HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES March 2, 1994 8:30 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Carl E. Moses, Chair Representative Harley Olberg, Vice Chair Representative Irene Nicholia Representative Cliff Davidson Representative Gail Phillips MEMBERS ABSENT None COMMITTEE CALENDAR HJR 59: Relating to reduction of wanton waste in North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea fisheries. ADOPTED CSHJR 59 AND PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE. WITNESS REGISTER CHERYL SUTTON, Committee Aide House Fisheries Committee Alaska State Legislature P.O. Box 1182 Juneau, Alaska 99811 POSITION STATEMENT: Explained the proposed committee substitute for HJR 59. RICK LAUBER Pacific Seafood Processors Association 321 Highland Drive Juneau, Alaska 99801 POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HJR 59. GERON BRUCE, Legislative Liaison Department of Fish and Game P.O. Box 25526 Juneau, Alaska 99802 POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HJR 59. PREVIOUS ACTION BILL: HJR 59 SHORT TITLE: WANTON WASTE OF FISH N.PACIFIC/BERING SEA SPONSOR(S): RULES JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION 02/18/94 2457 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S) 02/18/94 2457 (H) FSH, RESOURCES 03/02/94 (H) FSH AT 08:30 AM CAPITOL 17 ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 94-11, SIDE A Number 001 CHAIRMAN CARL MOSES called the House Special Committee on Fisheries meeting to order at 8:37 a.m. HJR 59 - WANTON WASTE OF FISH N.PACIFIC/BERING SEA CHAIRMAN MOSES announced the only order of business would be HJR 59, Relating to reduction of wanton waste in North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea fisheries. He noted the bill was sponsored through the House Rules Committee. CHAIRMAN MOSES read the following statement into the record: "House Joint Resolution 59 addresses an issue of immediate concern to Alaska and its commercial fishing industry. In a May 1993, report prepared for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game by Pacific Associates, the wanton waste of fishery resources in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea fisheries was documented. "Discards of either dead or live fishery resources occur in these commercial fisheries for three basic reasons: economics, management policies and fishing practices. Discards sometimes occur because of the economic loss associated with processing the entire harvest. When species of little or no value are harvested along with the target species, there is no real economic incentive to discourage discarding." CHAIRMAN MOSES noted there is a proposed committee substitute which corrects some technical errors. CHERYL SUTTON, Committee Aide, House Fisheries Committee, came before the committee to explain the proposed changes. She referred to page one, line nine, of the original legislation, and said "20,000,000 pounds," was incorrect. It should read "20,000,000 crabs." Ms. Sutton said a new "Whereas" section was added on page two, "Whereas fisheries can technically or operationally reduce waste or the incidental taking of nontarget species if given economic incentives or through appropriate regulatory measures;" She explained another change related to rearranging the words on page two, in the "Be It Resolved" section. The words were changed to read, "ecologically, socially, and economically;" Number 084 RICK LAUBER, representing the Pacific Seafood Processors Association, explained he is the Chairman of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. He said the Pacific Seafood Processors Association endorses the concept of the resolution. He noted that Senator Murkowski has introduced legislation that would allow the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to address the problem, and Senator Stevens also plans to introduce legislation. MR. LAUBER said he feels the amount of waste that is occurring in the North Pacific is obscene. Many vessels don't have to pay for their fish, so there is no incentive to process their catch. We should be moving towards a policy which would require that if you catch it, you keep it and use it in some way. Mr. Lauber discussed a practice called "bleeding the web" where a string on the net is pulled and the fish are allowed to float out. He said he has seen pictures where there was an appearance where you could walk across the ocean. There has also been evidence in that because the fish is concentrated when it sinks to the bottom, it further sours the bottom, harming the scallops. Mr. Lauber said he realizes that it could be costly to his industry, but he thinks that it is worthwhile. He urged passage of the resolution. REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIPS asked if other nations in other ocean systems are concerned about this problem. MR. LAUBER said unless regulated, it is a prevalent practice, particularly with vessels which catch and process their product. He continued to discuss the subject of discarding fish carcasses. Number 236 GERON BRUCE, Legislative Liaison, Department of Fish and Game, testified in support of the resolution. The Governor has called the discard and waste occuring in the North Pacific an economic and social disaster on the order of the Prince William Sound oil spill. He said the administration is very concerned about the issue and would like to see it addressed. Number 248 There being no further testimony on HJR 59, REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIPS moved to adopt CSHJR 59. There being no objection, the motion carried. Representative Phillips moved to pass CSHJR 59 from the House Special Committee on Fisheries. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered. Number 253 ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the committee, CHAIRMAN MOSES adjourned the meeting at 9:55 a.m.