HB 265 - EXPORT OF DUNGENESS CRAB CHAIRMAN AUSTERMAN noted that the next item of business was HB 265. He introduced Cheryl Sutton to present the bill. Number 0185 CHERYL SUTTON, Legislative Assistant to Representative Bill Williams, sponsor of the bill, explained that HB 265 had been heard the previous year. Before the committee was a substitute which she felt confident would address any concern stated in the past. She briefly summarized the sponsor statement, saying HB 265 was an economic development bill introduced by Representative Williams in response to constituents who were developing a live crab market in British Columbia. Currently, there was a prohibition against any kind of transport except by air. This bill, in the committee substitute form, would allow dungeness crab to be exported from the state both by air, as currently allowed, or by "surface transportation if the crab are taken at a time and location in the state for which the Department of Environmental Conservation does not require seafood processors to test dungeness crab for the presence of marine toxins." Number 0234 MS. SUTTON explained the bill pertained mostly to Southeast Alaska, especially the southern regions. She said there had been concerns raised about issues of crab coming onshore. In the Kodiak dungeness fishery, she noted, "it tests hot all the time. This would not even fit into this model at all," she said. She referred to documents provided to the legislature by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and explained that in the Bering Sea, where there were no dungeness, there was a fishery for Opilio Tanner crab that had been certified in winter. There would be no Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) testing for that fishery, but spot-checking only. "It really narrows down the focus," she said, "and what it will allow is an opportunity for some fishermen who are now doing air transport and have found that it's very costly and also not very efficient." She explained there were lots of dead crab because they got "bumped" or had other problems being transported by air. To transport by vessel, all the reporting requirements were in place. All the taxes would be paid. All the catch statistics would be reported to the department. Ms. Sutton noted that Geron Bruce was present from ADF&G and Janice Adair from DEC was on line to answer questions. Ms. Sutton indicated that the agencies were happy with the bill. Number 0298 CHAIRMAN AUSTERMAN noted that it would be proper to accept the work draft for CSHB 265, version F. REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS moved to accept the draft. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Number 0317 SHERRI WOHLHUETER testified via teleconference from Petersburg, 2saying she was a dungeness fisherman. She expressed support for HB 265, saying as she understood it, it offered fishermen the ability to diversify in the transportation of dungeness crab to market. She thought it could only be an improvement. Number 0340 DON HASELTINE testified via teleconference from Ketchikan. He said there was a "good, solid market" in British Columbia. He noted that a third of what he got paid for crab went into air freight. He said there were buyers in Prince Rupert and tenders already running that direction carrying shrimp. He thought the legislation provided a good opportunity to "put some guys back to work and keep the money in Alaska instead of going to out-of-state transportation." He concluded by stating his support of the bill. Number 0440 MS. SUTTON pointed out that there were two zero fiscal notes. While she had been unable to obtain updated ones, both ADF&G and DEC had affirmed with the committee substitute that there were still zero fiscal notes, she said. Number 0453 REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS moved that CSHB 265 be passed out of the committee, with attached fiscal notes. There being no objection, it was so ordered.