HB 414 - MANAGEMENT OF GAME CO-CHAIRMAN OGAN announced the first order of business was House Bill Number 414, "An Act relating to management of game and to the duties of the commissioner of fish and game." Number 0086 DICK BISHOP, Representative, Alaska Outdoor Council (AOC), testified in Juneau. The delegates of the AOC recently voted to support HB 414. The AOC has worked with the sponsor on the language. It fills an important gap in game management policy by directing the Board of Game to establish regulations, promoting high levels of harvest, and specifying cooperation between the board and the Department of Fish and Game. The AOC also supports establishing personal and family use for consumptive as the highest and best use of game. The priority is already implied in statute, for example state law requires saving meat from game. It is also central to the values of all hunters - sport, subsistence, general or food. The findings accurately reflect the ongoing challenge of providing for these legitimate human uses. In general, nonconsumptive uses benefit from a (indis.) game population also. There is no inherent incompatibility between consumptive and nonconsumptive uses of game. The amendment that has been offered addresses the concern of opening areas that are presently closed arbitrarily by providing a rational basis. The AOC urges the passage of the bill. Number 0300 GERON BRUCE, Legislative Liaison, Office of the Commissioner, Department of Fish and Game, stated when it comes to deciding among the different uses of fish and game the board system has worked well by allowing people to argue their points. The department thinks that is the best way to allocate the use of these resources. He has provided a list from Title 5 of the areas closed by Board of Game regulations for hunting and trapping. Some of the closures were established specifically to protect or enhance wildlife viewing opportunities, such as the McNeil River State Sanctuary. It is doubtful whether they would remain closed. McNeil River is closed by statute, but there are many other areas, including the game refuge around it, that are closed by regulation. The department is not quite in agreement with the bill yet. Number 0460 CO-CHAIRMAN OGAN stated the definition of the term "game" in the dictionary is "wild animals, birds, fish hunted for food or sport." He suggested that the Department of Fish and Game look at the definition. Number 0485 MR. BRUCE further stated he recognizes that the sponsor has attempted to remove the conflict with a subsistence priority use. Number 0540 BRUCE CAMPBELL, Legislative Assistant, to Representative Pete Kelly, Alaska State Legislature, stated there is an amendment based on testimony from the last hearing. It reads as follows: TO: HB 414 Page 3, line 7, following "game.": Insert "(a)" Page 3, line 8, following "family": Delete all material Insert "consumption. The other" Page 3, following line 11: Insert a new subsection to read: "(b) Notwithstanding (a) of this section, the Board of Game may maintain a regulatory closure of an area to hunting or trapping that is in effect on the effective date of this subsection if the repeal of the closure would (1) create a significant risk to public safety; (2) pose a risk to continued sustained yield management of a game population; (3) not significantly enhance opportunities for personal and family use of game for human consumption; or (4) interfere with the rebuilding of a big game prey population to a level of abundance that would support a high level for human harvest." MR. CAMPBELL stated the original language, human consumption, narrowed the priority producing a conflict with the current subsistence priority and other anticipated priorities. Mr. Saxby from the Department of Law suggested taking the reference to people and food from the equation and to go back to personal and family consumptive use. Subsistence means more than just food in many areas. It may mean simply participating in a lifestyle, but it is a consumptive use. The intent is not to narrow that part of the debate, but rather to add a preference for consumptive use over nonconsumptive use. MR. CAMPBELL stated adding a new subsection to the bill would allow the Board of Game to maintain regulatory closures of an area to hunting or trapping based on four reasons - (1) create a significant risk to public safety; (2) pose a risk to continued sustained yield management of a game population; (3) not significantly enhance opportunities for personal and family use of game for human consumption; or (4) interfere with the rebuilding of a big game prey population to a level of abundance that would support a high level for human harvest. Number 0885 CO-CHAIRMAN OGAN asked Mr. Campbell how would the amendment affect control use areas. Number 0890 MR. CAMPBELL replied the amendment would allow control use areas to remain. Number 0951 CO-CHAIRMAN OGAN stated for the record that three members are not present in Juneau today - Representatives Williams, Barnes and Hudson. They are representing the state in other activities. CO-CHAIRMAN OGAN announced the bill will be held over.