Legislature(2021 - 2022)DAVIS 106

04/28/2022 06:30 PM House RESOURCES

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06:27:33 PM Start
06:38:08 PM Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission
07:00:05 PM Alaska Board of Fisheries
07:54:48 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
-- Please Note Time & Location Change --
Joint with House Fisheries
+ Consideration of Governor’s Appointees: Board TELECONFERENCED
of Fisheries, Commercial Fisheries Entry
Commission
-- Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> --
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
                         JOINT MEETING                                                                                        
              HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES                                                                            
               HOUSE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                             
                         April 28, 2022                                                                                         
                           6:27 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
 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                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
 Representative Josiah Patkotak, Chair                                                                                          
 Representative Grier Hopkins, Vice Chair                                                                                       
 Representative Sara Hannan                                                                                                     
 Representative George Rauscher                                                                                                 
 Representative Mike Cronk                                                                                                      
 Representative Ronald Gillham                                                                                                  
 Representative Tom McKay                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
 All members present                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
 Representative Zack Fields                                                                                                     
 Representative Calvin Schrage                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                              
Representative Mike Prax                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Glenn Haight  Juneau                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Alaska Board of Fisheries                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Thomas Carpenter  Cordova                                                                                                  
     David Weisz  Wasilla                                                                                                       
     Floyd "Mike" Heimbuch - Homer                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
No previous action to record                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
GLENN HAIGHT, Appointee                                                                                                         
Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission                                                                                           
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified as appointee to the Commercial                                                                 
Fisheries Entry Commission.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MIKE MIKELSON                                                                                                                   
Cordova District Fishermen United                                                                                               
Cordova, Alaska                                                                                                                 
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of Appointee Haight to                                                              
the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MALCOLM MILNE, President                                                                                                        
North Pacific Fisheries Association                                                                                             
Homer, Alaska                                                                                                                   
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of Appointee Haight to                                                              
the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
VIRGIL UMPHENOUR                                                                                                                
Yukon River Panel                                                                                                               
Fairbanks Fish and Game Advisory Committee                                                                                      
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of Appointee Haight to                                                              
the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission; Testified in                                                                         
opposition to Alaska Board of Fisheries Appointee Carpenter.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
THOMAS CARPENTER, Appointee                                                                                                     
Alaska Board of Fisheries                                                                                                       
Cordova, Alaska                                                                                                                 
POSITION STATEMENT:   Testified as appointee to  the Alaska Board                                                             
of Fisheries.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
DAVID WEISZ, Appointee                                                                                                          
Alaska Board of Fisheries                                                                                                       
Wasilla, Alaska                                                                                                                 
POSITION STATEMENT:   Testified as appointee to  the Alaska Board                                                             
of Fisheries.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
FLOYD "MIKE" HEIMBUCH, Appointee                                                                                                
Alaska Board of Fisheries                                                                                                       
Homer, Alaska                                                                                                                   
POSITION STATEMENT:   Testified as appointee to  the Alaska Board                                                             
of Fisheries.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
JOHN HOPKINS                                                                                                                    
Cordova, Alaska                                                                                                                 
POSITION  STATEMENT:   Testified in  support of  Alaska Board  of                                                             
Fisheries Appointee Carpenter.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
STEVE BROWN                                                                                                                     
Homer, Alaska                                                                                                                   
POSITION  STATEMENT:   Testified in  support of  Alaska Board  of                                                             
Fisheries Appointee Heimbuch.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
RITA SPANN                                                                                                                      
Cordova, Alaska                                                                                                                 
POSITION  STATEMENT:   Testified in  support of  Alaska Board  of                                                             
Fisheries Appointee Carpenter.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
TRACY WELCH, Executive Director                                                                                                 
United Fishermen of Alaska                                                                                                      
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION  STATEMENT:   Testified in  support of  Alaska Board  of                                                             
Fisheries Appointees Carpenter and Heimbuch.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MIKE MICKELSON, Second Vice President                                                                                           
Cordova District Fishermen United Cordova                                                                                       
Cordova, Alaska                                                                                                                 
POSITION  STATEMENT:   Testified in  support of  Alaska Board  of                                                             
Fisheries Appointees Carpenter and Heimbuch.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SHAWNA WILLIAMS                                                                                                                 
Wasilla, Alaska                                                                                                                 
POSITION  STATEMENT:   Testified in  support of  Alaska Board  of                                                             
Fisheries Appointee Carpenter.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
PAUL SHADURA                                                                                                                    
Kasilof, Alaska                                                                                                                 
POSITION  STATEMENT:   Testified in  support of  Alaska Board  of                                                             
Fisheries Appointees Carpenter and Heimbuch.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DAVID ALISON, Mayor                                                                                                             
City of Cordova                                                                                                                 
Cordova, Alaska                                                                                                                 
POSITION  STATEMENT:   Testified in  support of  Alaska Board  of                                                             
Fisheries Appointee Carpenter.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
DENNIS ZADRA                                                                                                                    
Cordova, Alaska                                                                                                                 
POSITION  STATEMENT:   Testified in  support of  Alaska Board  of                                                             
Fisheries Appointee Carpenter.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
JOHN WHISSEL                                                                                                                    
Environmental Director                                                                                                          
Village of Eyak                                                                                                                 
Native Village of Eyak, Alaska                                                                                                  
POSITION  STATEMENT:   Testified in  support of  Alaska Board  of                                                             
Fisheries Appointee Carpenter.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
6:27:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR GERAN  TARR called the  joint meeting of the  House Special                                                             
Committee  on   Fisheries  and   the  House   Resources  Standing                                                               
Committee to  order at 6:27  p.m.  Representatives  Tarr, Stutes,                                                               
Kreiss-Tomkins  (via teleconference),  Story,  Ortiz, Vance,  and                                                               
McCabe  from  the  House  Special   Committee  on  Fisheries  and                                                               
Representatives  Patkotak,  Hopkins,   Hannan,  Rauscher,  Cronk,                                                               
Gillham, and  McKay from the  House Resources  Standing Committee                                                               
were present at the call to order.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)                                                                                                        
                    CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):                                                                                
^Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission                                                                                          
             Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
6:38:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR TARR  announced that the  first order of business  would be                                                               
Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission Glenn Haight.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
6:39:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
GLENN HAIGHT,  Appointee, Commercial Fisheries  Entry Commission,                                                               
testified  as   appointee  to  the  Commercial   Fisheries  Entry                                                               
Commission (CFEC).  He offered  details on his education and work                                                               
history and  emphasized experience related to  the appointment to                                                               
the commission.   He noted that  he had experience with  most, if                                                               
not all,  Alaska commercial  fisheries and  he was  familiar with                                                               
the data that  is available pertinent to  fisheries and fisheries                                                               
management.   He recalled his  work experience during  his tenure                                                               
with the Marine  Advisory Program in which  he provided technical                                                               
assistance  to the  commercial fishing  fleet at  the operational                                                               
level.  He  stated that his tenure at the  commission would start                                                               
on the  following Monday,  at which time  he intended  to recruit                                                               
additional staff to fill approximately  5 vacant positions with a                                                               
projected goal date  of completion by summer.  He  noted that the                                                               
anticipated  workload  would  involve  a study  of  the  historic                                                               
activities and  the policies  of the commission.   He  noted that                                                               
there exists  a Cook Inlet  setnet fisheries study  underway, and                                                               
he stated his intention to summarize  the data into a report.  He                                                               
stated his intention to develop  some policies for the commission                                                               
to convey to  the public what it can expect  from matters brought                                                               
before the  commission, to increase  transparency.  He  noted one                                                               
area that may not be well  understood by the public would be that                                                               
that the commission is obligated  to respond to a petition within                                                               
30  days,  and that  the  30-day  window  was not  sufficient  to                                                               
conclude a ruling on any petition                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MR.  HAIGHT   reflected  on  the   previous  activities   of  the                                                               
commission  and   noted  that   it  had  created   stability  and                                                               
professionalism  within  the  fisheries.   He  characterized  the                                                               
commission  as  the  "gatekeeper"   for  the  commercial  fishing                                                               
industry, and  he noted  that the average  age of  permit holders                                                               
was increasing and stated his  hope to attract younger members to                                                               
the  fleet.   He  noted  that some  areas  had  seen declines  in                                                               
resident permit  holders and stated his  intention to investigate                                                               
any potential role that the commission  may be able to provide to                                                               
attract more Alaskans into the fleet.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
6:45:09 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STUTES  characterized   the  appointment  of  Mr.                                                               
Haight  by   the  administration   as  an   astute  move.     She                                                               
complimented Mr. Haight as being professional and responsive.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ORTIZ asked  what Mr. Haight considered  to be the                                                               
primary job as a commissioner  on the CFEC that would distinguish                                                               
the success of a commissioner.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR. HAIGHT answered that licensing  was a primary function of the                                                               
CFEC and  secondarily would  be optimum  permit studies  that are                                                               
being undertaken  by the commission.   He  added that it  was his                                                               
intention  to  offer  leadership  and  stability  that  had  been                                                               
lacking in recent  years.  He suggested that, for  the CFEC to be                                                               
successful, the  future path  would need to  be established.   He                                                               
added that  there had been  no fisheries limited since  the early                                                               
2000s.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  ORTIZ   asked  who  or  what   would  prompt  the                                                               
initiation of an optimum permit survey.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MR. HAIGHT answered  that he had not personally  been involved in                                                               
any of the  petitions and added that any person  in the state, by                                                               
means  of  the  Administrative   Procedures  Act,  may  submit  a                                                               
petition to an  agency requesting a regulatory change.   He noted                                                               
that an  optimal permit  study would  require years  to complete.                                                               
He noted  that such a  survey would  benefit from the  support of                                                               
the  fishing fleet.   He  added that,  should he  receive such  a                                                               
petition, he would  conduct extensive outreach to the  fleet.  He                                                               
offered   an  example   in  which   there  were   fisheries  that                                                               
experienced  lower  usage  of   permits  and  rhetorically  asked                                                               
whether that  would warrant a three-year  study, considering that                                                               
factors  such as  market conditions  or resource  abundance which                                                               
could contribute to the underutilization of permits.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ORTIZ  asked for clarification that  an individual                                                               
may start the [permit survey] process.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MR. HAIGHT answered  that a petition would prompt  some action by                                                               
the  commission.   He  suggested  that there  exists  a need  for                                                               
public-facing policies  to inform  the public  of the  next steps                                                               
and  the criteria  that  would  be sought  by  the commission  to                                                               
proceed with such a request.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
6:49:24 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE referred  to the Cook Inlet  study and asked                                                               
how more  participation could be  sought for participants  in the                                                               
study.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MR. HAIGHT  answered that the  eastern Cook Inlet  setnetters had                                                               
presented  to  the  Board  of   Fisheries  as  a  group  that  he                                                               
characterized  as  "embattled."     He  stated  that  proprietary                                                               
financial information  is sought  during the  course of  a survey                                                               
and  it would  come  as no  surprise that  only  an estimated  11                                                               
percent  of permit  holders would  participate in  providing such                                                               
data.    He stated  that  there  exists a  need  for  a lot  more                                                               
outreach.    He  added  that there  exist  advocates  within  the                                                               
fishery to encourage participation.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  VANCE noted  that one  of the  roles of  the CFEC                                                               
pertained to insurance and family  members [of fishers] and noted                                                               
that there  had been some public  scrutiny of the CFEC  and asked                                                               
what Mr. Haight's intention was to improve public confidence.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR.  HAIGHT  answered  that  during his  time  at  Department  of                                                               
Commerce, Community  & Economic  Development and with  the Marine                                                               
Advisory   Program,   the   commissioners  of   the   CFEC   were                                                               
participating in forums and conducting  outreach, and a return to                                                               
that approach would  increase public confidence in  the roles and                                                               
effectiveness of the CFEC.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STORY  asked for Mr. Haight  to provide additional                                                               
comments regarding solutions to the ageing of the fleet.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR. HAIGHT  noted that,  during his time  at the  Marine Advisory                                                               
Program, he had  encountered the loan program and  events such as                                                               
the  Young Fisherman's  Summit that  had sought  to address  [the                                                               
ageing of the fleet.]  He  cautioned that it was unclear the role                                                               
that  the CFEC  would  have  in addressing  the  concern, but  he                                                               
acknowledged the concern as a legitimate  one.  He added that the                                                               
agricultural industry had a tradition  of successors working with                                                               
proprietors  to find  cost-effective planning  that included  tax                                                               
incentives that could  serve as an example of how  to address the                                                               
problem.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE     HANNAN    complimented     the    credentials,                                                               
intelligence, and work ethic of Mr. Haight.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
6:54:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR TARR  cautioned that it  was possible that  more transition                                                               
could  occur within  the commission,  which could  result in  Mr.                                                               
Haight  being asked  to function  more in  a leadership  role and                                                               
asked   him  to   offer  comments   related   to  any   increased                                                               
responsibility.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MR. HAIGHT expressed that there  exist many good resources and he                                                               
stated his intention  to rely on informed  professionals to guide                                                               
his role  in leadership.  He  stated that he had  been in contact                                                               
with  several former  commissioners  and that  he welcomed  their                                                               
guidance.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS stated that  there had emerged some                                                               
grave concerns  regarding the  CFEC and  that the  appointment of                                                               
the commissioner was  one of great importance.   He expressed his                                                               
pleasure that  Mr. Haight had  been appointed and  expressed that                                                               
his appointment would serve to  increase public trust in the CFEC                                                               
[if confirmed.]                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
6:57:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR TARR  opened public testimony  on the appointment  of Glenn                                                               
Haight  as   commissioner  to  the  Commercial   Fisheries  Entry                                                               
Commission.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
6:57:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MIKE MIKELSON,  Cordova District  Fishermen United,  testified in                                                               
support  of  Glenn   Haight's  appointment  to  the   CFEC.    He                                                               
complimented Mr.  Haight's efficiency  and composure, as  well as                                                               
his understanding of fisheries issues.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
6:58:01 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MALCOLM  MILNE, President,  North Pacific  Fisheries Association,                                                               
testified in support  of Glenn Haight's appointment  to the CFEC.                                                               
He  complimented  Mr. Haight's  capabilities  as  a mentor.    He                                                               
echoed  previous  complimentary   testimony  and  encouraged  the                                                               
confirmation of his appointment.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
6:59:03 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
VIRGIL  UMPHENOUR, Yukon  River  Panel, Fairbanks  Fish and  Game                                                               
Advisory  Committee,  testified  in  support  of  Glenn  Haight's                                                               
appointment to the CFEC.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
6:59:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR TARR  closed public testimony  on the appointment  of Glenn                                                               
Haight  as   commissioner  to  the  Commercial   Fisheries  Entry                                                               
Commission.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)                                                                                                        
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)                                                                                                        
                    CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):                                                                                
^Alaska Board of Fisheries                                                                                                      
                   Alaska Board of Fisheries                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
7:00:05 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR TARR  announced that  the next order  of business  would be                                                               
Confirmation  hearings  on  appointees  to the  Alaska  Board  of                                                               
Fisheries.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
7:00:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
THOMAS   CARPENTER,  Appointee,   Alaska   Board  of   Fisheries,                                                               
testified  as appointee  to the  Alaska Board  of Fisheries.   He                                                               
offered a brief biographical history  related to the position and                                                               
thanked  the   administration  and  legislative  staff   for  the                                                               
appointment  and coordination  of hearings.   He  noted that,  if                                                               
confirmed, it was his intention to  resign his seat on the Prince                                                               
William  Sound Aquaculture  Association Board  of Directors.   He                                                               
stated that  it was his  intention to pursue diplomacy  among the                                                               
different gear  groups to find  common ground and  would consider                                                               
the most current scientific data to guide his decisions.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CRONK  asked what the  role of ocean  fish farming                                                               
or hatchery fish  had been related to the  closure of subsistence                                                               
fishing  on the  Yukon River  and  asked Mr.  Carpenter to  offer                                                               
comment on matters also affecting the Copper River fisheries.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
7:05:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  CARPENTER allowed  that  the issues  were  complicated.   He                                                               
stated  that there  had been  cooperation  among the  aquaculture                                                               
associations, the State of Alaska,  and the University of Alaska,                                                               
Fairbanks to  establish the Alaska  Hatchery Research  Project to                                                               
investigate issues  affecting multiple fisheries.   He added that                                                               
there was also a Deep Blue Ocean  study in process in the Gulf of                                                               
Alaska  and the  Bering Sea  that should  produce data  that will                                                               
answer some  of the questions  [regarding the effect  of hatchery                                                               
fish on  wild stocks.]  He  noted that the warming  waters in the                                                               
Gulf of  Alaska and the Bering  Sea had had an  impact on chinook                                                               
salmon.   He added that he  had been motivated to  apply to serve                                                               
on  the Board  of Fisheries  to  attempt to  restore the  chinook                                                               
fisheries to previous levels.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
7:08:09 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DAVID WEISZ,  Appointee, Alaska Board of  Fisheries, testified as                                                               
appointee to the  Alaska Board of Fisheries.  He  offered a brief                                                               
biographical  history related  to the  position.   He stated  his                                                               
understanding that the goal of the  Board of Fisheries was one of                                                               
preserving the fisheries for all  current and future fishers.  He                                                               
stated  that  balancing  the  interests of  all  parties  with  a                                                               
reliance  on  scientific  data would  inform  his  decisions,  if                                                               
confirmed.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HANNAN asked  noted that  Mr. Weisz's  background                                                               
had been  outside the commercial  fishing industry and  asked for                                                               
him to  explain his  understanding of  the role  of the  Board of                                                               
Fisheries and  to offer any other  experience such as that  of on                                                               
an  advisory  council or  his  participation  in public  meetings                                                               
related to fisheries.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MR.  WEISZ answered  that  he  had not  served  on  any board  or                                                               
advisory committees.  He offered  that he had entered retirement,                                                               
and it was his desire to "give  back" to the state.  He expressed                                                               
that he held concern over the preservation of natural resources.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN  cautioned that the Board  of Fisheries had                                                               
a  requirement of  participation in  3-4 annual  meetings, for  a                                                               
full week,  and asked whether  he understood the  time commitment                                                               
required and whether he would be able to meet it.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MR. WEISZ answered that he did.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
7:12:32 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES stated that she  had been encouraged by Mr.                                                               
Weisz's  intention  to rely  on  scientific  data to  inform  his                                                               
decisions, if confirmed.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE  asked Mr. Weisz to  describe his philosophy                                                               
and perspective  related to the  role in allocation by  the Board                                                               
of Fisheries.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR.  WEISZ stated  that  he  did not  consider  himself  to be  a                                                               
controversial person  and that he  was motivated to  preserve the                                                               
natural  resources  while  considering  the  needs  of  all  user                                                               
groups.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE  asked what  solutions may exist  related to                                                               
the  controversial  decisions  associated  with  the  Cook  Inlet                                                               
fisheries.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MR.  WEISZ answered  that, if  confirmed,  he would  rely on  the                                                               
scientific data  related to the  fisheries, which he had  not yet                                                               
obtained.   He cautioned that he  did not have a  solution to the                                                               
controversies associated with the Cook  Inlet fisheries as he did                                                               
not  yet  have  access  to  all the  related  information  to  be                                                               
considered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  ORTIZ  recalled   that  the  Alaska  Constitution                                                               
mandates  that  fisheries be  managed  to  the maximum  sustained                                                               
yield principle  and asked how  Mr. Weisz would  characterize the                                                               
prior  10 years  of the  Board  of Fisheries  in fulfilling  that                                                               
mandate.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR.  WEISZ stated  that he  had observed  highs and  lows in  the                                                               
performance  of   the  board  among  the   sport  and  commercial                                                               
fisheries management.   He stated that his goal would  be to seek                                                               
stability in management.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CRONK  stated his excitement of  the potential for                                                               
an appointee with  a fresh perspective which  he characterized as                                                               
an untainted one.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR   PATKOTAK  reminded   the   appointee   to  consider   the                                                               
subsistence user  group in addition  to the sport  and commercial                                                               
fisheries.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
7:18:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
FLOYD  "MIKE" HEIMBUCH,  Appointee,  Alaska  Board of  Fisheries,                                                               
testified  as appointee  to the  Alaska Board  of Fisheries.   He                                                               
offered  a brief  biographical history  related to  the position.                                                               
He stated that the state was  near 100 percent utilization of the                                                               
fisheries  resource,  and  that   the  economic,  political,  and                                                               
biological considerations pertaining to  the actions of the board                                                               
contributed to  confusion.  He  questioned how quickly  the board                                                               
should  respond  to   fisheries  of  concern.     He  noted  that                                                               
legislative  action   also  affected   the  utilization   of  the                                                               
resource.    He  expressed  his focus  was  to  provide  economic                                                               
opportunity to coastal communities and  address the matter of the                                                               
ageing of the fleet.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  VANCE lauded  the  experience  that Mr.  Heimbuch                                                               
would  bring to  the  appointment and  asked  how his  experience                                                               
could guide the  board through the complexities he  had stated in                                                               
his opening remarks.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MR. HEIMBUCH  answered that, if  confirmed, his role would  be to                                                               
articulate  what  the discrete  user  groups  are asking  of  the                                                               
board.   He  stated  that the  matter of  allocation  was one  of                                                               
"robbing  Peter to  pay Paul"  since  the resource  was near  100                                                               
percent  utilization, and  that  a matter  of  importance was  to                                                               
consider  the future  fishers to  grow a  residential, small-boat                                                               
fishing fleet.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
7:24:12 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE asked Mr. Heimbuch  to share his perspective                                                               
on fair allocation  for the Yukon River for both  coastal and in-                                                               
river fisheries.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR. HEIMBUCH noted that the  work towards solutions would need to                                                               
consider  the Pacific  Salmon Treaty  and considerations  brought                                                               
forth  by Canada.    He cautioned  against  solutions that  would                                                               
result  in  winners  and  losers  in  consideration  of  resource                                                               
utilization.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN  asked whether Mr. Heimbuch  was a resident                                                               
of Homer.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR. HEIMBUCH answered that he was.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   CRONK  stated   that  he   was  sympathetic   to                                                               
commercial fishers but that his  primary concern would be for the                                                               
cultural lifestyle  associated with  personal use fisheries.   He                                                               
expressed his  concern that allocation would  result in residents                                                               
migrating  between   rivers  that  could  strain   the  resources                                                               
further.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR.  HEIMBUCH  stated  that he  fully  understood  Representative                                                               
Cronk's  concerns.    He  stated that  the  "vagaries  of  mother                                                               
nature" had impacted every stream  in Alaska and cautioned that a                                                               
balanced and nuanced approach was required.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
7:30:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  TARR opened  public  testimony on  the  appointees to  the                                                               
Board of Fisheries.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
7:30:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JOHN HOPKINS testified  in support of Appointee  Carpenter to the                                                               
Board of Fisheries.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
7:32:51 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
STEVE BROWN  testified in  support of  Appointee Heimbuch  to the                                                               
Board of Fisheries.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
7:34:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
RITA SPANN  testified in  support of  Appointee Carpenter  to the                                                               
Board of Fisheries.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
7:35:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
TRACY WELCH,  Executive Director, United Fishermen  of Alaska, on                                                               
behalf of  the United Fishermen  of Alaska, testified  in support                                                               
of Appointees Carpenter  and Heimbuch to the  Board of Fisheries.                                                               
She  offered  information from  the  letter  entitled, "Board  of                                                               
Fisheries  -   Letter  of  Support   -  Carpenter   and  Heimbuch                                                               
4.27.22.pdf" [included  in the committee  packet], which  read as                                                               
follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     United  Fishermen  of  Alaska (UFA)  is  the  statewide                                                                    
     commercial  fishing trade  association representing  37                                                                    
     commercial   fishing  organizations   participating  in                                                                    
     fisheries  throughout   the  state,  and   the  federal                                                                    
     fisheries off Alaska's coast.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     UFA  supports   the  confirmation  of   the  Governor's                                                                    
     apppointment [sic]  of Tom Carpenter and  Mike Heimbuch                                                                    
     to the Alaska Board  of Fisheries. Both candidates have                                                                    
     significant experience with  fisheries around the state                                                                    
     and have  held leadership roles in  various committees,                                                                    
     councils, and groups.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Tom  Carpenter  possesses  a wealth  of  knowledge  and                                                                    
     fisheries related  experience, earned on both  local as                                                                    
     well  as  regional  levels.  He   has  been  an  active                                                                    
     participant  on  the   Southcentral  Regional  Advisory                                                                    
     Council  to  the  Federal  Subsistence  Board  and  the                                                                    
     Copper  River/  Prince  William  Sound  Fish  and  Game                                                                    
     Advisory   Committee,  and   was  awarded   the  Alaska                                                                    
     Department  of  Fish  and Game  Excellence  in  Service                                                                    
     Award in 2020  for his ability to  connect with diverse                                                                    
     user  groups and  approachability. He  currently serves                                                                    
     as the  Chairman of the  Board of Directors  for Prince                                                                    
     William  Sound Aquaculture  Corporation. Mr.  Carpenter                                                                    
     is also  a long-time business owner,  former commercial                                                                    
     fisherman,  and  an  avid  sportsman.  His  history  of                                                                    
     working with a  variety of user groups,  along with his                                                                    
     reputation  amongst  fishery professionals  around  the                                                                    
     State,  speaks  to his  qualifications  to  serve as  a                                                                    
     member on the Board of Fisheries.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Mike Heimbuch  is a  longtime commercial  fisherman who                                                                    
     has participated in fisheries  across the state, dating                                                                    
     back to the 60s. Throughout  his fishing career, he has                                                                    
     fished Prince  William Sound, Cook Inlet,  Bristol Bay,                                                                    
     the Alaska Peninsula, and Adak.  In addition to fishing                                                                    
     experience,  Mr. Heimbuch  has been  active in  fishing                                                                    
     issues across  the state. He  has previously  worked in                                                                    
     the legislature as  a fisheries aide to  the Speaker of                                                                    
     the  House,  been  active  in  fisheries  associations,                                                                    
     served  on  the Bering  Sea  Advisory  board, and  been                                                                    
     nominated  twice  for  a  seat  on  the  North  Pacific                                                                    
     Fishery Management Council. Mr.  Heimbuch has also been                                                                    
     active in his  hometown of Homer, having  served on the                                                                    
     City Council,  Port and Harbor Commission,  and Library                                                                    
     Board.  His  fisheries   experience,  paired  with  his                                                                    
     experience on a variety  of boards and commissions, and                                                                    
     familiarity with  fishing issues around the  state will                                                                    
     serve him well on the Board of Fisheries.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Thank you  for lending your full  consideration to this                                                                    
     letter of support. Should you or your staff                                                                                
     have  any  follow  up questions  with  regards  to  our                                                                    
     recommendation, please feel free to reach out to                                                                           
     our office.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
7:37:57 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MIKE MICKELSON, Second  Vice President, on behalf  of the Cordova                                                               
District  Fishermen United,  testified in  support of  Appointees                                                               
Carpenter  and Heimbuch  to the  Board of  Fisheries.   He stated                                                               
that it  had been  more than  45 years since  the inclusion  of a                                                               
member from the  Prince William Sound had served on  the Board of                                                               
Fisheries.   He  expressed  that Mr.  Carpenter is  knowledgeable                                                               
about sport, personal use,  commercial, and subsistence fisheries                                                               
and that the issues before  the board were important to Alaskans.                                                               
He  complimented Mr.  Carpenter's work  ethic and  encouraged his                                                               
confirmation.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
7:39:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SHAWNA WILLIAMS  testified in support  of Appointee  Carpenter to                                                               
the Board  of Fisheries.   She  stated that  she had  served with                                                               
Appointee  Carpenter on  the  Prince  William Sound  Aquaculture.                                                               
She  complimented his  work ethic  and his  ability to  negotiate                                                               
among user groups.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
7:41:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PAUL  SHADURA testified  in support  of Appointees  Carpenter and                                                               
Heimbuch to the Board of Fisheries.   He expressed concern with a                                                               
lack of fisheries  experience on the part of  Appointee Weisz and                                                               
recommended  that the  legislature adopt  a conflict  of interest                                                               
policy pertaining  to the Board  of Fisheries for cases  in which                                                               
board members  may be  serving other boards  or commissions.   He                                                               
acknowledged that Mr. Weisz brought  local business acumen to the                                                               
position and  asked for additional  reassurance that  no conflict                                                               
of interest exists regarding the appointment of Mr. Weisz.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
7:45:01 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DAVID ALISON,  Mayor, City  of Cordova,  testified in  support of                                                               
Alaska Board  of Fisheries Appointee  Carpenter.  He  stated that                                                               
Mr. Carpenter  had demonstrated competency and  preparedness when                                                               
participating in various boards and commissions.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
7:46:22 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DENNIS ZADRA  testified in support  of Alaska Board  of Fisheries                                                               
Appointee  Carpenter.     He   echoed  previous   testimony  that                                                               
characterized Mr. Carpenter as effective and hard working.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
7:47:42 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JOHN WHISSEL, Environmental Director,  Village of Eyak, testified                                                               
in support of Alaska Board  of Fisheries Appointee Carpenter.  He                                                               
stated  that he  was  a  member of  the  Board  of Fisheries  and                                                               
complimented  Mr. Carpenter's  engagement  during  meetings.   He                                                               
echoed previous testimony complimenting  his breadth of knowledge                                                               
and extensive experience.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
7:49:43 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  UMPENOUR  testified  in opposition  to  the  appointment  of                                                               
Thomas Carpenter  to the Board  of Fisheries, citing  a potential                                                               
conflict existing  due to  his association  with hatcheries.   He                                                               
offered fisheries  data and claimed that  hatchery fish interfere                                                               
with wild stocks.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
7:53:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  TARR closed  public  testimony on  the  appointees to  the                                                               
Board of Fisheries.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
7:53:46 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  PATKOTAK encouraged  continued public  testimony regarding                                                               
confirmation of appointees.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  PATKOTAK  reminded the  two  committees  that signing  the                                                               
report  regarding appointments  to boards  and commissions  is in                                                               
accordance with  AS 39.05.080 and  in no way  reflects individual                                                               
members'  approval  or disapproval  of  the  appointees, and  the                                                               
nominations  are merely  forwarded  to the  full legislature  for                                                               
confirmation  or rejection.    [The names  advanced  to the  full                                                               
legislature  were:   Glenn Haight,  appointee  to the  Commercial                                                               
Fisheries Entry  Commission; and  Thomas Carpenter,  David Weisz,                                                               
and   Floyd  "Mike"   Heimbuch,  appointees   to  the   Board  of                                                               
Fisheries.]                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
7:54:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
There being no further business  before the committees, the joint                                                               
meeting of the  House Resources Standing Committee  and the House                                                               
Special  Committee on  Fisheries  meeting was  adjourned at  7:54                                                               
p.m.                                                                                                                            

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
Glenn Haight Cover Letter and Resume for CFEC Position_Redacted.pdf HRES 4/28/2022 6:30:00 PM
CFEC
Glenn Haight CFEC Application_Redacted.pdf HRES 4/28/2022 6:30:00 PM
CFEC
Thomas Carpenter's Resume_Redacted.pdf HRES 4/28/2022 6:30:00 PM
Board of Fish
Thomas Carpenter Application_Redacted.pdf HRES 4/28/2022 6:30:00 PM
Board of Fish
F. Mike Heimbuch- Resume.pdf HRES 4/28/2022 6:30:00 PM
Board of Fish
F. Mike Heimbuch Application_Redacted.pdf HRES 4/28/2022 6:30:00 PM
Board of Fish
David Weisz Application_Redacted.pdf HRES 4/28/2022 6:30:00 PM
Board of Fish
Board of Fisheries - Oppose Carpenter - 4.27.22.pdf HRES 4/28/2022 6:30:00 PM
Board of Fish
Board of Fisheries - Letters of Support - Carpenter 4.27.22.pdf HRES 4/28/2022 6:30:00 PM
Board of Fish
Board of Fisheries and Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission - Letter of Support - Carpenter, Heimbuch and Haight 4.27.22.pdf HRES 4/28/2022 6:30:00 PM
Board of Fish
Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission - Letter of Support - Haight 4.27.22.pdf HRES 4/28/2022 6:30:00 PM
Board of Fish
Board of Fisheries - Letter of Support - Carpenter and Heimbuch 4.27.22.pdf HRES 4/28/2022 6:30:00 PM
Board of Fish
House Resources Committee Testimony Packet 4.28.2022.pdf HRES 4/28/2022 6:30:00 PM