03/26/2013 10:00 AM House FISHERIES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB18 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 18 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES
March 26, 2013
10:09 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Paul Seaton, Chair
Representative Eric Feige
Representative Lynn Gattis
Representative Bob Herron
Representative Kurt Olson
Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Craig Johnson
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 18
"An Act providing priority to personal use fisheries when
fishing restrictions are implemented to achieve a management
goal."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 18
SHORT TITLE: PERSONAL USE FISHING PRIORITY
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) STOLTZE, HUGHES, KELLER
01/16/13 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/7/13
01/16/13 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/16/13 (H) FSH, RES
03/26/13 (H) FSH AT 10:00 AM CAPITOL 120
WITNESS REGISTER
BILL STOLTZE
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced HB 18, as prime sponsor.
CHARLIE SWANTON, Director
Division of Sport Fish
Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified with official neutrality on HB
18, and responded to questions.
ACTION NARRATIVE
10:09:56 AM
CHAIR PAUL SEATON called the House Special Committee on
Fisheries meeting to order at 10:09 a.m. Present at the call to
order were Representatives Seaton, Gattis, Kreiss-Tomkins,
Feige, Herron, and Olson.
HB 18-PERSONAL USE FISHING PRIORITY
10:10:56 AM
CHAIR SEATON announced that the only order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 18, "An Act providing priority to personal use
fisheries when fishing restrictions are implemented to achieve a
management goal."
10:11:54 AM
BILL STOLTZE, Alaska State Legislature, presented HB 18 stating
that the subject of this bill has been introduced over multiple
legislative sessions out of concern for the way in which some
fisheries are being managed and the need to prioritize Alaskan
resident fishing needs. The response by the Board of Fisheries
(BOF), when escapement goals are not being met in the Susitna
drainage area, is to lower the goals, which he opined is so non-
sensible "they might as well make it zero." It is an issue that
can wait no longer to be addressed despite perceptions that it
may be legislative intrusion into the BOF process. He said that
in a time of shortage Alaskan residents fishing for personal or
subsistence use should be given first priority. The system in
the Susitna region is broken, he stressed, which may not extend
to other areas. He suggested that management of the Susitna
area is based on a vestigial approach that was established prior
to the population growth and use patterns that have changed
dramatically. Allowing out of state fishermen a full catch
yield is not fair to frustrated Alaskan fishermen, he stressed,
and the BOF is indicating no expectation of changing the status
quo management. He warned that Alaskans are reaching a boiling
point, on this issue, and an initiative may be enacted by
residents due to the absence of governmental action; a last
resort and imperfect method. The bill is straightforward and
the intent is clear, though opposition is expected to come out
in force.
10:18:14 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON noted that the personal use fishery
includes finfish, shellfish, and aquatic plants, and asked if
the focus of the bill is primarily on finfish.
REPRESENTATIVE STOLTZE answered yes.
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON queried if the Alaska Department of Fish &
Game (ADF&G) and the BOF are biased in allowing priority use of
a fishery and possibly favoring commercial over personal use
activity.
REPRESENTATIVE STOLTZE answered it is, and said there is little
argument that ADF&G favors commercial fisheries; well over 90
percent in shared usage areas. Additionally, a Kenai based
commercial fisheries group has filed suit in Washington, D.C.,
to close the personal use fisheries, through implementation of
federal management, because they find it discriminates against
out-of-state fishermen. He cautioned that there are background
manipulations occurring, sponsored by interest groups that
minimize exposure in industrial reporting publications, hence
many people are not aware of the activities taking place.
10:21:52 AM
CHARLIE SWANTON, Director, Division of Sport Fish, Alaska
Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G), said that because the bill
has allocative overtones associated with it, the department
takes a neutral stance.
10:22:18 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON referred to an administrative code and the
regulation which states, "allows any commercial fisherman to
take unlimited amounts for personal use," and asked about the
genesis of that regulation.
MR. SWANTON agreed to provide the information.
10:23:09 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FEIGE asked what guides the department in
determining and to discriminate between personal and subsistence
use.
MR. SWANTON responded that there is a chapter in Administrative
Code 77 for how these two fisheries are discerned and agreed to
provide a white paper summary to the committee, on request of
Chairman Seaton.
10:36:52 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Fisheries meeting was adjourned at 10:36
a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 18 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HFSH 3/26/2013 10:00:00 AM HFSH 3/18/2014 10:00:00 AM |
HB 18 |
| HB0018A.pdf |
HFSH 3/26/2013 10:00:00 AM HFSH 3/18/2014 10:00:00 AM |
HB 18 |
| Regulations of the Board of Fisheries.pdf |
HFSH 3/26/2013 10:00:00 AM HFSH 3/18/2014 10:00:00 AM |
HB 18 |
| HB 18 support.pdf |
HFSH 3/26/2013 10:00:00 AM HFSH 3/18/2014 10:00:00 AM |
HB 18 |
| HB 18 opposition.pdf |
HFSH 3/26/2013 10:00:00 AM HFSH 3/18/2014 10:00:00 AM |
HB 18 |
| HB018-DFG-CO-03-22-13.pdf |
HFSH 3/26/2013 10:00:00 AM HFSH 3/18/2014 10:00:00 AM |
HB 18 |