HCR 11-ALASKA SALMON DAY CHAIR SEATON announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 11, Relating to Alaska Salmon Day. Number 0072 REPRESENTATIVE KELLY WOLF, Alaska State Legislature, as sponsor of HCR 11, provided the following testimony: Alaska is the largest commercial wild salmon fishery in the world. Nearly 95 percent of all commercially caught salmon in the United States are harvested here in Alaska waters. In the last decade state salmon harvests totaled more than $4.5 billion, making Alaska's salmon fishery a valuable industry to the State of Alaska. Last year, approximately 448,000 resident and nonresident licenses were issued for sport fishing alone - bringing another industry to the table for Alaska salmon. The proposal for Alaska Salmon Day is to promote that Alaska's wild salmon is a healthy food, with omega vitamins. The intent behind this proposal is to make July 2nd ... "Alaska Salmon Day," to promote catching and eating of salmon. It's not an allocation issue; it's not a "let's step on either side of the fence." Its intent is to raise the awareness that eating salmon is healthy. I hope you have received all of the recommendations for this - from Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska Seafoods, United Fishermen of Alaska, Salamatof Seafoods Inc., United Cook Inlet Drift Association, and Pacific Star Seafoods, Inc. We also have several others coming in at this time in support of it. ASMI [Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute] just supported this proposal, as well. Number 0286 REPRESENTATIVE WILSON said she was amazed this idea had not been thought of previously, since salmon are such an integral part of Alaska's heritage. REPRESENTATIVE WOLF replied that this idea had been addressed once before. Number 0357 CHAIR SEATON said he thought HCR 11 was a very good idea, stating that it draws attention to the salmon industry. Furthermore, the stocks' are healthy, and therefore the focus is on improved salmon quality. REPRESENTATIVE WOLF stated that HCR 11 is a way to promote Alaska wild salmon as a healthy food. He added that he does not fish commercially and he does not guide; he is "Joe fisherman." Number 0488 REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ suggested that if the intent is to promote wild salmon, then the word "wild" should be included in HCR 11. REPRESENTATIVE WOLF responded that all salmon in Alaska are considered wild because Alaska does not currently allow for the farming of salmon. However, Representative Berkowitz's suggestion is worth looking into, he said. Number 0545 REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ moved to adopt a conceptual amendment such that Alaska Salmon Day would be called "Alaska Wild Salmon Day". REPRESENTATIVE WOLF stated that he had no problem considering this to be a friendly amendment. Number 0599 CHAIR SEATON asked if there was any objection to the conceptual amendment. There being no objection, it was so ordered that the word "wild" be incorporated throughout the resolution. Number 0618 REPRESENTATIVE WILSON moved to report HCR 11, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being no objection, CSHCR 11(FSH) was reported from the House Special Committee on Fisheries.