HOUSE BILL NO. 64 "An Act relating to regional fishery development associations; and relating to developing fishery management assessments." 2:41:42 PM Co-Chair Merrick noted the bill had been previously heard on February 2. FATE PUTMAN, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE LOUISE STUTES, relayed that the bill would establish regional fishery development associations to allow for the development of fishery management assessments in order to support the growth of new and developing fisheries. He explained that regional fishery development association fisheries were perspective fisheries within geographic regions of the state not currently regulated by the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission (CFEC). In the case of new and developing fisheries, the funding was there to help the fisheries get started and to conduct surveys and assessments in order for the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) to open the fisheries. He highlighted that the bill created a mechanism to fund the management and new development of fisheries and allowed for the creation of regional fishery development associations. He described the associations as nonprofit organizations representing the fishery stakeholders that may elect to levy an assessment upon themselves to help pay for the studies. Co-Chair Merrick OPENED public testimony. 2:43:14 PM AT EASE 2:44:38 PM RECONVENED JERRY MCCUNE, CORDOVA DISTRICT FISHERMAN UNITED, JUNEAU, testified in support of the bill. He detailed the organization had worked with the bill sponsor to develop a bill that would finance new fisheries. He explained that due to the budget crisis DFG did not have the funding to address every new fishery. He detailed that the bill would enable the financing of some wintertime fisheries in Cordova including sea cucumbers, crab, and potentially a new herring fishery near Cape Suckling. The organization was exploring whether it was possible to generate work in the winter for fishermen. PHIL DOHERTY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SOUTHEAST ALASKA REGIONAL DIVE FISHERIES ASSOCIATION (SARDFA), KETCHIKAN (via teleconference), testified in support of the bill. He relayed that SARDFA was the only fishing association that was set up "such as under HB 64." He stated the association had been working under its own legislative rules since 1998. The funds had been generated to allow dive fisheries in Southeast Alaska to help pay the State of Alaska for management of three species including sea cucumbers, sea urchins, and geoduck clams. He explained that monies generated from the fisheries paid DFG for its management and assessment. He reported the three fisheries combined had a vessel value of $15 million. He elaborated that SARDFA had been started because at the time, DFG did not have the funds to conduct management or assessment of the three dive fisheries. The method had worked very well. He relayed the fisheries were ongoing throughout the winter and employed 70 to 100 divers, crew members, boats, and companies. WES HUMBYRD, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference), shared that he was a commercial fisherman in all different species of fisheries. He relayed he is a member of the Cook Inlet Drift Association and noted there was also aquaculture in Cook Inlet. He stated that a 2 percent tax was taken from Cook Inlet fishermen and the fishermen did not get anything back. He hoped that if the bill passed, the legislature would make certain the fishery saw some type of recovery from the tax. He relayed that he had friends who fished in Bristol Bay, Cook Inlet, and other areas in the state. He reported one of his friends made $300,000 fishing in Bristol Bay the previous year. He suggested going back to an income tax and giving some of the generated funds to DFG to enable it to do its job. He had worked for DFG years back and recalled hearing the state had no money. He implored the legislature to figure out a way to get money without taxing the people if they were not going to get anything back from it. He stressed the Cook Inlet fishery did not get anything back from the tax it paid into aquaculture. He provided a personal example related to taxes. He emphasized that people coming to Alaska and generating revenue from the different fisheries needed to start paying something. He saw where the bill could work for certain fisheries. 2:50:33 PM Co-Chair Merrick CLOSED public testimony. Mr. Putman noted there was an individual available online to answer any questions. Co-Chair Merrick noted Representative Wool and Representative Thompson had joined the meeting. 2:51:32 PM AT EASE 2:51:41 PM RECONVENED Co-Chair Foster MOVED to REPORT CSHB 64(FSH) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. CSHB 64(FSH) was REPORTED out of committee with five "do pass" recommendations and four "no recommendation" recommendations and with one previously published zero fiscal note: FN3 (DFG); and two previously published indeterminate fiscal notes: FN4 (DFG) and FN5 (REV). 2:52:07 PM AT EASE 2:53:19 PM RECONVENED