Number 611 HJR 61 - Community Development Fishing Quotas KAREN BRAND, AIDE, REPRESENTATIVE CARL MOSES, stated committee members have a copy of the January 1994 newsletter from the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council in their folders which contains background for HJR 61. She said HJR 61 first outlines some of the facts relative to the Western Alaska Community Development Quotas (CDQ) groups and then addressed the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council's comprehensive rationalization plan for groundfish and crab. HJR 61 requests the council to allocate groundfish and crab to the Western Alaska CDQ groups under any comprehensive plan which the council will develop in the future. MS. BRAND pointed out HJR 61 asks that fairness and equity be exercised by the council towards the CDQ groups. The CDQ groups have already received sablefish and halibut shares through the Individual Fishing Quota program currently being administered by the National Marine Fisheries Service. She stated the further addition of groundfish and crab will complete the allocated procedure under current consideration of the fishery resources for the CDQ groups. She noted that Representative Moses respectfully requests the committee to consider HJR 61. Number 659 RICK LAUBER, CHAIRMAN, NORTH PACIFIC FISHERIES MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (NPFMC), stated the council currently has under consideration the comprehensive rationalization plan which will include an individual fishing quota consideration as well as vessel licensing and other means of rationalizing the fishery. He said with the options under discussion, CDQs are included as an alternative for consideration by the council. He felt among the Alaska delegation, there is strong support for the CDQ program, regardless of the type of program put in place. He noted at the January meeting, NPFMC decided to move ahead with a vessel licensing program. The vessel licensing program has a provision which will set aside various percentages for community development programs. He felt HJR 61 is appropriate. REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON made a motion to MOVE HJR 61 with zero fiscal note out of committee with INDIVIDUAL RECOMMENDATIONS. CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS asked if there were any objections. Hearing none, the MOTION PASSED.