Legislature(2025 - 2026)BARNES 124
01/24/2025 01:00 PM House RESOURCES
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation(s): Alaska Department of Fish and Game Overview | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE
January 24, 2025
1:01 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Robyn Niayuq Burke, Co-Chair
Representative Maxine Dibert, Co-Chair
Representative Carolyn Hall
Representative Donna Mears
Representative Zack Fields
Representative Dan Saddler
Representative George Rauscher
Representative Julie Coulombe
Representative Bill Elam
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION(S): ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH & GAME OVERVIEW
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
DOUG VINCENT-LANG, Commissioner
Alaska Department of Fish & Game
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented the Alaska Department of Fish &
Game Overview.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:01:55 PM
CO-CHAIR MAXINE DIBERT called the House Resources Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:01 p.m. Representatives
Coulombe, Fields, Saddler, Hall, Mears, Elam, Dibert, and Burke
were present at the call to order. Representative Rauscher
arrived as the meeting was in progress.
^PRESENTATION(S): Alaska Department of Fish and Game Overview
PRESENTATION(S): Alaska Department of Fish and Game Overview
1:22:51 PM
CO-CHAIR DIBERT announced that the first order of business would
be an overview presentation by the Alaska Department of Fish &
Game Overview presentation.
1:23:12 PM
DOUG VINCENT-LANG, Commissioner, Alaska Department of Fish &
Game, presented a PowerPoint, titled "Alaska Department of Fish
& Game (ADF&G) Overview" [hard copy included in the committee
file]. He started his presentation by commenting that oil and
gas fuel the state economy, but fish and game resources feed
Alaska's culture and families, saying "while oil and gas are
important, fish and game is really about who we are as
Alaskans." Fish and game are the second or third largest sector
of Alaska's economy. The department was founded in the state
constitution in the natural resources sustained-yield clause
which is unique in the United States. Most states and nations
do not recognize the importance of sustained yield management.
The writers of the state constitution recognized the value of
fish and game resources and the importance of sustaining them
not only for the current generation but also for future
Alaskans. He referred to the statutes which defined the roles
of the ADF&G as well as the department's mission statement.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG explained that core services have been
built around managing the resources; providing hunting, fishing,
and trapping opportunities; protecting and improving habitat;
improving access to hunting and fishing opportunities; and
protecting the state's right to manage the fish and game
resources. In order to accomplish these goals, ADF&G needs to
do stock assessment and research. He observed that investments
in new technologies have been a key component for counting
animals and assessing how climate change is impacting the fish
and wildlife resources. He also described the department's
focus on public service and involvement such as teaching people
how to hunt and fish, promoting outdoor activities, encouraging
involvement on boards, and licensing and permitting. As
resource development occurs, the department ensures that the
fish and wildlife populations are sustained. He showed slide 4
which described the ADF&G leadership team.
1:31:39 PM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG moved to slide 5 which provided a
snapshot of the ADF&G budget for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY 25). He
then discussed slides 6 and 7 which outlined the return on
investment funds, pointing out that the department turns
approximately $250 million dollars of investment into almost an
$11 billion dollar return to the state. He outlined the number
of people employed and the sources of funding for the department
including federal funds, general funds, dedicated matching
funds, and the fish and game fund. He said the divisions
include Commercial Fisheries, Wildlife Conservation, Sports
Fish, Subsistence, and Habitat. He delineated the economic
return in specific categories including sports fisheries,
wildlife, commercial fisheries, and subsistence, which
represented replacement value of the wild food harvest. He
moved to slides 8 through 12, which described specific duties
and core services of the Office of Commissioner and the
Divisions of Commercial Fisheries, Sport Fish, and Wildlife
Conservation.
1:39:49 PM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG moved to slide 11, regarding the
Division of Sport Fish. The slide read as follows [original
punctuation provided]:
o Major Fisheries
• Salmon
• Freshwater fisheries
• Groundfish
• Personal Use Fisheries
- Structure
• Houses three management regions
- Southeast, Southcentral, Interior
• Houses Sport Fish Hatchery Operations
• Houses one chief fisheries scientist
• Houses Department Invasive Species Program
• Houses Sport Fish Access Program
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG called the committee's attention to
the line item labeled "groundfish" and specified that halibut
are managed through an international treaty with Canada. He
then showed slides 13 and 14, titled "Division of Wildlife
Conservation." Slide 13, concerning core services and
personnel, read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
Contribution to Department Mission
Conserve and enhance Alaska's wildlife and habitats
and provide for a wide range of public uses and
benefits
Core Services
• Maintain and enhance opportunities to hunt, trap, and
view wildlife
• Provide opportunities for Alaskans to gain knowledge
of and appreciation for Alaska's wildlife, its
management, and ways to safely and ethically interact
with wildlife
• FY2025 Budget & Positions
• $70.3 million
• 244 permanent full-time positions
• 44 permanent part-time positions
Slide 14 outlined the division's structure and major activities
and read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
• Major Activities
o Management of hunting and trapping across the state
o Management of Special Areas
o Participation in Board of Game process Structure
• Houses five management regions
o Southeast, Southcentral, Interior/Northeast Arctic,
Central/Southwest, Western/Northwest Arctic
• Houses the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation
Act and Statehood Defense programs
• Houses the Hunter Education and Shooting Range program
• Houses the Threatened, Endangered, and Diversity
program
• Houses Waterfowl, Small game, Lands and Refuges
programs
• Houses Wildlife Health and Veterinary Services program
• Houses the Marine Mammal program
1:44:44 PM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG responded to a question from
Representative Rauscher regarding how the severity of winters
has affected caribou and other wildlife. He discussed snow
depth and icing events as a factor for the loss of moose and
wood bison in the Delta and Nelchina areas and the caribou
populations farther north. He commented that if 2024 and 2025
mild winter conditions continue, it would help calf and cow
survival. He responded to a series of questions by Co-Chair
Burke and Co-Chair Dibert concerning the populations of caribou
and mountain sheep, how the winter temperatures affect those
populations, and the amount of money sheep hunting brings to the
state. He discussed the ages of male sheep for hunting purposes
and the balancing act between reproductive cycles and providing
opportunities for hunters. He mentioned that a recent bid for a
sheep tag went for a quarter of a million dollars. With part of
that money, ADF&G was able to fund three sheep research
projects.
1:48:28 PM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG moved to slides 15 and 16, titled
"Habitat Section," pointing out that the Habitat Section of
ADF&G deals with Title 16 permits; natural resource development
projects; and monitoring and cataloging the waters. He
discussed how the department works with other agencies to
coordinate the permits. He explained that slide 16 summarizes
the work undertaken by the division of subsistence, pointing out
that subsistence is defined by statute and is a priority for the
state. He responded to a question from Co-Chair Dibert
regarding hiring the Subsistence director who was funded by the
Thirty-Third Alaska State Legislature. He described how
resource specialists travel to communities to talk about
customary and traditional use.
1:52:48 PM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG responded to a question from
Representative Saddler about federal, state, and international
jurisdictions. He explained that under the Magnuson-Stevens
Act, Alaska has fishery jurisdiction up to three miles out, and
federal jurisdiction applies to three to 200 miles out. A group
of California anglers has challenged bag limits, saying non-
residents are being discriminated against because of the
difference between residential and non-residential limits. The
limits will be equalized in federal waters to comply with
Magnuson-Stevenson, but resident priorities will be recognized
in state waters for personal and subsistence use. Two
exceptions to the rule occur when international treaties apply
such as the International Pacific Halibut Act and the Pacific
Salmon Treaty.
1:55:20 PM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG addressed a question by Co-Chair
Dibert concerning the decline of salmon and subsistence fishing
in the Yukon River by referring to the transboundary treaty with
Canada. He acknowledged that the Canadian-origin salmon have
not been making it to the Canadian waters and pointed to the
issues of warm water, less healthy fish, and smaller fish.
Alaska responded to this challenge by curtailing salmon harvests
to rebuild the stocks. Responding to the question regarding
whether the ADF&G FY 26 budget could include a hatchery in the
interior, he said the Yukon Panel, an international panel
between the United States and Canada had been working on a
restoration plan which would include a hatchery on either side
of the border. Although Canada supported the plan, there was
mixed support for a hatchery in the United States. Canada had
been looking at hatcheries because some of their stocks reached
critical levels, and the genetic integrity of those stocks
should be preserved. On a related topic, he mentioned that work
to reduce bycatch in the Bering Sea would continue.
2:00:10 PM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG responded to Representative Saddler's
question regarding ADF&G funds which are "dedicated" despite
Alaska's constitutional prohibition on dedicated funds. The
commissioner explained that when Congress passed the Pittman-
Robertson and Dingell-Johnson Acts, dedicated matching funds
were required from licenses for fish and wildlife restoration.
He then responded to a question by Representative Fields
concerning whether hatcheries would solve escapement issues,
explaining that even a small number of fish reaching the
tributaries increases the number of fish. Regarding a question
by Representative Elam, he explained that salmon travel almost
1,200 miles of the Yukon on the fat content they had when they
entered the river because they do not feed in fresh water.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG responded to a question from
Representative Saddler regarding two or three takeaways
regarding ADF&G, stating that first, the department takes fish
and game management seriously and involves a lot of people
because these are the public's resources. Second, he
acknowledged that climate change needs to be factored into the
department's management decisions. Third, the department is
struggling to maintain a workforce of dedicated people. He
expressed pride in the people who are dedicated to the work.
Additionally, he pointed out the department's work with
subsistence which includes culture camps and cultural awareness
while rebuilding the runs. Finally, he reiterated that oil and
gas feed the economy, but fish and game resources are "who we
are as people."
2:07:09 PM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG responded to questions by Co-Chair
Burke and Representative Fields regarding the caribou herds. He
discussed the different caribou herds and the balance between
herd numbers, predator management, available feed, and calf
survival. He also commented that the Federal government manages
much of the northern Alaska land, so ADF&G has less impact
there. In addition, species distribution is likely to change
because of changes in the tundra with less grass and lichen for
browse and more brush which moose like. He acknowledged the
importance of "the Arctic Ambassador" and the University of
Alaska Fairbanks' grant regarding the Arctic climate. He
mentioned a proposed research project with Canada about whether
the Beaufort Sea polar bears are moving to other areas.
2:13:22 PM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG called the committee's attention to
slide 20, concerning the fish and game advisory boards and
committees. He moved to slide 21, the administrative services
section, and described the department's centralized support
services for programs and projects as well as the fish and game
licensing program. Moving to slide 22, he addressed some of the
challenges the state faces going forward, specifying the
following as primary concerns [original punctuation provided]:
• Challenges Facing the Seafood Industry
• Defending Against Federal Erosion of State Management
Authority
• Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection
Act Challenges
• Recruitment and Retention
• Vessels and Aircraft Maintenance
• Maintaining Sustainable Fisheries & Opportunities
• Bering Sea Crab
• Coastal Western Alaska Salmon Fisheries
• Intercept and Bycatch
• Federal Fisheries/Upper Cook Inlet Salmon Fishery
• Implementation of the Pacific Salmon Treaty
• Changing Habitat and Weather Events
2:19:56 PM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG responded to a question from
Representative Rauscher concerning intercept and bycatch issues
explaining that the first challenge would be figuring out the
composition of the stock. The ADF&G research has identified the
stock composition of the chinook salmon caught in the Gulf of
Alaska, specifically the origin of chinook salmon being caught
by Alaska fishermen, and the temporal and spatial distribution
of those fish. The department is identifying the proportion of
Asian fish and Russian chum being caught. After identifying the
fish, Alaska can take targeted action through the regulatory
process to reduce the interceptions of other species. He
pointed out that the ADF&G lab has led the world in gene
conservation and genetic identification in Alaska catches.
Regarding bycatch, he explained that changing the process takes
time, but some action can be taken in the short term, and the
department can evaluate how many fish in Western Alaska would be
saved in the process.
2:24:53 PM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG responded to a question from
Representative Hall who referred to slide 6 of the presentation
regarding the economic value of sports fishing and hunting and
why the information is over 10 years old. He agreed that it is
time to update the information but referred to a lack of funding
for the studies.
2:28:27 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Resources Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 2:28 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HRES ADFG Overview 01.24.25.pdf |
HRES 1/24/2025 1:00:00 PM |