SB 56-SPORT FISHING FEES FOR YUKON RESIDENTS  SENATOR FRED DYSON, sponsor of SB 56, gave the following explanation of the measure. A couple of times former Senator Randy Phillips worked on getting reciprocity of resident fishing licenses for our neighbors in the Yukon. In anticipation of that happening, the Yukon Parliament passed a bill to extend the same courtesy to Alaskans. The Yukon Territory has a population of slightly less than 30,000, and unless one of the glaciers continues to recede, it has no saltwater frontage on the Pacific. Yukoners are indeed the closest neighbors to most of Alaska and a few hundred of them, maybe even more than a thousand of them, come down to fish our waters. This measure is just one of several activities being taken to build a relationship with our Yukon neighbors. They are, I believe, very appreciative of those efforts. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) has estimated a negative financial impact from this legislation. However, there will probably be a net financial gain for the people of Alaska. The Yukoners will spend time and money in our coastal cities. The State of Alaska is working very closely with the Yukon Government to build a natural gas pipeline and to tie together their railroad systems. Both governments engage in some game co-management, particularly for caribou, and work together on a number of cooperative tourism efforts. The Premier may be visiting Juneau in the next three weeks. Alaska has a bilateral agreement with the Yukon government to continue to work on issues of common interest. SB 56 is a small gesture on Alaska's part to be good neighbors. The Government of Yukon is more than willing to reciprocate and has, in fact, done that. He asked that the committee interrupt its proceeding to hear from Premier Fentie as soon as he is available via teleconference. VICE-CHAIR WAGONER announced that Senator Lincoln was present. He then said Premier Fentie was not on-line yet so he would take public testimony. MR. BENJAMIN BROWN, representing the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce, stated strong support for SB 56 and Senator Dyson's efforts to extend a hand of friendship to our Canadian neighbors to the east. The Yukon Territory and Alaska share a lot of similarities in personality and geography. One similarity they do not share is the saltwater coastline. The Yukon Territorial Assembly has already passed legislation enabling Alaskans to obtain resident fishing licenses in the Yukon Territory. SB 56 may seem like a small gesture but it fits into a larger framework of developing friendly relations with the Yukoners. MR. GORDY WILLIAMS, legislative liaison for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), introduced Rob Bentz, deputy director of the Division of Sport Fisheries. He said ADF&G has had several spirited discussions with the sponsor of SB 56 over the last few days. He appreciates and supports the sponsor's desire to be a good neighbor, however ADF&G has some concerns to point out to committee members. The first is the fiscal note, which represents a decrease in revenue in the amount of about $46,000 from the fish and game fund. He admitted it is a bit difficult to quantify the numbers and would answer any questions about the fiscal note but pointed out the figure provided is ADF&G's best estimate. The second issue is the public policy call of granting this privilege to Yukon residents and the precedent that may set for the residents of British Columbia. VICE-CHAIR WAGONER asked Mr. Williams to postpone the remainder of his testimony as Premier Fendie was on-line. PREMIER DENNIS FENDIE, Government of Yukon, said his recent discussions with Senator Dyson renewed an issue for Yukoners that has been around for awhile, that being reciprocal licensing fees between Alaska and the Yukon. He said the Yukon Assembly has already made regulatory changes to allow Alaska residents to purchase a fishing license at a predetermined rate, which he believes is $15. SB 56 would provide Yukoners that same reciprocal arrangement when purchasing fishing licenses in Alaska. He indicated that the Yukon has no intention of creating problems for the state; the agreement will be between two jurisdictions and would not set a precedent because the Yukon does not have similar arrangements with other Canadian jurisdictions. SB 56 will do a lot for relationship building. The Government of Yukon and the State of Alaska work on many issues collectively with a common purpose and interest, for example, SHAKWAK, the railway, and the gas pipeline. This gesture is one small component of what is growing into a very productive relationship between the two jurisdictions. He said the Government of Yukon is ready to enter into the reciprocal agreement but, despite the outcome of SB 56, it desires to continue to work together with the State of Alaska. SENATOR DYSON said his sense is that reducing the cost of the fees will not make a huge economic difference to the Yukoners who come to the coast to fish, but it will send a friendly signal. He asked Premier Fendie if he believes SB 56 will increase the number of Yukoners that come to the coast to fish. PREMIER FENDIE said it is highly unlikely because the number of Yukoners who travel to the coast today is not driven by the cost of the license but rather by the close proximity. He repeated this is more about furthering relationships; he does not believe SB 56 will create a mad rush of Yukoners to Alaska. He pointed out the Yukon Territory's population has decreased by about 3,000 people over the last six years. He said that Yukoners hope this will also entice more Alaskans to come fish in the Yukon Territory. He then informed members he will be traveling to Juneau soon to visit with Governor Murkowski. There being no further questions, VICE-CHAIR WAGONER asked Mr. Williams to resume his testimony. MR. WILLIAMS continued by telling members it is important to remember that British Columbia shares a significant border with Alaska and a significant portion of its population does not have access to saltwater. He also pointed out that Alaska and the Yukon have significant differences in their sport fishing limits. In the Yukon, the limit is an amalgamation of two salmon per day; in Alaska, non-residents are allowed an amalgamation of 26 salmon per day and access to halibut and other saltwater species. Much of the Yukoners' saltwater fishing efforts are concentrated in the Southeast area of Juneau, Haines and Skagway. He deferred to Mr. Bentz to recount discussions about those areas at Board of Fisheries meetings. He concluded by saying ADF&G supports the commitment to maintain a good relationship with the Government of Yukon, but it wants the committee to be informed of the issues that surround this kind of approach. SENATOR ELTON said the least of his concerns is the decrease of $46,000 in the fish and game fund because ADF&G has dollars warehoused in a lot of different components. He said the issue of concern to him is that the Premier said he does not anticipate any further effort on the part of Yukoners in Southeast waters. However, right now non-residents catch two out of three king salmon and there is a cap on the take of king salmon each year by the sport component. He asked for reassurance that the enactment of SB 56 will not create cap problems that make it more difficult for Southeast residents to catch salmon. MR. ROB BENTZ, deputy director of the Sport Fish Division, ADF&G, said there are limits on the sport fishery. The Board of Fisheries has delineated the limits and restrictions for residents and non-residents. The board met in Ketchikan last February and amended the king salmon management plan to make the restrictions on non-residents a little more stringent. The daily limit for king salmon will be one per day and three fish annually, regardless of the abundance. In contrast, the resident daily limit will remain at two king salmon with no annual limit. If the number of fishermen from the Yukon Territory remains static, he does not anticipate any impacts to resident anglers. SENATOR ELTON asked if ADF&G and the Board of Fisheries define resident anglers by where they live, not by whether they have a resident fishing license. He asked if under SB 56, a Yukoner would be considered a non-resident yet hold a resident fishing license. SENATOR DYSON clarified that resident status will only apply to the fee so that Yukoners will pay a resident fee for a non- resident license. SENATOR LINCOLN asked if the amount in the fiscal note was calculated by changing the amount charged for the number of licenses sold to Yukoners in the past. MR. WILLIAMS referred to a chart distributed to members and indicated that the first column total reports the number of licenses sold, which was 2,741. Currently, the non-resident annual fee is $100 per year. In addition, non-residents who want to make multiple trips can buy a one or three-day license for less than the cost of an annual permit. Therefore, of the total 2,741 purchases, some people may have purchased multiple-day permits while other people may have purchased annual permits. SENATOR LINCOLN asked if ADF&G anticipates an increase in the number of Yukoners who would come to Alaska if the license fee is reduced. MR. WILLIAMS said the resident rate is for an annual license so it may not entice more people to come but it is likely to entice those with licenses to come more often. MR. BENTZ added that when the legislature raised non-resident license fees in the mid-1990s, ADF&G was concerned that it might see a decline in the number of non-resident anglers. The increased fee did not have that effect. He does not believe the license fee is a deterrent. Those who want to fish will do so. He said in the past, in a group of six, two may have fished. If SB 56 is enacted, perhaps four of the group will purchase licenses. SENATOR DYSON asked if the purchase of one annual license as opposed to several day licenses will reduce ADF&G's administrative cost. MR. BENTZ said sales will be easier for the license vendors. SENATOR LINCOLN asked what effect the currency exchange will have. VICE-CHAIR WAGONER said it should have no effect on Alaska but it will be cheaper for Alaskans buying licenses in the Yukon. SENATOR ELTON asked that someone get back to him with an answer on whether Yukoners will have to register the boats they trailer to Alaska. MR. WILLIAMS said he did not think so and believes that is only a requirement for boats being registered in Alaska. VICE-CHAIR WAGONER asked if Mr. Williams said the bag limit in Alaska is 26 salmon per day. MR. WILLIAMS said the non-resident limit is an amalgamated total of 26 salmon per day including pinks, chums and cohos. MR. BENTZ said the bag limits, except for king salmon, are the same for residents and non-residents. In most saltwater areas, the limits are 6 per day for each species of coho, chum, sockeye and pink. The king salmon limit is one per day for a non- resident or 2 for a resident. Therefore, a non-resident or resident could keep 25 fish per day. VICE-CHAIR WAGONER said he has done a lot of saltwater fishing and has never caught close to that number. MR. WILLIAMS said he made that point to show what the availability will be if a Yukoner buys an Alaska license. VICE-CHAIR WAGONER noted there were no further questions and asked the will of the committee. SENATOR STEVENS moved SB 56 from committee with individual recommendations and its attached fiscal note. There being no objection, VICE-CHAIR WAGONER announced the motion carried.