Legislature(2021 - 2022)GRUENBERG 120
04/12/2022 10:00 AM House FISHERIES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Fishermen's Fund Advisory and Appeals Council | |
| Presentation: Alaska Fisheries Science Center Panel | |
| Presentation: Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
LASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES
April 12, 2022
10:09 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Geran Tarr, Chair
Representative Louise Stutes, Vice Chair
Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins
Representative Andi Story
Representative Dan Ortiz
Representative Sarah Vance
Representative Kevin McCabe
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
Fishermen's Fund Advisory and Appeals Council
Clay Benzenek - Ketchikan
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
PRESENTATION: ALASKA FISHERIES SCIENCE CENTER PANEL
- HEARD
PRESENTATION: COMMERCIAL FISHERIES ENTRY COMMISSION
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
CLAY BENZENEK, Appointee
Fishermen's Fund Advisory and Appeals Council
Ketchikan, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Fishermen's
Fund Advisory and Appeals Council.
VELMA THOMAS, Fund Administrator
Fishermen's Fund Advisory and Appeals Council
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony during the
confirmation hearing for Fishermen's Fund Advisory and Appeals
Council.
TRACY WELCH, Executive Director
United Fishermen of Alaska
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the confirmation of
Clay Benzenek to the Fisherman's Fund Advisory and Appeals
Council.
JERRY MCCUNE, President
Cordova District Fishermen United
Cordova, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the confirmation of
Clay Benzenek to the Fisherman's Fund Advisory and Appeals
Council.
ROBERT FOY, PhD, Director
Alaska Fisheries Science Center
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Co-presented a PowerPoint, titled "Alaska
Fisheries Science Center Science Update," during the Alaska
Fisheries Science Center Panel presentation.
ELIZABETH SIDDON, PhD, Fisheries Research Biologist
Alaska Fisheries Science Center
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Co-presented a PowerPoint titled "Alaska
Fisheries Science Center Science Update" during the Alaska
Fisheries Science Center Panel presentation.
MARYSIA SZYMKOWIAK, PhD, Research Social Scientist
Alaska Fisheries Science Center
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Co-presented a PowerPoint, titled "Alaska
Fisheries Science Center Science Update," during the Alaska
Fisheries Science Center Panel presentation.
MELVIN SMITH, Commissioner
Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced the work of the commission.
JON HAGHAYEGHI, Executive Director
Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented a PowerPoint, titled "Commercial
Fisheries Entry Commission."
ACTION NARRATIVE
10:09:21 AM
CHAIR GERAN TARR called the House Special Committee on Fisheries
meeting to order at 10:09 a.m. Representatives Story, Vance,
McCabe, and Tarr were present at the call to order.
Representatives Ortiz, Stutes, and Kreiss-Tomkins arrived as the
meeting was in progress.
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
^Fishermen's Fund Advisory and Appeals Council
Fishermen's Fund Advisory and Appeals Council
10:10:05 AM
CHAIR TARR announced that the first order of business would be
Consideration of Governor's Appointees to the Fishermen's Fund
Advisory and Appeals Council.
10:10:49 AM
CLAY BENZENEK, Appointee, Fishermen's Fund Advisory and Appeals
Council, stated that he was first appointed to the council in
2007 by then Governor Sarah Palin. He said that the fund is
unique because it is entirely funded by fishermen paying into
it. He has worked to keep the fund in line with insurance
payments and added that this would be his final term on the
council if he were to be confirmed.
10:13:13 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked how many fishermen utilize the fund
and what challenges the council currently faces.
MR. BENZENEK answered several hundred, although the number of
claims is fewer than 500. He said that many fishermen have
private insurance and that the fund is a payer of "last resort."
He stated that the council is working to modernize and protect
the fund. Some of the challenges that face the council are
fishermen not being aware of the fund and how it works. He said
that the council sometimes visits fishermen that have been
injured in order to help them make claims and receive help from
the fund.
10:20:13 AM
CHAIR TARR asked Velma Thomas for her thoughts on the
appointment.
10:20:24 AM
VELMA THOMAS, Fund Administrator, Fishermen's Fund Advisory and
Appeals Council, stated that that she supports the
reconfirmation of Mr. Benzenek to the council due to his long
history serving.
10:21:08 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS asked what effect the regulation
change for boat owners' deductibles would have.
MR. BENZENEK answered that half of a deductible is currently
eligible for repayment, up to $10,000. He added that due to the
decrease in large claims made in recent years, the council feels
as though the fund is able to support payment of that full
amount up to $10,000. In response to a follow-up question, he
stated that insurance for boat owners comes in many different
forms, and the council emphasizes the importance of having
insurance. He added that the council has also worked directly
with the insurance industry to improve coverage.
10:27:58 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS asked what type of payments would
be covered by the $10,000 amount.
MR. BENZENEK answered that the fund would pay up to $5,000 for
boat captains, and that the $10,000 is for medical expenses. He
added that other expenses, such as damage from running aground,
are up to the insurance coverage an owner has on their boat.
10:30:07 AM
CHAIR TARR opened public testimony on the confirmation hearing
for the Fisherman's Fund Advisory and Appeals Council.
10:30:21 AM
TRACY WELCH, Executive Director, United Fishermen of Alaska,
stated that she was representing United Fishermen of Alaska
(UFA) in its support of the reconfirmation of Mr. Benzenek.
United Fishermen of Alaska is an organization that represents 37
commercial fishing organizations across the state. She said
that UFA supports Mr. Benzenek's long history of service to the
commercial fishing industry.
10:32:24 AM
JERRY MCCUNE, President, Cordova District Fishermen United,
testified in support of the confirmation of Clay Benzenek to the
Fisherman's Fund Advisory and Appeals Council. He stated that
he has worked with Mr. Benzenek in the past and said that he has
done a good job in ensuring that the fund will be around for
future generations of fishermen. He emphasized the importance
of the council as a whole to the commercial fishing industry.
10:34:03 AM
MS. THOMAS stated that Mr. Benzenek does a fantastic job at
ensuring that injured fishermen are taken care of by the fund.
She added that the council increased the time period for injury
treatment to 120 days to ensure that injured fishermen are not
left behind.
10:36:47 AM
CHAIR TARR closed public testimony after ascertaining nobody
else wished to testify.
10:37:16 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS stated that Mr. Benzenek is a
great example of statewide service.
10:37:35 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY stated that the House Special Committee on
Fisheries has reviewed the qualifications of the governor's
appointee and recommends that the following name be forwarded to
a joint session for consideration: Clay Benzenek, Appointee,
Fishermen's Fund Advisory and Appeals Council. She said that
signing the report regarding appointments to boards and
commissions in no way reflects an individual member's approval
or disapproval of the appointee, and the nomination is merely
forwarded to the full legislature for confirmation or rejection.
^PRESENTATION: Alaska Fisheries Science Center Panel
PRESENTATION: Alaska Fisheries Science Center Panel
10:38:32 AM
CHAIR TARR announced that the next order of business would be
the Alaska Fisheries Science Center Panel presentation.
10:39:53 AM
ROBERT FOY, PhD, Director, Alaska Fisheries Science Center,
began the presentation, titled "Alaska Fisheries Science Center
Science Update" [hard copy included in the committee packet], on
slide 2, and stated that the mission of the center is "to
provide science and services in support of productive and
sustainable fisheries, recovery and conservation of protected
resources, and healthy ecosystems in the marine waters of
Alaska." He said that the presentation would focus on climate
change and the effects it has on the community, and he added
that the success of the center relies on the federal government
working with state governments that make up these fisheries.
DR. FOY continued to slide 3 and said that the center is made up
of 314 federal employees and 131 contractors. The Alaska
Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) has facilities in Seattle,
Washington, Newport, Oregon, and the following locations in
Alaska: Juneau, Kodiak, Anchorage, Dutch Harbor, Baranof
Island, and St. Paul Island.
10:43:18 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS asked what proportion of employees
work in Seattle.
DR. FOY answered that he does not have the exact number, but the
majority are in Seattle. He added that the complexity of the
mission requires the center to have locations in the Lower 48.
In response to a follow-up question, he said that he is based in
Juneau and was previously based in Kodiak.
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS asked for elaboration on the
Little Port Walter facility on Baranof Island.
DR. FOY stated that AFSC continues to support the facility, and
more details would be provided later in the presentation.
10:46:40 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE asked how much usage the facility in
Kodiak is receiving.
DR. FOY answered that AFSC is in the Borough owned facility,
along with other tenants. In response to a follow-up comment,
he said that he agrees that the focus of fishery work should be
on Alaska.
10:49:03 AM
DR. FOY continued to slide 4 and stated that Alaska has an
economic exclusive zone (EEZ) of approximately 1.5 million
square nautical miles. Alaska has five different large marine
ecosystems, in which 60 percent of seafood in the United States
is caught. He said that Alaska's EEZ is responsible for $13.8
billion in economic output and has the top three fishing ports
in the U.S. in terms of volume. The seafood industry
contributes $73 million in taxes and fees to the state of Alaska
yearly. He added that the complexity and scope of AFSC's
mission is increasing due to climate related issues.
10:52:21 AM
DR. FOY moved to slides 5 and 6 and stated the need for a
balanced research portfolio. He gave examples of those research
areas, including climate modeling for fisheries, bycatch
reduction, marine mammal stock assessments, and fishery
monitoring. He stated that funding for research on salmon
bycatch and food habitats continues to be necessary. He added
that the needs of AFSC are increasing due to the increasing
complexity of its mission.
10:56:32 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS asked how the council processes
information on the economic effects that will occur for
communities that have an economic reliance on fisheries.
DR. FOY answered that socio-economic factors are considered by
the council, and more in-depth information on the subject would
be presented later.
10:59:27 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE asked how much research is done before
action is taken.
DR. FOY answered that a large amount of information on the
number and type of salmon being caught is available. He said
that although the precise economic effect of bycatch for every
community is not known, information on bycatch is being
communicated to the fishing industry. He added that that AFSC
is continuing research on the Yukon River to study the
survivability of fish before they return to the rivers to spawn.
The majority of the effect being had on King Salmon is due to
climate change and the process of catching salmon.
11:04:51 AM
DR. FOY continued to slides 7-10 and gave a brief overview of
ecosystem response to climate change in Alaska. He displayed a
chart with data showing that the surface of the sea in the Gulf
of Alaska and the Bering Sea has risen, which has in return
caused a change in the fisheries. He stated that from 1980
until 2020, the amount of sea ice in the Bering Sea has shown a
downward trend. He said that the increased ocean temperatures
have caused a sharp decrease in the number of Pacific cod in the
Gulf of Alaska.
11:08:05 AM
DR. FOY moved to slides 11 through 13 and stated that the
populations of snow crab and sockeye salmon have also been
affected by changes in ocean temperature. He showed a map with
temperatures being represented by different colors; he said that
2019 was much warmer than average. He added that as
temperatures stabilize, the hope is that fish populations will
begin to increase again, and there is some evidence showing that
this is occurring. He stated that although the number of
sockeye salmon being caught in the Gulf of Alaska has decreased,
the number of sockeye being caught in Bristol Bay has increased.
Some species, such as black cod, have shown increased growth
despite the increase in temperatures.
11:12:04 AM
ELIZABETH SIDDON, PhD, Fisheries Research Biologist, Alaska
Fisheries Science Center, as co-presenter of the PowerPoint,
continued to slides 14-17 and stated that ecosystem status
reports are used to manage federal fisheries in Alaska to ensure
their sustainability now and in the future. She said AFSC
produces a synthesis of ecosystem status by region, which is
reviewed in tandem with stock assessments through the annual
fisheries management process. On slide 16, she showed the
partner agencies that work with AFSC on creating the fishery
reports. AFSC's primary job is to take the information gathered
by the reports and create something that is usable by fishery
managers to make decisions regarding fishery management.
11:15:32 AM
DR. SIDDON continued to slides 18 and 19 and stated that extreme
environmental changes are challenging the ability of AFSC to use
its scientific data to manage Alaska's fisheries. From 2014
through 2016, a marine heatwave occurred in which the ocean
stayed warm, which caused a drop in Pacific cod biomass of 83
percent from 2013 through 2017. She said that there was not
enough food available for the cod, and the loss of such a
significant number of cod also resulted in population decline of
seabirds, whales, and sea lions.
11:19:04 AM
DR. SIDDON moved to slides 20-22 and stated that the 2017 stock
assessment of Pacific cod used an increased mortality parameter
to account for reduced prey and increased mortality. The
decision was made to reduce the quota of Pacific cod as a result
of the evidence supporting lower cod populations. She stated
that reduced temperatures in 2021 led to the regrowth of shrimp,
forage fish, copepods, and pink salmon, although some
populations are still recovering, and the Western and Central
Aleutian Islands experienced record high temperatures in 2021.
11:23:32 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS asked how AFSC is collecting
biological information on Arctic species.
DR. SIDDON answered that Dr. Foy would speak to it later in the
presentation. She said that she consistently works with those
who are in the Arctic to create the reports on its ecosystem.
11:25:15 AM
DR. SIDDON continued to slide 23 and stated that the Eastern
Bering Sea has seen persistent warm phases since 2014, with low
sea ice levels in the winters of 2017, 2018, and 2019. The
warmer temperatures have resulted in reduced snow crab
populations in the Northern Bering Sea and reduced Tanner and
Red King Crab populations in the Southern Bering Sea. He stated
that the Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim (AYK) region saw poor salmon
returns, and Bristol Bay saw very high salmon returns. The high
temperatures also resulted in seabirds having lower reproduction
rates and even dying off in the Northern Bering Sea and Bering
Strait.
11:28:28 AM
DR. SIDDON moved to slides 24 through 27 and showed various
graphs depicting the amount of sea ice in recent years compared
to the median since 1978. The overall extent of sea ice during
the winter of 2020 through 2021 was lower than the median, while
in 2021 through 2022 it was higher. She stated that the
thickness of the ice in the Bering Sea during March 2022 was
much greater than the median in some areas and much less in
others. He concluded his part of the presentation by
reiterating AFSC's role in fishery management and the challenges
it faces due to climate and environmental changes.
11:33:07 AM
MARYSIA SZYMKOWIAK, PhD, Research Social Scientist, Alaska
Fisheries Science Center, co-presented a PowerPoint, titled
"Alaska Fisheries Science Center Science Update," during the
Alaska Fisheries Science Center Panel presentation. She stated
that her research focuses on the social impacts of climate
change. She began on slides 28-30 and said that the Economic
and Social Sciences Research Program (ESSRP) provides social and
economic data that helps stewardship of fisheries with respect
to fishing communities. Climate change in coastal regions is
causing changes in subsistence practices, shipping, maritime
risks, and other aspects of life in fishing communities. She
showed a graph depicting fishery disaster declarations in the
Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea.
11:35:46 AM
DR. SZYMKOWIAK continued to slides 31-35 and stated that ESSRP
creates annual economic engagement and participation reports,
integrated ecosystem assessments (IEA), climate integrated
modeling projects, and other economic and social research. The
reports address how changing conditions will affect the
fisheries, how those changes will affect fishermen and fishing
communities, and how fishermen will adapt to the changing
conditions. She stated that the research includes interviews
with fishermen and discussions of ecosystem changes, responses
to those systems, and what is needed for adaptation.
11:37:28 AM
DR. SZYMKOWIAK moved to slides 34-37 and stated fishermen are on
the frontlines of climate change. It causes there to be fewer
fish, smaller fish, and reduced health of the stock. She said
that in addition to the economic impact, the mental health and
physical well-being of fishermen is put at higher risk.
Adaptation happens on a spectrum from maintaining the status quo
to transforming communities in a way that allows them to find a
place in their new surroundings. She stated that short-term
coping strategies can have a negative impact on long-term
resilience. She noted that there is a current absence of
adaptation planning and limited discourse about the effects of
climate change on fisheries.
11:42:05 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS asked for information regarding a
climate plan and who would promulgate the plan.
DR. SZYMKOWIAK answered that it comes from the communities
themselves and is implemented based on the efforts of the
community.
11:44:05 AM
DR. SZYMKOWIAK continued to slide 38 and stated that in order
for fishermen to build resilience, they need clear and
collaborative science, networks for climate discourse, workforce
development, consistency in regulations, expedited and flexible
policymaking, and funding for local resilience efforts.
11:46:21 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE asked what fishermen involvement in
resiliency looks like.
DR. SZYMKOWIAK answered that there is not enough discourse on
resiliency, and that increased discourse would lead to community
solutions.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE asked about the usage of sails to help
reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted in the fishing
process.
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS responded that there is ongoing
work on reducing emissions from fishing vessels.
11:50:00 AM
DR. SZYMKOWIAK concluded with slides 39-40 and reiterated that
climate change is altering the sociocultural and economic
relationship between Alaskans and marine ecosystems. Coping
should be avoided, as it impedes future progress on solutions
that will allow communities to become resilient.
^PRESENTATION: Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission
PRESENTATION: Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission
11:51:53 AM
CHAIR TARR announced that the final order of business would be
the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission presentation.
11:52:16 AM
MELVIN SMITH, Commissioner, Commercial Fisheries Entry
Commission, stated that the presentation would cover the
activities of the commission. He stated that it would include
the policy objectives and daily tasks of the commission.
11:54:20 AM
JON HAGHAYEGHI, Executive Director, Commercial Fisheries Entry
Commission, presented a PowerPoint, titled "Commercial Fisheries
Entry Commission," [hard copy included in committee packet]. He
began on slides 2 and 3 and gave an outline for the
presentation. He stated that in 1948, only 9 percent of traps
were owned by Alaskans. Canneries were largely controlled by
companies in the Lower 48, and production dropped to its lowest
level in 60 years following Alaska becoming a state. He said
that two laws were enacted in an effort to curb the problem but
were later repealed due to being unconstitutional.
11:57:07 AM
MR. HAGHAYEGHI skipped to slides 7 and 8 and gave a list of 2021
outcomes for the commission, including all pending applications
being completed, 16,161 commercial fishing licenses being
issued, and 8,290 vessel licenses being issued. He concluded
the presentation by stating that the commission continues to
work on research pertaining to economic reporting within the
fisheries.
12:02:05 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Fisheries meeting was adjourned at 12:02
p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| House Fisheries Committee - Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission Presentation 4.7.22.pdf |
HFSH 4/7/2022 10:00:00 AM HFSH 4/12/2022 10:00:00 AM HFSH 4/21/2022 10:00:00 AM |
CFEC |
| House Fisheries Committee - Alaska Fisheries Science Center Panel Presentation 4.12.22.pdf |
HFSH 4/12/2022 10:00:00 AM |
Alaska Fisheries Science Center |
| Clay Bezenek Resume_Redacted.pdf |
HFSH 4/12/2022 10:00:00 AM |
Fishermen's Fund |