Legislature(2013 - 2014)CAPITOL 120
03/28/2013 10:00 AM House FISHERIES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing|| Board of Fisheries | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES
March 28, 2013
10:06 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Paul Seaton, Chair
Representative Lynn Gattis
Representative Bob Herron
Representative Craig Johnson
Representative Kurt Olson
Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Eric Feige
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
Board of Fisheries
Reed Morisky - Fairbanks
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
REED MORISKY, Appointee
Alaska Board of Fisheries (BOF)
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Responded to questions as appointee to the
Alaska Board of Fisheries (BOF).
RICK GEASE, Executive Director
Kenai River Sportfishing Association
Kenai, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified with support for the appointee to
the BOF.
HEATH HILYARD, Executive Director
Southeast Alaska Guides Organization (SEAGO)
Sitka, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified with support for the appointee to
the BOF.
REUBEN HANKE
Kenai, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified with support for the appointee to
the BOF.
KARL JOHNSTONE, Chairman
Alaska Board of Fisheries (BOF)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified with support for the appointee to
the BOF.
ACTION NARRATIVE
10:06:31 AM
CHAIR PAUL SEATON called the House Special Committee on
Fisheries meeting to order at 10:06 a.m. Present at the call to
order Representatives Seaton, Herron, Olson, and Kreiss-Tomkins;
Representatives Gattis and Johnson arrived as the meeting was in
progress.
^Confirmation Hearing
^Board of Fisheries
Confirmation Hearing(s):
Board of Fisheries
10:06:47 AM
CHAIR SEATON announced that the only order of business would be
a confirmation hearing for the Board of Fisheries.
10:07:34 AM
REED MORISKY, Appointee, Board of Fisheries (BOF), said Alaska's
fisheries appear to be at an important crossroad; sustainable
but in need of attention. Difficult decisions may lay ahead for
the BOF, and he stated his interest in being a reasonable,
rational voice as part of the process. On request of the
committee chair, he provided a brief biography since his 1981
arrival in Alaska.
10:09:38 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON mentioned the pressing concern for
escapement of Chinook salmon to the river systems of Western
Alaska and asked if the candidate has any ideas for rectifying
the situation.
MR. MORISKY said, having visited Bethel, the knowledge and
effects are first hand to him.
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON implored that as a BOF member, he maintain
a critical eye on behalf of the people of the region for
correcting the loss of the Chinook salmon fishery.
10:12:43 AM
REPRESENTATIVE OLSON stressed that similar sentiments are shared
by constituents of the Upper and Lower Cook Inlet drainage
areas. A number of issues have been persisting with the Alaska
Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G) in this area, including
allocation and enumeration equipment. He appealed to the
appointee to keep an open mind to issues on a statewide basis.
10:13:32 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS noted that the appointee has a
brother who fishes commercially and asked if it is indicated in
the application paperwork.
MR. MORISKY said he declares the conflict at the beginning of
each BOF meeting, and it is stated on the first page of the
application form.
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS asked what the nominee's immediate
response would be to a critical topic brought before the BOF.
MR. MORISKY answered that his foremost concern would be for the
resource, with due respect for the user.
10:15:46 AM
CHAIR SEATON returned to the Chinook salmon issue and said he
attended the Arctic Yukon-Kuskokwim (AYK) Sustainable Salmon
Initiative meeting in December, 2012, where scientists
identified seven reasons for low Chinook returns, as well as
discussed the gap analysis. The theories posed were then field
tested for purposes of validation. The gap analysis,
conversely, has provided informational data without connection
to a theory/test. It is important to formulate critical
questions in order for science to be applied. He cautioned that
simply receiving information does not provide answers, and
suggested that the candidate scrutinize the Sustainable
Management Study, as a good resource for addressing the Chinook
issue. Additionally, he advised Mr. Morisky that the committee
has been considering the unintended Chinook bycatch mortalities,
and passed a resolution in that regard, as well as an additional
measure to protect Chinook by passing statute relating to the
use of barbless hooks, HB 110.
10:19:42 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON asked why the appointee is interested in
serving on the BOF, and stressed the pressures inherent to
sitting on the board.
MR. MORISKY said life circumstances allow him the time to devote
to the BOF and the issues are of interest and concern, and that
he is aware of the circumstances related to serving.
CHAIR SEATON opened public testimony.
10:21:43 AM
RICK GEASE, Executive Director, Kenai River Sportfishing
Association, said the nominee has all the skills necessary to be
a good board member.
10:22:40 AM
HEATH HILYARD, Executive Director, Southeast Alaska Guides
Organization (SEAGO), echoed the previous speaker's sentiments
and reported that Mr. Morisky has performed well under pressure
at recent meetings.
10:24:02 AM
REUBEN HANKE, stated support for the nominee and said the
candidate has already made an impressive board appearance. He
said new members are sometimes reluctant to mingle with the
public when contentious issues are on the agenda, but Mr.
Morisky has been approachable, thus far.
10:25:05 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON noted that the board members sometimes
remain seated, during a recess, due to unfair lobbying efforts
that can ensue at heated hearings.
10:25:58 AM
KARL JOHNSTONE, Chairman, Alaska Board of Fisheries (BOF),
stated support for the nominee and said the candidate has proven
his worth under fire at recent meetings. He is approachable,
aware of the issues, and ready to meet the serious challenges
that Alaska faces. If there was a model for board members, he
said, Mr. Morisky would be the poster child.
10:27:28 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON referred to the intense, at times over
zealous, lobbying that occurs at board hearings and asked if
boundaries could be established.
MR. JOHNSTONE responded that the public, transparent forum is
important for the board to maintain. As the chairman, it is his
duty to disseminate information in a timely manner, in order for
members to formulate appropriate responses. He said further
steps could be necessary but receiving advance copy is helpful.
10:28:36 AM
CHAIR SEATON voiced concern for reducing mortality of Chinook
salmon stocks and expressed interest in having the BOF
prioritize the issue. He mentioned the committee's efforts to
address bycatch.
CHAIR SEATON closed public testimony.
10:30:08 AM
CHAIR SEATON asked what fishery the appointee's brother
participates in.
MR. MORISKY responded that he is a power troller in the
Southeast Alaska fishery.
10:31:03 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON made a motion to advance the confirmation
of Reed Morisky to the Alaska Board of Fisheries, to the joint
session for consideration. There being no objection, the
confirmation was advanced.
CHAIR SEATON reminded members that signing the report regarding
appointment to the board in no way reflects individual members'
approval or disapproval of the appointee, and that the
nomination is merely forwarded to the full legislature for
confirmation or rejection.
10:31:49 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Fisheries meeting was adjourned at 10:32
a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Fisheries - Morisky #4.pdf |
HFSH 3/28/2013 10:00:00 AM |
Board of Fisheries Confirmation Hearing |
| Reed Morisky Board of Fish support letters.pdf |
HFSH 3/28/2013 10:00:00 AM |
Board of Fisheries Confirmation Hearing |