Legislature(1999 - 2000)
02/02/2000 01:43 PM House RES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE
February 2, 2000
1:43 p.m.
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH & GAME OVERVIEW
TAPE
00-6
SIDE(S) A & B
CALL TO ORDER
REPRESENTATIVE BILL HUDSON, Co-Chair, convened the House
Resources Standing Committee meeting at 1:43 p.m.
PRESENT
Committee members present were Representatives Masek,
Hudson, Kapsner, Joule, Whitaker, Harris and Cowdery.
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION
FRANK RUE, Commissioner, Alaska Department of Fish & Game,
introduced the division directors that were present, as well
as those on teleconference.
DAVID BENTON, Deputy Commissioner, Alaska Department of Fish
& Game, stated that he is the Alaska commissioner on the
Pacific Salmon Council and a representative on the National
Pacific Fisheries Management Council (NPMFC). He proceeded
to give an overview on the Pacific Salmon Treaty. He
explained that a result from negotiations is that the
abundance-based management concept was adopted; in addition,
the Northern Fund was established.
CO-CHAIR HUDSON asked how the Northern Fund is appropriated.
MR. BENTON said it is set up like the Exxon trust. It is
not appropriated through the Alaska State Legislature. He
gave an explanation on the management of halibut charters in
Southeastern and Southcentral Alaska.
REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY asked if residents who own boats will
be restricted like [those who own] charter vessels.
MR. BENTON said no.
CO-CHAIR MASEK expressed her concern that Alaska residents
who do not own a boat, such as herself, will no longer be
able to rely on a halibut charter to fill their freezers
with halibut to feed families.
MR. BENTON assured the committee that he was going to
sincerely represent that section of the population at the
NPFMC meeting in February.
CO-CHAIR MASEK asked for the percentage of halibut taken as
bycatch and waste by the commercial fishery compared to the
percentage taken by Alaska sport fishermen.
MR. BENTON said he had those numbers in the office and would
be happy to provide them to the committee.
COMMISSIONER RUE discussed the developing fisheries issue,
saying that a number of fisheries could be developed or
further developed if the department had the funds to do so.
DOUG MECUM, Director, Division of Commercial Fisheries,
Alaska Department of Fish & Game, expanded on developing
fisheries, saying that to make sure it has adequate
management programs, the department needs an adequate
budget.
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER discussed the Bristol Bay disaster,
requesting a research report on it. She noted that this
year represented the fourth disaster in seven years, and it
was the third "disaster year" in a row.
CO-CHAIR HUDSON noted the time and expressed his desire to
have the department back before the committee to
specifically discuss subsistence.
COMMITTEE ACTION
The committee took no action.
ADJOURNMENT
The House Resources Standing Committee meeting was adjourned
at an unspecified time.
NOTE:
The meeting was recorded and handwritten log notes were
taken. A copy of the tape(s) and log notes may be obtained
by contacting the House Records Office at 129 6th Street,
Suite 229, Juneau, Alaska 99801, (907) 465-2214, and after
adjournment of the second session of the Twenty-first Alaska
State Legislature this information may be obtained by
contacting the Legislative Reference Library at 129 6th
Street, Suite 102, Juneau, Alaska 99801, (907) 465-3808.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|