HB 128-ALASKA WILD SALMON DAY  9:27:28 AM CHAIR STOLTZE called the committee back to order and announced the consideration of HB 128. 9:27:40 AM KRISTINA ANDREW, Staff, Representative Bryce Edgmon, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, read the sponsor statement for HB 128 as follows: Alaskans prize wild salmon. No other of our fish plays such a prevalent role in our lives and no other is so nourishing and appetizing. According to a survey conducted during the summer of 2011, 96 percent of Alaskans feel that salmon is essential to their way of life. Salmon subsistence fishing has sustained Alaska Native people for thousands of years. Recreational fishing for salmon is a lifelong pursuit and passion for urban and rural residents alike, along with many visitors to our state. Commercial salmon fishing has been a mainstay industry in Alaska for more than a hundred years. By establishing August 10th as Alaska Wild Salmon Day, HB 128 will encourage the celebration of these Alaska pastimes, professions, and ways of life. Alaska Wild Salmon Day will also provide opportunities to promote our wild salmon's deliciousness, purity, and healthfulness to visitors from across the country and around the world. Prior to introducing this bill, our office has consulted with people involved in the Alaska seafood marketing industry, the Alaska restaurant and tourism industries, and even representatives from Alaska's airlines, and they all agree that Alaska Wild Salmon Day can create endless opportunities to make salmon lovers out of countless visitors to Alaska. We are confident in upcoming support from the Alaska Travel Industry Association, Visit Alaska, the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI), the United Fishermen of Alaska, and Alaska Airlines. 9:29:40 AM CHAIR STOLTZE asked why August 10th was chosen as the day to celebrate Alaska Wild Salmon Day. MS. ANDREW answered that the intent was to select a day that was in the midst of the tourism season. She explained that July was crowded with state holidays and early August was chosen. CHAIR STOLTZE suggested that July 10th might be more appropriate because the date coincided with the start of the Kenai-Kasilof Personal Use Salmon Fishery. MS. ANDREW pointed out that July 9th was Alaska Flag Day. SENATOR MCGUIRE stated that she supported Alaska Wild Salmon Day. She said she had two questions, the first was the status on U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski's challenge for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to rule on genetically modified methods for farmed salmon. Second, she asked what the sponsor envisioned for activities that would take place on Alaska Wild Salmon Day. She inquired if local community councils would come up with their own ideas and how would children be involved. MS. ANDREW replied that she did not have an answer regarding a FDA ruling on farmed salmon. She addressed Alaska Wild Salmon Day and explained that the intent was to establish a day that could be celebrated by the state, private industry, communities, and families. She opined that HB 128 would be liken to a birthday party for salmon that would be celebrated with cook- offs and merchandise. She said HB 128 would let Alaskans and visitors know that August 10th was a day to celebrate the beloved salmon. 9:32:50 AM SENATOR MCGUIRE recounted that the Legislature in the past had grown tired of created new "days." She opined that "days" had merit and her intent was to consider what the "days" were. She suggested that Alaska Wild Salmon Day address a commercial element where the cruise ship and tourism industries get involved as was done with the Iditarod. She added that an educational element for children be integrated as well during the final month of school. She opined that children should learn about "wild versus farmed" and why wild salmon was important in one's diet. MS. ANDREW revealed that the bill's original draft mentioned the educational component. She concurred that both promotion and education should be explored for Alaska Wild Salmon Day. CHAIR STOLTZE remarked that HB 128 identified salmon in both formal and less formal terms. He noted that Chinook was identified as "king." He asked what provenance was used in deciding on names for specific salmon species. MS. ANDREW replied that there was not much behind choosing the word "king" and offered that the name could be changed to "Chinook." CHAIR STOLTZE stated that his intent was to provide consistency. MS. ANDREW noted that a previous committee debated "chum" versus "keta," but chum was chosen. CHAIR STOLTZE revealed that "keta" was considered for marketing purposes. 9:36:31 AM SENATOR HUGGINS suggested that Alaska Wild Salmon Day be thought of in a broader sense where fishery shortages were addressed as well. He opined that a broader-context approach would bring attention to wild salmon's plight. 9:39:15 AM CHAIR STOLTZ announced that he would offer an amendment to change "king" to "Chinook" for consistency's sake. 9:39:32 AM SENATOR COGHILL objected for discussion purposes. He noted that he was almost an adult before he knew king salmon had a different name because on the Yukon River, "kings" were what the particular salmon was called. He suggested that if the bill's intent had an educational component, that "known as" be incorporated to provide colloquial salmon species names in order to avoid confusion. CHAIR STOLTZE announced that he would withdraw his amendment and offered a conceptual amendment to draft the formal name and in parenthesis indicate the common usage. He noted that "chum" or "dog" salmon was changed to "keta" for marketing purposes. He asked Ms. Andrew if she preferred "keta" or "dog." MS. ANDREW replied that she had not heard the word "keta" until she worked for the Legislature. She stated that she preferred "chum" or "dog" salmon. CHAIR STOLTZE stated that both would be used. He revealed that he has been on the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute's (ASMI) board of directors for 10 years and noted that ASMI made a concerted effort to market keta salmon versus dog salmon. SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI shared that he had reviewed the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's (ADFG) website and pointed out that ADFG identified salmon as: king, coho, sockeye, chum, and pink. He added that ADFG noted salmon's other names in parenthesis as well. CHAIR STOLTZE replied that ADFG interchangeably used formal and common names. He pointed out that the Legislature put money in the budget for "Chinook" studies and "Chinook" enhancement. He added that fishermen refer to the "sockeye" stamp and not the "red" stamp. 9:42:25 AM SENATOR MCGUIRE stated that she supported Chair Stoltze's conceptual amendment because the change addressed both salmon education and marketing. She suggested that the committee agree on the scientific and commonly used names. CHAIR STOLTZE asked if Representative Edgmon's office had any objections to expanding salmon names for educational purposes. MS. ANDREW replied that she personally liked the idea of including the names for salmon, but noted that she could not answer for Representative Edgmon. She remarked that she did not anticipate an objection from Representative Edgmon. CHAIR STOLTZE commented that he would not bow at the altar of Fish and Game. He stated that he would make the "executive decision" to move forward with his amendment and remarked that he thought Senator Wielechowski would concur. SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI opined that no one would read the resolution, but people would celebrate Alaska Wild Salmon Day by whatever name the salmon were called. SENATOR MCGUIRE stated that her hope was the amendment would inspire Representative Edgmon's office to think of educational and marketing ideas to celebrate Alaska Wild Salmon Day. 9:45:55 AM CHAIR STOLTZE restated his motion and detailed Conceptual Amendment 1 as follows: CONCEPTUAL AMENDMENT 1  Line 6 will read: Chinook (king), sockeye (red), coho (silver), chum (dog/keta), and pink (humpy). 9:46:31 AM CHAIR STOLTZE moved Conceptual Amendment 1. He announced that hearing no objection, the amendment was adopted. He referenced data from 2015 and asserted that over 36,000 Alaskan households benefited from the "Alaskan resident only" personal-use Kenai-Kasilof and Chitina fisheries. He stated that he could not think of a more unique fishery that benefited from the wild bounty of Alaska's salmon. 9:48:25 AM SENATOR COGHILL moved to report HB 128, as amended from committee with individual recommendations and attached zero fiscal note. 9:48:35 AM CHAIR STOLTZE announced that hearing no objection, SCS HB 128(STA) is reported from committee.