SCR 10 - SUPPORTING USE OF FURBEARER RESOURCE Number 1809 CO-CHAIRMAN OGAN announced the final item of business was Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 10, supporting continued use of Alaska's renewable furbearer resources. He called on Beth Hagevig to present the resolution on behalf of the sponsor. Number 1834 ELIZABETH HAGEVIG, Researcher for Senator Gary Wilken, read a portion of the sponsor statement into the record: "Senate Concurrent Resolution 10 calls for the Alaska State Legislature's endorsement of continued harvest and use by Alaskans of the state's renewable furbearer resources, consistent with the principles of sustained yield. ... We in Alaska are blessed with many renewable resources, including abundant furbearer populations. Not only is trapping an important management tool for helping to maintain healthy furbearer populations, it is also a traditional activity for many Alaskans and helps promote self-reliance by providing income, food and clothing. Trapping ties Alaska to its pioneer roots and helps to keep alive the very values that build this state." Number 1914 DICK BISHOP, Executive Director, Alaska Outdoor Council, came forward to testify in support of SCR 10. He said this resolution is appropriate for reasons mostly documented in materials he had provided to the committee. TAPE 97-51, SIDE B Number 0006 (NOTE: MALFUNCTION CAUSED TAPE TO FLIP EARLY. NOTHING IS MISSING. LOG NUMBERS REFLECT ELAPSED TIME, NOT POSITION ON TAPE. THERE IS BLANK TAPE AT END OF SIDE A AND BEGINNING OF SIDE B.) MR. BISHOP recommended sending the resolution to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He referred to a letter he had written to that agency, which documents reasons the council believes trapping should be continued on wildlife refuges. He said it is important for the legislature to emphasize that they recognize and respect the values that Alaskans attach to trapping. He referred to other materials he had provided, which indicate that animal rights protectionists have mounted a campaign to discourage or eliminate trapping. He said the council disagrees with that and believes trapping is a legitimate use that should be continued. MR. BISHOP advised that roughly 86 percent of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife national refuge system is in Alaska. If that agency or the Department of Interior restrains trapping in some fashion, the effects fall mostly in Alaska, on Alaskans. He pointed out that those refuges routinely surround communities in outlying Alaska. Therefore, it is especially important to emphasize trapping as a traditional pursuit and means of livelihood. Number 0139 RANDALL ZARNKE, Alaska Trappers Association, testified via teleconference from Fairbanks in support of SCR 10, stating that the association has several hundred members. They are encouraged by the powerful sentiments expressed in the resolution and the powerful message that will be conveyed by adopting it. He said trapping is important statewide and cited examples. He said it also helps build and maintain a relationship between humans and the land on which they live. He emphasized that the species are not threatened or endangered, due in no small measure to professional management by state biologists. He said for these reasons and others, they encourage support of SCR 10. Number 0239 REPRESENTATIVE NICHOLIA asked to whom the resolution will be sent. MS. HAGEVIG said although they had not amended the resolution to say, they had in mind various newspapers in the state and, as Mr. Bishop mentioned, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. REPRESENTATIVE NICHOLIA stated that, coming from a long line of trappers, she believes it is a good resolution. Number 0296 CO-CHAIRMAN HUDSON made a motion to move SCR 10 out of committee with individual recommendations. He asked unanimous consent. CO-CHAIRMAN OGAN asked if there was any objection. There being none, SCR 10 moved from the House Resources Standing Committee.