HB 186-SPORT FISHING GUIDE RECORDS 8:41:13 AM CHAIR SEATON announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 186, "An Act relating to sharing with certain federal agencies records required of sport fishing guides." 8:42:23 AM CHAIR SEATON pointed out that the committee packet contains a letter from the Southeast Alaska Fishermen's Alliance in support of HB 186 as well as a letter from the United Fishermen of Alaska. Chair Seaton then noted that Kathy Hansen is available to answer questions. 8:43:11 AM LARRY MCQUARRIE, Region 2C Vice President, Halibut Charter Coalition of Alaska; Operator, Sportsman's Cove Lodge, began by noting his lengthy involvement in the fishing industry and this issue in particular. He related his support for HB 186 and informed the committee that he's currently a member of the stakeholders committee. Recalling when the logbooks first came into use, he related that confidentiality of the client list was of concern. At that time, it never occurred to [the charter businesses] that the data wouldn't be shared. The information needs to be utilized to properly manage the catch, he related. The annual bag limit is one of the best options in controlling the catch for the charter industry. However, he related his understanding that the annual bag limit is very expensive to implement and thus the availability of this information will be helpful. In response to Chair Seaton, Mr. McQuarrie confirmed that he has no problem with sharing the information with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC). 8:47:02 AM REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON related his understanding that the catch and the fishing license number will be reported. He asked if there's a way to tie a fishing license number to a person such that the client list is obtainable. MR. MCQUARRIE replied yes. He pointed out that the fishing license numbers were included in order to make the logbooks verifiable such that the individual linked with the license number could be called to verify the catch information. In further response to Representative Johnson, Mr. McQuarrie acknowledged that the ability for a competitor to obtain a client list is of concern. However, he said he trusted that there will be some limits on that information as the information needed is the "numbers, not necessarily people." REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON suggested that perhaps the last three numbers of the fishing licensing could be redacted in order to inhibit access [to client lists]. 8:48:50 AM CHAIR SEATON highlighted that this won't make the information public, it makes it available only to NMFS and IPHC. He said that the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G) can be asked to verify that the aforementioned entities hold the information confidential. REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON said he would appreciate such. 8:49:39 AM CHAIR SEATON, in response to Representative Johnson, reminded the committee that an amendment providing for an immediate effective date was adopted [March 19, 2007]. 8:50:21 AM CHAIR SEATON, after determining no one else wished to testify, closed public testimony. 8:50:30 AM DOUGLAS VINCENT-LANG, Special Projects Coordinator, Division of Sport Fish, Alaska Department of Fish & Game, in response to Chair Seaton, specified that the personal records shared with NMFS and IPHC would have to remain confidential. He highlighted the importance of sharing this information because if the state was to go to a federal annual limit on halibut, for instance, part of the enforcement procedures would be to review individual angler records to ensure that the annual limits weren't exceeded. 8:51:49 AM REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN moved to report HB 186, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal note. There being no objection, CSHB 186(FSH) was reported from the House Special Committee on Fisheries. The committee took a brief at-ease.