing the stocks that are utilized. Again,
the department has a good understanding of potential
productivity, which is particularly important in situations when
ADF&G attempts to achieve a small degree of harvest.
10:11:47 AM
COMMISSIONER LLOYD pointed out that another core service of
ADF&G is customer service, through which wildlife users or any
interested party is provided information. The department is
also involved in public involvement, which is manifested through
a number of operations. Commissioner Lloyd then emphasized that
ADF&G is very concerned about maintaining state sovereignty. He
mentioned that there are a number of encroachments on state
sovereignty that occurred due to federal legislation such as the
Marine Mammal Protection Act. One of the most intense arenas in
which the question of sovereignty is being addressed is with the
Federal Subsistence Board due to the state being considered
noncompliant with regard to federal subsistence since the state
follows the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act
(ANILCA). He related that the department is striving to
maintain state sovereignty and work cooperatively with the
Federal Subsistence Board and its charge to provide federal
management of subsistence uses on federal public lands within
the state's boundaries. In support of the aforementioned core
services, ADF&G has incorporated responsibility for habitat
conservation. Habitat conservation correlates with the return
of the Habitat Division to ADF&G. He noted that within all the
fish and wildlife divisions, the department is concerned with
maintaining productive and effective habitat for fish and
wildlife resources. The last core service of the department is
to maintain a well-motivated, and rewarded workforce. The
aforementioned has become increasingly challenging over the past
years as there is a growing pay differential between state
employment and sister agencies in the federal government and
private employment. Therefore, ADF&G has dedicated itself to a
substantial effort internally to address various workforce
development issues. Commissioner Lloyd pointed out that page 2
of his overview, which provides more details with regard to the
ambitions within the core services.
10:14:45 AM
COMMISSIONER LLOYD directed attention to page 3 of his overview
and informed the committee that ADF&G is comprised of the
following six divisions: Commercial Fisheries, Sport Fish,
Wildlife Conservation, Subsistence, Habitat, and Administrative
Services. Additionally, ADF&G administers the activities of the
Alaska Boards of Fisheries and Game, the Commercial Fisheries
Entry Commission, and the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee
Council. In the commissioner's office, in addition to the
commissioner's position there are two deputies, an assistant
commissioner, and a number of special assistants. The
department's fiscal year (FY) 09 operating budget is $180
million from 16 funding sources. About $58 million of the total
was state general funds and the remainder consists of license
fees and federal budget contributions. The FY 10 operating
budget request, he related, is for $180 million of which $58
million is state general funds.
10:16:42 AM
COMMISSIONER LLOYD highlighted that ADF&G is involved with many
different agencies during the course of management of fish and
wildlife in Alaska as well as offshore Alaska. Central to some
of the negotiations are interactions with the North Pacific
Fishery Management Council (NPFMC). He noted that he has a seat
on NPFMC in order that the state can be on the look out for the
benefits to the state regarding federal decisions made for
fisheries between 3-200 miles outside of Alaska's waters. The
department has a seat, although in a non-voting seat, on the
Pacific Fishery Management Council, which covers waters off the
coast of Washington, Oregon, and California. The department
also deals internationally with the North Pacific Anadromous
Fish Commission and domestically with the Pacific States Marine
Fisheries Commission. Furthermore, ADF&G deals directly with
the University of Alaska-Fairbanks School of Fisheries and Ocean
Sciences Advisory Council and the Alaska Sea Grant Advisory
Council. Commissioner Lloyd noted that he is an ex officio
secretary, non-voting member, of the Boards of Fisheries and
Game. He reviewed the various other responsibilities of the
commissioner, including holding a non-voting seat on the Federal
Subsistence Board. The department provides much of the factual
information upon which the Federal Subsistence Board relies to
perform its duties.
10:18:55 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER inquired as to when the department
wouldn't manage resources for the maximum sustainable yield.
COMMISSIONER LLOYD explained that the constitution refers to
maximum benefit to the people and the sustained yield principle,
but not maximum sustained yield. Therefore, in many instances
one could argue that translates into an attempt to achieve
maximum sustained yield. Commissioner Lloyd pointed out that
the maximum benefit may not be maximum yield in the case of the
sport fishery in which there may not be interest in the most
pounds but rather in the best beneficial use.
10:21:02 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER opined that the aforementioned seems to be
managing for maximum yield.
COMMISSIONER LLOYD pointed out that maximum benefit doesn't
necessarily align itself with actual poundage or yield of fish.
10:21:30 AM
REPRESENTATIVE BUCH inquired as to how the state is represented
in the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC).
COMMISSIONER LLOYD specified that the commissioner of ADF&G has
a seat on all the relevant federal regional councils. He then
highlighted that there are 11 voting members of the NPFMC of
which 6 of the voting members are from Alaska. Therefore,
[Alaskan representatives] have the majority of votes.
REPRESENTATIVE BUCH requested a breakdown of the various
representation opportunities Alaska has with the entities
specified [on page 3 of the overview document].
CHAIR EDGMON noted that this is available on the NPFMC web site.
10:23:28 AM
REPRESENTATIVE BUCH clarified that he is interested in knowing
the state's involvement in all the organizations listed on page
3 of the overview document under the heading "Other Designated
Responsibilities for the Commissioner."
COMMISSIONER LLOYD offered to meet with Representative Buch.
10:24:03 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MUNOZ recalled that at the February 10, 2009,
meeting on the Southeast herring and sac roe fisheries a
scientist opined that ADF&G didn't have an accurate stock model
for herring and that perhaps it was due to underfunding or other
factors.
COMMISSIONER LLOYD, noting that he wasn't present at that
meeting, characterized the state's herring program as fairly
fundamental. He suggested that the herring program is probably
better in Southeast Alaska than in most other locations.
Commissioner Lloyd said that there is probably always room for
improvement. He then noted that the herring fishery isn't one
on which the department has focused in the last few years.
However, the exception is the Sitka Sac Roe fishery, which has
been maintained continuously for the last 15-20 years.
10:25:29 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MUNOZ further recalled from the February 10,
2009, hearing testimony that much of the anecdotal information
suggested that the herring stocks are disappearing from many
areas. There is concern that herring may be depleted, and
therefore she suggested the department should review herring
since it's the base of the food chain and upon which many
species depend.
COMMISSIONER LLOYD informed the committee that all of the
Southeast herring stocks are under review by the National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS). In the Southeast regional office
there is recognition that some stocks aren't as productive or
abundant as they once were. However, the department believes
that Southeast herring, as a whole, "is in healthy shape."
10:27:22 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON related he has heard from several people
that the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sampling gathered by ADF&G
is flawed and can't be trusted as an accurate measure as to
where the fish are living. He then asked if the Upper Cook
Inlet DNA sampling is of value.
COMMISSIONER LLOYD related his belief that the DNA sampling
program is good. In fact, it has been proven over time to
provide increasing ability to discern stocks at a finer level
over the last 10-15 years. He explained that in the mid 1990s
the department used electrophoresis, the process of separating
proteins as an indication of genetic stock structure, which
provided a basic level of information. The newer information is
based on single-nuclei-tide polymorphisms (SNPs), which provide
a much finer look at the stock structure in the mixed stock
fisheries in the inlet. Perhaps the criticism is that even with
increased discernment, every question can't be answered.
Commissioner Lloyd opined that ADF&G's program has developed a
strong ability to determine, in general, the stock movements
through the inlet. He conceded that the department's ability to
characterize in real time, on a daily or weekly basis, hasn't
been achieved. However, he pointed out that the department has
never suggested the aforementioned.
10:30:00 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON asked if, through DNA testing, it's
possible to ascertain from what stream a fish originated, within
90 percent accuracy.
COMMISSIONER LLOYD answered that in some cases it's possible.
The classification tests used often use a 90 percent
verification as a threshold against which the information is
considered reliable or not. However, he clarified that he
didn't know the details of the study to claim that in all cases
each base line spawning stock is discernable at 90 percent.
10:31:12 AM
COMMISSIONER LLOYD, in response to Chair Edgmon, explained that
the Board of Fisheries (BOF) meets on a three-year rotation.
Therefore, every area of the state is scheduled to host a BOF
meeting on a three-year rotation. The geographic location of
meetings is determined by the BOF by vote and the schedule is
usually laid out a year or so in advance. There is the desire
to have meetings in the areas the fisheries are conducted while
being tempered with travel and meeting logistics as well as the
composition of the fleets participating in the fisheries.
Commissioner Lloyd acknowledged the strong concern of those in
the Bristol Bay region who want to have the next Bristol Bay
meeting in the region. He related that the last [Bristol Bay]
BOF meeting was held in Dillingham. However, because of some
logistical constraints and the desire to make the board meeting
more accessible to those who fish in Bristol Bay but live in
other regions of the state, of which there are a high
percentage, a meeting in a central location was determined to be
appropriate. Commissioner Lloyd related his sense that the BOF
should meet in the region of the fisheries, although he said he
hasn't become resolute about that because there are a broad
suite of interested fishermen. He related his understanding
that the BOF is considering requests regarding the location of
the Bristol Bay BOF meeting.
10:36:05 AM
CHAIR EDGMON noted his observation that a useful byproduct of
the 90-day legislative session is that it appears committees are
traveling to remote areas of the state and holding meetings. He
opined that the benefits of such are immeasurable. He announced
that he is going to encourage the BOF to meet in outlying areas,
including the upcoming December Bristol Bay meeting.
^COMMERCIAL FISHERIES DIVISION
10:38:02 AM
JOHN HILSINGER, Director, Division of Commercial Fisheries,
Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G), began his overview,
entitled "Overview of the Division of Commercial Fisheries," by
highlighting the mission statement of the Division of Commercial
Fisheries, which is to:
Manage, protect, rehabilitate, enhance, and develop
the fisheries and aquatic plant resources in the
interest of the economy and general well being of the
state, consistent with the sustained yield principle
and subject to allocations established through public
regulatory processes.
MR. HILSINGER then turned to the responsibilities of the
division, of which first and foremost is to manage the
commercial personal use and subsistence fisheries within state
waters. The aforementioned represents a wide variety of salmon,
herring, shellfish, and groundfish fisheries that occur within
state waters. The division also manages many of the shellfish
and groundfish species in federal waters, such as the Bering Sea
King, Tanner, and Snow Crab fisheries as well as scallops. He
noted that the division manages some rock fish species out to
200 miles. The division manages the aforementioned species in
federal waters because the federal government recognized that
the state had a better developed program and better capabilities
to manage those species, even in federal waters. The division,
he related, conducts a lot of applied research and plans and
permits the fish and shellfish hatcheries and aquatic farms.
The division deals with the negotiations of fishing agreements
with Canada through the Pacific Salmon Treaty and the Alaska-
Yukon Treaty. He noted that the division coordinates
extensively with the federal agencies, including NMFS, the
Federal Subsistence Board, and the International Pacific Halibut
Commission (IPHC). Mr. Hilsinger highlighted that the division
manages a wide variety of fisheries from the salmon fisheries in
the Kuskokwim Bay, which are characterized by small open skiffs,
to the Bering Sea crab fisheries, which are characterized by
large modern vessels fishing far offshore. He informed the
committee that the exvessel value of Alaska's commercial
fisheries amounts to about $1.6 billion, of which 50 percent is
from groundfish, 25 percent is from salmon, 14 percent is from
shellfish and halibut each, and herring amounts to about 1
percent of the total exvessel value. The chart entitled
"Exvessel Value of Alaska's Commercial Fisheries" illustrates
that the exvessel value has been increasing over the last six to
seven years. There has been an increase in the value of salmon.
MR. HILSINGER then turned the committee's attention to the slide
entitled "Economic Impact of Seafood Industry on Alaska's
Economy in 2007." A recent economic study of the commercial
fishery found that the commercial fishery generates about 78,000
jobs in the seafood harvesting, processing, and support
industries. Alaskans hold approximately 49,000 of these jobs.
The seafood industry generated about $774 million in direct
payments to labor of which $237 million went to Alaska
residents.
10:42:45 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON recalled an overview by the Department of
Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) when it was reported
that there were a large amount of jobs at the airport. He
further recalled asking at that overview whether individuals who
fly fish are counted as an airport job or a fisheries job. The
answer was that such a job would probably be counted as both an
airport and a fisheries job. Therefore, he asked what is the
real number of [fisheries] jobs [held by Alaskans].
MR. HILSINGER said that he didn't know the direct answer, but
noted that he had a copy of the study Northern Economics
performed that he offered to provide to the committee. He
commented that he is trying to indicate, in general, the
importance of the fishery as it's an indication of how seriously
the division takes its responsibility to manage the industry.
10:44:11 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON expressed the need for accuracy with the
job count and the funds being expended in an industry.
MR. HILSINGER restated that he would be happy to make the report
available to the committee for its scrutiny. He noted that
Gunnar Knapp [with the Institute of Social and Economic
Research] recently provided a fairly thorough analysis of both
the sport fishing study and the commercial fishing value study
to the Cook Inlet Task Force, which he said he found helpful in
understanding the comparisons between the two industries.
10:46:27 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER asked if the exvessel poundage is
available to compare the market with different categories of the
fishing industry.
MR. HILSINGER offered to provide that information to the
committee.
10:47:11 AM
MR. HILSINGER returned to his overview presentation, and related
that the Northern Economics study illustrates a large economic
impact from commercial fishing, which is an indication of the
importance the division places on trying to provide the best
management program possible. The commercial fishery is one of
the largest contributors to the state behind the oil and gas
industry. Mr. Hilsinger then turned attention to the slide
entitled "Division of Commercial Fisheries Core Services." The
core services of the division include stock assessment and
applied research, harvest management, laboratory services,
aquaculture permitting, data processing, and information
services and public participation. In the stock assessment and
applied research arena, the division performs a large number of
projects, many of which are related to salmon escapement
enumeration. He noted that the division runs fish counting
weirs, towers, sonar projects, foot, and aerial surveys. In
many cases, the division develops estimates of juvenile salmon
production. Furthermore, the division conducts shellfish and
ground fish surveys. In almost all coastal areas of the state
the division performs herring spawn deposition surveys and hydro
acoustic surveys as well as aerial surveys for herring and dive
surveys for a variety of species. The division also does a
large amount of biological samplings for the biological
characteristics of age, sex, and length of the catch. Mr.
Hilsinger highlighted that the division has a tremendous
genetics program, possibly the largest fisheries genetic
laboratory in the world. He noted that the division utilizes a
large coded-wire tag sampling program and an otolith sampling
program.
10:49:52 AM
REPRESENTATIVE BUCH inquired as to the location of the fisheries
genetic laboratory.
MR. HILSINGER related that the gene observation laboratory is
located in Anchorage. That laboratory has the capability to
process between 50-70,000 genetic samples a year. He recalled
that the division was involved in a large project in Western
Alaska in which chum and sockeye salmon were sampled from all
the commercial and subsistence fisheries beginning at Chignik
and moving up the Alaska Peninsula to Norton Sound. The project
collected 220,000 genetic samples. A normal genetics laboratory
processes 5,000-10,000 samples per year, while Alaska's
laboratory processes 15-30 times that number.
10:51:51 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI related his observation that the Yukon
River king return is anticipated to be the lowest in decades.
With all of the science available today, it seems odd that there
aren't conclusive findings. Therefore, he questioned whether
Mr. Hilsinger believes enough money is being provided for
scientific analysis.
10:52:57 AM
MR. HILSINGER responded that the Yukon king is a significant
issue as it's an area with the greatest economic need of the
state. He recalled being the regional supervisor for the Alaska
Yukon-Kuskokwim region in the early 1990s when the program was
rudimentary. That program has improved dramatically, he opined.
In fact, there's now sonar at Pilot Station that provides a good
indication of what's entering the river. Furthermore, there's
an advanced program at Eagle that provides an accurate
indication of the number of fish going across the border into
Canada. The aforementioned has resulted in the knowledge that
twice as many king salmon are crossing the boarder into Canada
than previously thought. Therefore, the division has been able
to rethink the escapement goals in Canada. The information
relates that the Canadian king salmon are producing at very low
levels, about one return per spawner whereas normally the salmon
would produce three to four returns per spawner. Although the
[division] doesn't have the ability to know precisely why
production is so poor, there is the ability to forecast the
return. The aforementioned allows management plans to be made
and problems anticipated. In fact, there is an increment, which
used to be funded by the federal government, that will provide
additional funds to replace those projects formerly funded by
the federal government. Mr. Hilsinger opined that there are
programs that the division would like to have occur on the Yukon
and the state would like to take steps to ensure those are
funded.
10:56:16 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI remarked that he will definitely keep an
eye on the Yukon area increment. In response to earlier
comments by Mr. Hilsinger's testimony, [the Yukon king salmon
run] is not only an economic issue but also a sustenance issue
for many.
10:56:36 AM
CHAIR EDGMON pointed out the villages of Emmonak and Kotlik are
concerned with the ability to harvest. He then sought comment
from Mr. Hilsinger regarding any efforts of the department to
manage the fishery differently in light of the governor's
interest in getting relief to the Lower Yukon.
10:57:27 AM
MR. HILSINGER said that the staff and department have been
involved in a number of efforts to improve the management of the
subsistence fishery. He opined that the [Yukon River fishery]
is difficult to manage. The Yukon River, from the mouth to the
head waters, is about 2,000 miles, and it takes a fish eight
weeks or more to swim that distance. If fishery restrictions
are implemented in order to meet spawning escapement goals,
there can be a variety of outcomes for river communities. He
explained that fish travel up the [Yukon River] in pulses.
Therefore, if the pulse occurs when the fishery is open, the
village may harvest all the fish it needs. However, if the
pulse occurs when the fishery is closed, they may not be able to
harvest what it needs. Furthermore, later pulses may not have
as many fish. The aforementioned is why staff is meeting with
communities along the river in order to obtain input from the
users regarding how best to implement any necessary
restrictions. Staff has also been meeting with some of the
people involved in the commercial fisheries [on the Lower Yukon
River]. The question is how to allow harvest of the summer
chums while protecting the chinook. There have been discussions
regarding potential test fisheries located outside the mouth of
the river as it may provide more advanced warning of when the
fish are running. The division is trying to meet with residents
of the communities in order to develop a management plan that
allows everyone to make the most of the resource.
11:01:00 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MUNOZ requested comment on the department's role
in restoring herring stocks. She then inquired as to whether
enough is being done to restore herring stocks.
MR. HILSINGER echoed Commissioner Lloyd's comment that the
herring program in Southeast Alaska is probably the best in the
state. Not only are aerial surveys performed, which is
typically the only stock assessment tool, in Southeast Alaska
but there are also test fisheries, spawn deposition dive
surveys. Last year, in Sitka some of the greatest spawn density
was found. He noted that extensive catch sampling is also
performed in Southeast Alaska, such that there is information
regarding the size, age, and sex ratio. The aforementioned
information is input into two different models to indicate the
abundance of herring. The predictions of those models are
substantiated through aerial surveys, which he touted as
excellent. With regard to whether the aforementioned is enough,
Mr. Hilsinger opined that's a good question. He then pointed
out that the herring budget has eroded over the years and
although there are some missing aspects that the department
would like to have in place to improve the herring management,
growth of the stocks have been observed year-to-year. Mr.
Hilsinger said he didn't see a cause for concern since the
herring population is growing. However, he acknowledged that
the future impact of things such as climate change or increases
in hump back whales can't be assessed. He offered that herring
stocks may not be rebounding in some areas due to increased
predation by hump back whales.
11:05:41 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MUNOZ asked if Mr. Hilsinger believes there could
be a correlation between fewer herring and fewer salmon.
MR. HILSINGER said that although certain salmon species feed on
herring, there doesn't seem to be a direct correlation between
the fluctuations of herring stocks.
11:06:52 AM
CHAIR EDGMON recalled hearing testimony at a prior meeting that
the Pacific herring is a bell weather species, which measures
the overall health of the ecosystem in the Southeast fisheries.
He further recalled testimony that there is a downward trend of
the stocks as a whole. Testimony related that the department
wasn't responsive in terms of looking at the fishery in a more
holistic manner, such that more global events like climate
change and increased predator presence are taken into
consideration. The charge, he recalled, was that perhaps the
department needs to update or modify its models.
MR. HILSINGER said that the department is open to working with
other scientists, but there has not been an opportunity for
ADF&G to review the data that was presented to the committee on
February 10, 2009, and review how those models relate to the
department's model. He noted that one of the professors at the
University of Alaska has been enlisted to help improve the
model. He related his understanding that there have been
improvements to the department's model.
11:09:26 AM
REPRESENTATIVE BUCH inquired as to how much of the 2,000 miles
of the Yukon River is managed by ADF&G.
MR. HILSINGER specified that the Yukon River runs about 1,200
miles to the Canadian border and there's an additional 800 miles
of river in Canada. Those 800 miles of river in Canada are
managed by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in Canada. As
part of the Pacific Salmon Treaty there is a Yukon Agreement.
There is a Yukon River Panel and a Yukon River Joint Technical
Committee, both of which are comprised of U.S. and Canadian
people. The aforementioned entities meet twice annually and the
panel makes many of the decisions regarding the management of
the fishery, such as the number of fish allowed across the
border into Canada.
11:10:40 AM
MR. HILSINGER, continuing his overview, informed the committee
that there are a number of other stock assessment surveys,
including the extensive dive surveys and shellfish and
groundfish surveys. In terms of harvest management, the
division spends much of its resources assisting the Board of
Fisheries in establishing regulations and management plans.
Area staff spread across the state open and close fisheries,
monitor stocks, collect biological data, and report on that
information. He then noted that the pathology laboratory is
responsible for reviewing and approving transfers of fish and
shellfish. In fact, the pathology laboratory has disease
samples from a great array of areas around the state.
Therefore, those who want to transport fish or shellfish have to
be permitted and reviewed by the pathologist to ensure there are
no disease concerns. The coded-wire tag and otolith aging
laboratory is extremely important with regard to the management
of hatchery stocks. The hatcheries mark their fish such that
the division can identify those fish in commercial fisheries,
and therefore the division can determine what portion of the
commercial catch is bound for which hatchery. As mentioned
earlier, the genetic stock identification laboratory is one of
the largest and is such a valuable tool that every fishery in
the state is requesting more genetic stock identification
information. He pointed out that the in-season information can
provide the manager more timely information with regard to how
the stocks move through. Although the genetic stock
identification laboratory is large, it remains limited in regard
to its capacity to perform work in-season. He noted that in-
season work is performed on the Yukon River chinook run in order
to identify the portion of Canadian fish as the run goes through
in an attempt to reduce the harvest rate on those Canadian fish.
MR. HILSINGER then turned to aquaculture permitting, and
informed the committee that the division permits the private
nonprofit salmon hatcheries, the Aquatic Shellfish Hatchery in
Seward, and all aquatic shellfish farms.
11:14:54 AM
MR. HILSINGER moved on to the slide entitled "Data Processing."
He specified that each commercial landing is required to provide
a harvest report. The electronic catch reporting system, e-
Landing, allows processors to enter data electronically.
Currently, e-Landing is used for groundfish and crab and it's
being expanded to include salmon. Salmon is a challenge because
the fish are delivered to relatively small tenders. The
overwhelming response from the processors has been positive as
they seem to love the [e-Landing] system, in general. The e-
Landing system allows companies to report to the division on an
almost instantaneous basis while allowing the companies to
download that information into their own accounting system. The
aforementioned eliminates the double-entry of data. Mr.
Hilsinger noted that the division has worked toward obtaining
Internet-accessible catch and catch reporting and developing a
database. For example, the Mariner Database in Bristol Bay is
from which one receives the daily run updates on-line.
11:17:02 AM
MR. HILSINGER, referring to the slide entitled "Information
Services and Public Information," highlighted that the division
designs and maintains the division's web site, publishes a large
number of brochures and reports. In fact, the division's web
site and the report database have over 3,000 scientific reports
that are accessible.
11:17:58 AM
MR. HILSINGER pointed out that the division is divided into the
following four regions: Southeast, Central, Arctic Yukon-
Kuskokwim, and Westward, plus headquarters. He explained that
the Central Fisheries Management Region includes Prince William
Sound, Cook Inlet, and Bristol Bay. The Westward Fisheries
Management Region includes Kodiak, Chignik, the Alaska
Peninsula, and the Bering Sea. The Arctic Yukon-Kuskokwim
Fisheries Management Region accounts for the northern two-thirds
of the state. He then related that the division has 310
permanent full-time staff, 472 seasonal staff who are primarily
engaged in biological sampling, fish counting, and surveys. The
division has 20 permitted offices, and 84 seasonal offices and
field camps. The division's presence, he opined, probably
supersedes that of any other state agency. The division
operates six large research vessels, of which two are in
Southeast, two in the Central region, and two in Kodiak that
work in the Westward region.
11:19:18 AM
MR. HILSINGER, referring to the slide entitled "Missions and
Measures," reviewed the following four targets of the division:
1. Exvessel value of commercial harvests and
mariculture production above $1 billion
2. Reproductive goals achieved for more than 80
percent of monitored stocks
3. Develop genetic baselines for Alaskan Chinook,
chum, and sockeye stocks that will include 100
stocks in each baseline
4. All aquatic farms operating with current permits
MR. HILSINGER, referring to the graph entitled "Exvessel Value
of Commercial Harvests and Mariculture Production in Alaska,"
reported that in recent years the exvessel value has been well
above $1 billion and has [progressively] increased. He then
turned attention to the graph entitled "Reproduction Goals
Achieved," which illustrates that currently the reproductive
goals are achieved for more than 90 percent of [monitored]
stocks. The graph entitled "Development of Genetic Baselines
for Alaska Salmon Stocks," illustrates that the baseline goal of
100 stocks for Alaska chinook, chum, and sockeye each has been
met. In fact, chinook has 110 stocks. There are well over 80
stocks for chum salmon and about 90 stocks for sockeye. The
aforementioned is an area that the division targets by sending
crews out to expand the baseline because the quality of genetic
analysis is directly related to the quality of the baseline
data. With regard to the goal of having all aquatic farms
operating with current permits, Mr. Hilsinger pointed out that's
now at 100 percent.
11:21:53 AM
MR. HILSINGER informed the committee that the total FY 10 budget
request for the division is $60,488.8, which is similar to the
FY 09 request for $60,269.9. The total FY 10 budget request
amounts to $36 million in general funds, $8.7 million in federal
funds, and the remaining $15.8 million is from a variety of
sources. He highlighted two increment requests in the FY 10
budget request. One of the increments is the Yukon River
Subsistence for $80,000, which includes a Nenana test wheel
video monitoring system. He explained that use of the video
camera means that an individual doesn't have to monitor the
wheel 24 hours a day in order to count fish. This system, he
opined, is a fairly effective means of counting fish without
spending a lot of money. The Yukon River Subsistence increment
also includes the fall chum salmon drift test fishery, which was
an ongoing project for many years and was cut by the Office of
Subsistence Management. He related that the fall chum salmon
fishery is difficult to manage because the fish come in short
pulses and between those pulses there's very little entry.
Therefore, the timing for the fishery and the ability to assess
abundance is related to the ability to determine those pulses,
with which the drift test fishery will help. The other
increment is the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands Crab Research,
which was funded by NMFS. The funding for that research was cut
last year and the legislature provided a one-time increment of
$1 million to cover that research during FY 09. The division
would like to continue that research, which includes king crab
pot surveys, snow/tanner crab biology, and observer data entry.
He explained that under the new over-fishing limits in the
federal program, all mortality is considered in the over-fishing
limit. Therefore, if a crab boat catches undersized or female
crab and releases them, a certain mortality factor is assigned
to that catch and counts as part of the overall mortality. The
higher the incidental mortality is the lower the amount people
are allowed to catch, and therefore it's important to have
accurate mortality estimates which this project provides as well
as growth information used for setting guideline harvest levels.
With regard to the observer data entry, Mr. Hilsinger explained
that the crab boats in the Bering Sea are required to carry and
pay for observers who collect much important biological
information. This project pays for the entry of that data into
the database. Therefore, without the funding for this project
there would be no way to enter the data into the database and
utilize it in the management of the fishery.
11:27:08 AM
MR. HILSINGER reviewed the major issues facing the division,
including recruitment and retention of staff. Some of the
recent recruitments, even for the higher level positions,
haven't had a sufficient hiring pool from which to choose.
Another major issue is declining federal funds, which the
legislature addressed last year when it appropriated a $5
million increment to replace federal funds that were cut. Those
funds were for Bering Sea crab research and near-shore research.
Funding instability creates staff and morale problems. Mr.
Hilsinger pointed out that the division is involved with
renegotiation of the Pacific Salmon Treaty, Federal Subsistence
Management, Gulf of Alaska Groundfish rationalization, and
federal extraterritorial jurisdiction, which was faced with the
Sitka herring stock. He highlighted the issues of Marine
Stewardship Council Re-certification and Cook Inlet salmon
management. The geoduck aquatic farm industry is an industry in
which the division has tried to work with the farmers to develop
better regulations. The last major issue he highlighted was the
need to develop a better safety program for the 475 people in
field camps, who often fly in small aircraft, have close
encounters with bear and other wildlife, and use equipment
including firearms, boats, and scuba gear.
11:30:51 AM
CHAIR EDGMON thanked Commissioner Lloyd and Mr. Hilsinger for
their presentations.
11:31:26 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Fisheries meeting was adjourned at
11.31 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| CommercialFisheriesOverview.PDF |
HFSH 2/12/2009 10:00:00 AM |
|
| Commissioner'sOfficeOverview.PDF |
HFSH 2/12/2009 10:00:00 AM |