SB 42-PERSONAL USE FISHING PRIORITY  10:02:46 AM VICE CHAIR COGHILL brought the meeting back to order. SENATOR STOLTZE, as sponsor of SB 42, provided an overview of the bill. He said the bill directs the Board of Fisheries to place restrictions on sport and commercial fisheries before putting restrictions on personal use fisheries when the harvest of a stock or species is limited to achieve an escapement goal. He noted the benefit of this bill in the Cook Inlet area where the greatest tension exists. He noted the importance of food security for Alaska residents. 10:06:47 AM SENATOR STOLTZE continued to explain that SB 42 is a simple bill. He named the Alaskans that would benefit from the bill. He noted his family participates in fishing. He understood that the issue is political. 10:09:52 AM SENATOR MCGUIRE thanked Senator Stoltze for bringing the bill forward and echoed his comments. She said her constituents want the opportunity to pass on the tradition of fishing. She said she plans to co-sponsor the bill. She noted the constitutional mandate that the resources of the state should be shared among the people for maximum benefit. She compared it to hunting rights. 10:12:36 AM SENATOR STOLTZE stated that subsistence and personal use should be a priority because they are for Alaska residents. SENATOR HUGGINS commented that in the Wasilla area, the public cannot catch fish until August. Fishing is a "fighting" issue. He voiced appreciation for the bill. He asked who was opposed to the bill. 10:16:35 AM SENATOR STOLTZE answered that he would rather not battle with those who are against the bill. He explained the litigation history of fishing issues. He maintained that the bill is a positive, productive solution. 10:19:14 AM SAM COTTON, Commissioner, Department of Fish and Game, presented information on SB 42. He shared that historically the department has taken a neutral stance on this legislation. He said the legislature has the right to make allocative decisions in statute and the Board of Fisheries would be required to follow them. He said he is happy to work with the sponsor on issues that may come up as the bill progresses. Commissioner Cotton pointed out that there are 80 different personal-use fisheries in Alaska and it is possible that some may have unique circumstances that may need to be considered in order to avoid unintended consequences. SENAOTR STOLTZE noted a sports analogy. COMMISSIONER COTTON described some of the areas of controversy. He spoke in favor of the resident preference in the bill. SENATOR STOLTZE asked if crab is considered a fish stock. COMMISSIONER COTTON answered yes. 10:22:55 AM VIRGIL UMPHENOUR, Chair, Fairbanks Fish and Game Advisory Committee, testified in support of SB 42. He said he was on the Board of Fisheries for eight years. He recalled one of the first meetings he attended was about Cook Inlet. He cited problems with the commercial fisheries and his goal to get a meaningful dip net fishery for the Kenai Peninsula. He said the bill is long overdue. 10:25:08 AM ROD ARNO, Executive Director, Alaska Outdoor Council, testified in support of SB 42. He related that at the annual meeting in Juneau there were 21 delegates who unanimously endorsed SB 42. He voiced appreciation for the efforts of the sponsor. He said it is a good step in times of shortages. 10:26:46 AM WES HUMBYRD, representing himself, testified in opposition to SB 42. He shared that he has been a commercial fisherman in Cook Inlet since 1966. He disagreed with some of the previous comments. He said he does not know of any gillnetter in Cook Inlet that wants to take away anyone's personal use fishery. They want to see the illegal aspects of it taken away. 10:30:04 AM VICE CHAIR COGHILL thanked all the testifiers. He returned the gavel to Chair Stoltze. CHAIR STOLTZE noted that public testimony for SB 42 would remain open.