Legislature(2021 - 2022)GRUENBERG 120
03/08/2022 10:00 AM House FISHERIES
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation: Coast Guard Fisheries Mission | |
| 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
March 8, 2022
10:08 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Geran Tarr, Chair
Representative Louise Stutes, Vice Chair
Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (via teleconference)
Representative Andi Story
Representative Dan Ortiz
Representative Sarah Vance
Representative Kevin McCabe
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION: COAST GUARD FISHERIES MISSION
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
JASON BRENNELL, Captain
United States Coast Guard
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented on the U.S. Coast Guard fisheries
mission.
BEN HINCHMAN, Lieutenant
United States Coast Guard
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the presentation
on the U.S. Coast Guard fisheries mission.
CONNER SULLIVAN, Commander
United States Coast Guard
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the presentation
on the U.S. Coast Guard fisheries mission.
ACTION NARRATIVE
10:08:56 AM
CHAIR GERAN TARR called the House Special Committee on Fisheries
meeting to order at 10:08 a.m. Representatives Stutes, Story,
Vance, McCabe, Tarr, and Kreiss-Tompkins (via teleconference)
were present at the call to order. Representative Ortiz arrived
as the meeting was in progress.
^PRESENTATION: Coast Guard Fisheries Mission
PRESENTATION: Coast Guard Fisheries Mission
10:09:41 AM
CHAIR TARR announced that the only order of business would be a
presentation on the Coast Guard fisheries mission.
10:10:59 AM
JASON BRENNELL, Captain, United States Coast Guard (USCG),
introduced himself and other subject-matter experts from the
USCG external affairs staff in Juneau: Lieutenant Ben Hinchman,
Commander Jesse Houck, Commander Lyle Kessler, and Commander
Conner Sullivan. He pointed out that the USCG portfolio
includes domestic fishery enforcement in association with the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). He
stated that NOAA covers federal fishery regulations and the
Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Act requirements. He
stated that counter Illegal Unreported Unregulated (IUU) fishing
is another portfolio item intended to combat foreign fishing
activity on the high seas of the North Pacific. He stated that
the USCG operation is called the North Pacific Guard. He listed
other missions, including the Ports, Waterways, Coastal Security
(PWCS) program. He also addressed national security and
national sovereignty issues. In order to maintain maritime
safety and security in shared spaces on the Bering Sea, he
pointed out that Alaska is the "touchpoint" for the USCG's
relationship with the Russian Border Guard in Kamchatka. He
discussed changes to the maritime boundary lines, and the
importance of developing a presence in the Chukchi Sea. He
pointed out USCG has responded concerning Russia's naval
exercises.
CAPTAIN BRENNELL discussed enforcement practices, explaining
that USCG is ordained to board vessels on the high seas for the
purpose of finding and reporting violations. He described a
2021 incident in which USCG was denied boarding opportunities by
the People's Republic of China. This was based on disputes over
appropriate protective gear associated with COVID-19. He
expressed the opinion that the boarding denial was suspected to
be a concealment of illegal behavior. He concluded that the
incident will be addressed by the U.S. delegation. In reference
to fast response cutters (FRCs), he stated that six FRCs will be
operating around Southeast Alaska and the Gulf of Alaska to
close some of the gaps associated with decommissions. He added
that there are three more FRCs on the way.
10:27:22 AM
CAPTAIN BRENNELL, in response to the committee's questions,
stated that in general, the USCG's responsibilities and duties,
in relation to fisheries management, have remained stable in
scope. He gave further context to the incident with the
Republic of China, explaining that registered signatories to
flag states should be authorized to conduct boardings. The USCG
is operating the Chukchi Sea more routinely to monitor maritime
boundary lines and fishing activity in the region. He explained
that the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) and Automatic
Identification System (AIS) capabilities across the world allow
the USCG to easily identify vessels and communicate with
international communities electronically.
10:40:44 AM
BEN HINCHMAN, Lieutenant, United States Coast Guard, in response
to committee questions regarding violations, reported that over
the past two years, the number of fisheries reporting had
decreased due to COVID-19; however, the rate of violations
detected on boardings had increased. Violations were processed
by the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement.
10:46:38 AM
CAPTAIN BRENNELL, in response to additional committee questions,
explained that the maritime boundary line delineates the Russian
exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and the U.S. EEZ. He explained
that search and rescue is the most important USGG mission and
the foundation of the organization's work in Alaska. He
estimated that annually, there are 600 cases throughout the
state. He maintained that the prevention aspect of search and
rescue is of the utmost importance. Regarding the Republic of
China boarding incident, opinions among the U.S., China, Japan,
and Russia differ on the extent of enforcement. Currently,
enforcement measures are administrative, while enforcement on
long-term sustainability is more difficult. He observed that
communication using the Alaskan Command (ALCOM) has improved
over the past 10 years.
11:14:48 AM
CONNER SULLIVAN, Commander, United States Coast Guard, named the
following acronyms: Regional Fisheries Management Organization
(RFMO), Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC),
North Pacific Fisheries Commission (NPFC), and North Pacific
Fisheries Management Council (NPFMC). He noted that both WCPFC
and NPFC were RMFOs. He stated that USCG had a seat at both
domestic and international council meetings.
CAPTAIN BRENNELL, in closing, discussed USCG's role in the
Alaska Marine Highway System and described a mass rescue
incident involving the Empress of the North, a vessel which ran
aground in Icy Strait. He maintained that education about
prevention and preparation in the case of a search and rescue
effort is critical and new infrastructure, including new FRCs
and facilities on state land, are in the works.
11:24:51 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Fisheries meeting was adjourned at 11:25
a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|