HB 118-TRANSPORTATION OF COMMERCIAL FISH  REPRESENTATIVE PAUL SEATON, sponsor of HB 118, informed committee members that HB 118 gives fishermen another tool to get better quality fish to market while reducing costs and provides the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) with a better mechanism to keep track of fish. Fishermen will have a legal way to consolidate catches, record that information, and move those fish to market. CHAIR OGAN asked who opposes the bill. REPRESENTATIVE PAUL SEATON said no one has opposed this legislation. CHAIR OGAN asked if this legislation will "put a few guys in the fish transport business...?" REPRESENTATIVE SEATON agreed and added a number of fishermen with small catches will be able to aggregate their catches on one boat and make up the fish ticket on each fisherman's catch. That way, only one boat will have to run the fish to town without everyone having to leave the fishing grounds or hold the fish longer. That will provide for better quality fish and reduce fuel expenses. SENATOR WAGONER said about six or eight boats fished Chinitna Bay after the season was over [last year] in Cook Inlet. Those boats had an 8-hour run to sell their minimal amount of fish. This bill will allow those fishermen to combine their catches and have one boat make the run. REPRESENTATIVE SEATON pointed out that a quirk in current law requires the fisherman to be at the point of sale so a fisher cannot make a fish ticket and have those fish delivered by another fisherman. MR. DOUG MECUM, Director of the Division of Commercial Fisheries, ADF&G, said he was available to answer questions. CHAIR OGAN asked Mr. Mecum to review the history of why this has not been allowed in the past. MR. MECUM said this legislation covers all of ADF&G's concerns. It has worked with the Departments of Law and Public Safety and finds the bill contains adequate protections to ensure that ADF&G gets accurate data, which has been its main concern. He explained that the current statutory requirement that fishermen be present at the point of sale was imposed for the purpose of enforcement of fishing regulations and tracking. This legislation modifies that statute. The Division of Wildlife Protection will be able to track down where and when the fish were caught. CHAIR OGAN asked if the Division of Wildlife Protection supports this legislation. MR. MECUM said that division is comfortable with this legislation. Major Cockrell has testified at least three times to that effect. There being no further questions or discussion, SENATOR WAGONER moved CSHB 118(RES) am out of committee with individual recommendations and its attached fiscal note. CHAIR OGAN announced that without objection, the motion carried. He then adjourned the meeting at 4:23 p.m.