HR 8-2019: INT'L YEAR OF THE SALMON    1:02:51 PM CO-CHAIR LINCOLN announced the first order of business would be HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 8, Recognizing 2019 as the International Year of the Salmon and supporting an associated global initiative identifying the importance of wild salmon. 1:03:33 PM THATCHER BROUWER, Staff, Representative Geran Tarr, Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Tarr, introduced HR 8. Mr. Brouwer said HR 8 recognizes 2019 as the International Year of the Salmon and supports an associated global initiative identifying the importance of wild salmon. Further, the resolution identifies significant cultural and economic impacts salmon have on the West Coast and describes that some salmon runs are thriving, and some are not, and require costly recovery and rehabilitation efforts. The International Year of the Salmon is a project launched by the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission and the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization. Mr. Brouwer said early in 2019, he became aware of the International Year of the Salmon and of the continuing salmon research and outreach resulting from the global initiative. For example, 21 international scientists conducted a five-week scientific expedition in the Gulf of Alaska, and are now analyzing the data that was collected. The scientists are using DNA to identify stock-specific rearing of all five species of salmon to determine their abundance and condition. Other projects include dam removal in Maine and river cleanup projects in Northern Ireland. The overall theme of the initiative is: Salmon and people in a changing world. Supporting HR 8 is a way for the state to recognize the importance of salmon to our state, and around the world, and encourage greater research of salmon and factors that impact their survival. Recognizing that salmon are a shared resource along the West Coast, HR 8 was introduced in conjunction with measures in Washington and Oregon. The health of salmon populations across the Northern Hemisphere varies but even the strongest salmon populations are facing threats from both humans and the changing environment; scientists still have a lot to learn about salmon lifecycles in order preserve critical subsistence, sport, and commercial fisheries. By passing HR 8, the legislature acknowledges 2019 is the International Year of the Salmon and directs attention to research and events of the global International Year of the Salmon (IYS) initiative. 1:07:15 PM REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN asked whether Washington and Oregon have allocated additional revenue for wild salmon research. MR. BROUWER clarified Washington and Oregon have not yet passed their related resolutions. He expressed his understanding neither of said resolutions have accompanying fiscal notes or allocated funds. In response to Representative Tuck, he said the "salmosphere" encompasses the Northern Hemisphere, from Atlantic salmon runs on the East Coast and Pacific salmon runs on the West Coast, to the Bering Sea and in Europe. CO-CHAIR TARR stated the resolution could be the beginning of collaboration between jurisdictions on ways to share research into salmon in the Pacific Northwest. REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS questioned whether HR 8 should address the perils of farmed salmon to wild salmon. MR. BROUWER deferred to the sponsor. 1:11:29 PM An audio recording of a portion of the 4/23/19 House Special Committee on Fisheries meeting was played from 1:11 p.m. to 1:18 p.m. 1:18:31 PM MARK SAUNDERS, Director, International Year of the Salmon, Pacific Region, North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission, informed the committee the commission was formed 26 years ago, and its members are Canada, the U.S., Japan, South Korea, and Russia. The commission was formed to coordinate enforcement and science in shutting down the high sea driftnet fishery. Currently, the commission works on salmon conservation in partnership with the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization. He said 2019 is the focal year of the International Year of the Salmon, which is a five-year initiative that seeks to address threats to salmon from people and a changing environment, to generate knowledge, and to act. Mr. Saunders praised the legislative action that has been taken in Alaska, Washington, and Oregon, and noted there is a shared interest from British Columbia, Canada, as well. He advised Atlantic [Ocean] countries and other Pacific Rim countries are engaged in the initiative. The decline in the productivity of salmon in their marine environment began in the early 1990s and has worsened; the situation is not unique and is more dire for the Atlantic salmon. On the West Coast, there are also declines in Chinook stock and low abundance of pink. Mr. Saunders said he was looking forward to working with Alaska to develop the International Year of the Salmon and its call to action, and stated his organization's full support for HR 8. 1:22:32 PM REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN asked whether there has been participation in international collaborative research by Russia, Japan, and South Korea. MR. SAUNDERS said yes; all are parties to the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission and thus participate in the commission's internal support of his task to promote the International Year of the Salmon. This year, the initiative is seeking resources to build connections and by 2022, hopes to have a five-country, five-vessel survey of the entire North Pacific so as to understand the changes in the North Pacific and provide information that can be used to predict and improve forecasting. Japan, South Korea, and particularly Russia, have been involved in high seas ecosystems and are interested in the western North Pacific. 1:24:43 PM ROBERT D. MECUM, Deputy Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) informed the committee of his years of experience in fisheries research and management. Mr. Mecum said NOAA supports and participates in the coordination and development of the IYS initiative. In Alaska, salmon are essential to the Alaska way of life and Alaska is integral to the world's production of salmon; the Alaska salmon fishery is the most valuable commercial fishery in the U.S. Sustaining Alaska's wild salmon populations is essential to preserving long-standing cultures. The theme of the IYS initiative is: Salmon and people in a changing world. The life history of salmon exposes them to many environmental and adverse factors that affect health and abundance. The IYS initiative seeks to raise awareness of what is possible to preserve salmon and restore their habitat; envisions an expansion of salmon research on the high seas and in nearshore waters; supports one full year of education, outreach, and public engagement; provides a platform for understanding of the species; promotes conservation, restoration, community support, and ocean literacy; provides NOAA an opportunity to report on the species and habitat focus area programs. Mr. Mecum said salmon affect more people than any other fish species; therefore, it is important to understand the affects of a changing climate on the ocean, salmon freshwater habitat, distribution, and productivity for the benefit of management agencies, the fishing industry, Tribes, recreational users, and the public. Speaking on behalf of NOAA, he urged the committee to support HR 8. 1:28:33 PM TYSON FICK said he is a commercial gillnetter and owner of Taku River Reds, which currently sells fish all across the U.S. He spoke in support of HR 8, noting salmon have been central to his life - for all of his life - and noted his experience working on [fishing industry] legislative issues, for the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council, and for other commercial fisheries organizations, and said HR 8 provides an opportunity for fishing interests to work together. During his time at the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute he shared with others the history of the Alaska State Constitution, which is unique and presents an opportunity to share Alaska's success. There is also an opportunity to learn from the mistakes of others; for example, Idaho is spending $16 billion to restore comparatively small salmon runs. However, in 1959, Alaska harvested less than 30 million salmon, last year there were approximately 120 million harvested, and the forecast for this year is 200 million. Mr. Fick pointed out [HB 8] is an opportunity to agree on [fisheries issues]. 1:33:04 PM A short video was shown from 1:33 p.m. to 1:34 p.m. 1:34:26 PM JILL WEITZ, Campaign Director, Salmon Beyond Borders, said her campaign has worked for the last five years to unite all sectors of Southeast Alaska - commercial fishing, sportfishing, municipalities, business owners, tour operators, and lawmakers - to defend and sustain the transboundary Taku, Stikine, and Unuk rivers, which are the three largest salmon-producing rivers in Southeast Alaska. The campaign has been involved with IYS to bring together states and regions to focus on the region's salmon. In Southeast Alaska, salmon connects residents to indigenous and non-indigenous communities and lands. She referred to a tour of northwest British Columbia during which Salmon Without Borders learned: each community is different; each community has different traditions; everyone has a salmon story. In 2018, IYS was launched at an event attended by representatives from the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean basins, leaders from Canada, the U.S., Russia, South Korea, and Japan who demonstrated support for IYS and its goals. Ms. Weitz advised Alaska has what the Pacific Northwest does not and thus must work to sustain its resources for the future; IYS creates an opportunity for collaboration, and she said it is an honor to work for salmon, which are a symbol of resilience, of function, and of Alaska. REPRESENTATIVE TUCK asked if the [International Year of the Salmon] is an organization. MS. WEITZ explained it is a global initiative organized in North America by the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission and the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization. In further response to Representative Tuck, she said 2019 is the actual year of the salmon; this year will be spent raising awareness for IYS and generating funding for ongoing and new research. In the future, IYS will report on its progress. 1:39:25 PM CO-CHAIR LINCOLN opened public testimony; after ascertaining no members of the public wished to testify, public testimony was closed. [HR 8 was held over.]