Legislature(2023 - 2024)GRUENBERG 120
01/31/2023 10:00 AM House FISHERIES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation(s): Yukon Kuskokwim Fisheries Collapse Update | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES
January 31, 2023
10:00 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Sarah Vance, Chair
Representative Kevin McCabe
Representative CJ McCormick
Representative Ben Carpenter
Representative Louise Stutes
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT
Representative Mike Cronk
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION(S): YUKON KUSKOKWIM FISHERIES COLLAPSE UPDATE
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
DOUG VINCENT-LANG, Commissioner
Department of Fish and Game
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave a PowerPoint presentation, titled
"State of Artic Yukon and Kuskokwim (AYK) Fisheries."
ACTION NARRATIVE
10:00:12 AM
CHAIR SARAH VANCE called the House Special Committee on
Fisheries meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. Representatives
Carpenter, Stutes, and Vance were present at the call to order.
Representatives McCabe and McCormick arrived as the meeting was
in progress.
^PRESENTATION(S): YUKON KUSKOKWIM FISHERIES COLLAPSE UPDATE
PRESENTATION(S): YUKON KUSKOKWIM FISHERIES COLLAPSE UPDATE
10:02:04 AM
CHAIR VANCE announced that the only order of business would be a
presentation on the Yukon and Kuskokwim fisheries.
10:02:17 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 10:02 a.m. to 10:09 a.m.
10:09:02 AM
DOUG VINCENT-LANG, Commissioner, Alaska Department of Fish and
Game (ADF&G), gave a PowerPoint presentation, titled "State of
Artic Yukon and Kuskokwim (AYK) Fisheries" [hard copy included
in the committee packet]. He started on slide 2, which showed a
map of the salmon management areas in the state. He explained
that there are also treaty obligations when salmon spawn in both
the U.S. and Canada.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG continued to slide 3 showing a bar
graph of the Yukon River's total king salmon run. The graph
showed that the size of salmon runs fluctuate, and he pointed
out that in the last several years there has been a decline in
king salmon production statewide. He mentioned the restrictions
that have been put in place. He stated that under the Pacific
Salmon Treaty, there is an obligation to allow up to 55,000 fish
to pass into Canada, and he commented that this obligation has
not been met in recent years, as seen on the graph.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG continued to slide 4 and pointed out
that the Yukon River king salmon harvest has failed to meet the
amount necessary for subsistence. He added that the amount has
only been met twice over the past 15 years. He stated that the
treaty is taking precedence over subsistence. He moved to slide
5 and addressed the Yukon River summer chum salmon total run.
He pointed out that this graph only shows fish that spawned
entirely in U.S. waters. He pointed out that there has been
very poor escapement even though it was expected to be average.
10:15:19 AM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG showed slide 6, titled "Yukon River
Summer Chum Salmon Harvest by Type." He explained that ADF&G
has been meeting amounts necessary for subsistence (ANS), but
from 2020 to 2022, there was severely restricted commercial and
subsistence fishing, and from 2021 to 2022, there was no
commercial fishing. He moved to slide 7 and pointed out the
failed escapement goals from 2020 through 2022. He noted that
2022 had shown improvements and a slight rebuilding. He moved
to slide 8 and discussed the Yukon River chum salmon subsistence
and personal use harvests, which also failed escapement goals
from 2020 to 2022. He pointed out a chart on slide 9 and
discussed the Kuskokwim River king salmon escapement from 1990
to 2022.
10:17:57 AM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG continued to a graph on slide 10,
which showed the current ANS range on the Kuskokwim River. He
stated that although escapement goals are being met, ADF&G is
not meeting ANS ranges. He noted that the jurisdictional issues
in the Lower Kuskokwim River have contributed to this outcome.
He displayed slide 11 and stated that the chum salmon situation
for the Kuskokwim River is like the situation in the Yukon
River, as it was way below average in terms of returns and for
ANS in 2020 through 2022. He highlighted the graphs on slide
12, which showed a reduced production rate from 2018 forward.
He moved to slide 13, titled "Kuskokwim River Sockeye Salmon."
He pointed out that this is a "bright spot," as sockeye salmon
have performed well across coastal Western Alaska. He moved to
the summary on slide 14, which shows reduced productivity,
results of reduction, and increased productivity. He stressed
the impact on local communities, cultural practices, and
economy. He paused for questions from committee members.
10:22:29 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE asked why the federal government has
control over the king salmon on the Lower Kuskokwim River.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG answered that last spring the federal
government sued ADF&G and the State of Alaska, claiming that the
state's management was interfering with the management of the
Federal Subsistence Board. A federal judge in Alaska has
restrained ADF&G from issuing emergency orders in the Lower
Kuskokwim River until the case is heard. In response to a
follow-up question, he expressed the expectation that the
injunction would be put in place this year. He added that the
Kuskokwim River is a navigable waterway owned by the state;
however, it is adjacent to or near abutting federal land.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE asked if the "404 primacy" that the state
is working on would be helpful for a resolution.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG expressed the belief that the state is
vested in the statehood compact, and as a result, it is the
state's authority to manage fish and game resources, not the
federal government's authority. He said ADF&G would fight to
maintain this authority. In response to a follow-up question,
he explained that ADF&G manages the salmon resources for
sustainability, and this includes the fisheries dependent upon
this resource. He explained that the minimum returns the
department is targeting would be the minimum of the escapement
goal range. He made it clear that ADF&G does not believe these
resources are in danger of extinction. He went on to explain
several of the things ADF&G is moving forward on, ranging from
using Covid-19 funds, working with governmental organizations,
implementing a marine science program, and utilizing money in
the budget to extend into the north Gulf of Alaska to find out
if there are common linkages. He noted that projects also
require cooperation of other international entities.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG, in response to a committee question,
answered that there is evidence salmon are returning at reduced
numbers, sizes, and at younger ages. He expressed the
understanding that this last piece of evidence indicates
something is affecting most of the fish. He suggested that
warmer waters are a contributing factor.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG continued to slide 16, which addressed
the Bycatch Review Task Force. He confirmed that
recommendations from the task force would determine ADF&G's
actions. In response to a committee question, he stated that
the Bycatch Review Task Force is made up of a wide range of
individuals from across the state, including members of various
commercial and sport fishing groups and industries, including
those from the AYK region. He stated that within approximately
9 months, the group had conducted up to 50 meetings, and as a
result, ADF&G came up with a set of solid recommendations. In
response to a follow-up question, he stated that a decision on
whether to continue the task force has not been made. He
continued that ADF&G does not know if there will be anything
more to report until some of the recommendations are
implemented. He continued that other ADF&G actions concern chum
salmon in the Bering Sea, and in the past year, it has worked
with the Bering Sea trawl fisheries to learn about self-
regulation, which resulted in significant reductions of chum
salmon bycatch. He said ADF&G is asking the industry to look at
innovative ways to reduce bycatch of all species.
10:46:50 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES asked how ADF&G is working with the long
line or pot fishermen and their bycatch situation.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG explained that ADF&G is looking at
electronic monitoring and increasing observer coverage to avoid
bycatch, and to get better estimates of what is happening in
these two gear types. In response to a follow-up question, he
stated that there is a requirement in some of the bigger
fisheries with long line or pot fishing gear in the Bering Sea,
but the smaller and medium size fisheries are not 100 percent
monitored.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE asked about the difference between bycatch
in pot and trawl fisheries.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG responded that the methods are all
unique in how fish are caught, and bycatch is affected. He gave
examples of how different species are affected with different
gear used. In response to a follow-up question bycatch
concerning the mortality rate, he reiterated that this depends
on a wide range of issues associated with the gear, such as how
long the pot gear is "soaked" and the size of the trap on the
pots. He expressed uncertainty concerning the exact bycatch
fatality rate. He moved to slide 17, which addressed working
with partners concerning fisheries disasters. The slide
highlighted the development of the Spend Plan, disaster funding,
and in-river studies with partners. He stated that this is all
with the hope of affecting returns and survival.
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER, concerning the Spend Plan, questioned
what percentages would be put into the research portion, the
administration for research portion, and the portion for
individual fishers for the disaster relief.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG explained that ADF&G has been
successful in getting additional federal money through the
Pacific Salmon Treaty; therefore, this money would be going
toward answering these questions. He further responded that 15
to 20 percent of the money would be going to non-research.
CHAIR VANCE questioned how the Spend Plan would affect
subsistence users.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG acknowledged that there is frustration
over the federal designation of Pacific states to develop these
plans, and the amount of time it would take. He said that ADF&G
has taken steps with the Pacific states to speed the process up.
He stated that public review would also play a major part in how
the money is spent, although this would take more time. In
response to a follow-up question, he confirmed that there have
been positive responses to community involvement in the Spend
Plan.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG concluded on slide 18, summarizing the
entities ADF&G is working with. He added that ADF&G is open to
working with other partners as well.
CHAIR VANCE asked whether the in-river incubation boxes would be
under the educational permit system.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG responded that the proposed incubation
boxes would be implemented through the hatchery-permitting
program.
CHAIR VANCE asked if there was a difference between a full-scale
hatchery and the proposed incubation boxes.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG expressed the opinion that survival
could be increased by using the incubation boxes.
CHAIR VANCE commented on having the Bycatch Review Task Force
available for questions so members would have a better
understanding of how the state should proceed.
11:14:40 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Fisheries meeting was adjourned at 11:15
a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| (H)FSH ADF&G Presentation on AYK Fisheries 1.31.23.pdf |
HFSH 1/31/2023 10:00:00 AM |
(H)FSH ADF&G Presentation on AYK Fisheries 1.31.23 |