ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES  February 8, 2006 8:34 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Gabrielle LeDoux, Co-Chair Representative Bill Thomas, Co-Chair Representative John Harris Representative Jim Elkins Representative Peggy Wilson Representative Mary Kapsner Representative Woodie Salmon MEMBERS ABSENT  All members present COMMITTEE CALENDAR CONFIRMATION HEARING(S) Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission Bruce C. Twomley - Juneau - CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED Board of Fisheries Jeremiah D. Campbell - Seward - CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION No previous action to record WITNESS REGISTER BRUCE TWOMLEY, Appointee to the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission (CFEC) Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: As appointee to the CFEC offered a brief biography, summation of his new duties, and answered questions. JEREMIAH D. CAMPBELL, Appointee to the Board of Fisheries Seward, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: As appointee to the Board of Fisheries offered a brief biography, summation of his new duties, and answered questions. MEL MORRIS, Vice Chairman Board of Fisheries Kodiak, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of Mr. Campbell's appointment to the Board of Fisheries. RENEE COOK, Member Sitka Charter Boat Operators Association; Board Member, Alaska Conservation Alliance Sitka, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of Mr. Campbell's appointment to the Board of Fisheries. BURNIS SIMS, Member Alaska Conservation Alliance Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of Mr. Campbell's appointment to the Board of Fisheries. DEBORAH SIMMS Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of Mr. Campbell's appointment to the Board of Fisheries. PETER KARWOWSKI Magic Waters Charter Homer, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified that Mr. Campbell is able to see both sides of an issue. BRUCE ELKINS Sea Flight Charters Homer, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified that Mr. Campbell will do a good job as a member of the Board of Fisheries. KEITH KALKE Homer, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of Mr. Campbell's appointment to the Board of Fisheries. BEAVER NELSON Homer, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of Mr. Campbell's appointment to the Board of Fisheries. JAMIE ROSS Homer, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of Mr. Campbell's appointment to the Board of Fisheries. DONNA BONDIOLINI (No address provided) POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of Mr. Campbell's appointment to the Board of Fisheries. RICKY GEASE, Executive Director Kenai River Sport Fishing Association Soldotna, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of Mr. Campbell's appointment to the Board of Fisheries. RON RAINEY, Chairman Kenai River Sport Fishing Association Soldotna, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of Mr. Campbell's appointment to the Board of Fisheries. VIRGIL UMPHENOUR, Chairman Fisheries Subcommittee Fish and Game Advisory Committee Fairbanks, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of Mr. Campbell's appointment to the Board of Fisheries. DICK BISHOP Alaska Outdoor Council Fairbanks, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified that the AOC strongly supports Mr. Campbell's appointment to the Board of Fisheries. BOB THORSTENSON, President United Fishermen of Alaska; Lobbyist for the Sitka Herring Group, Southeast Alaska Seiners Association, Armstrong-Keta Inc., and Wrangell Seafood Inc. Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to the confirmation of Mr. Campbell. SCOTT MCALLISTER, President Herring Marketing Association Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Provided comments regarding the Sitka Sound sac roe fishery. ACTION NARRATIVE CO-CHAIR GABRIELLE LEDOUX called the House Special Committee on Fisheries meeting to order at 8:34:01 AM. Representatives LeDoux, Thomas, Kapsner, Salmon, Elkins, and Harris were present at the call to order. Representative Wilson arrived as the meeting was in progress. ^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S) ^Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission 8:34:18 AM CO-CHAIR LEDOUX announced that the first order of business would be a confirmation hearing for Bruce C. Twomley to the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission (CFEC). 8:34:52 AM BRUCE C. TWOMLEY, Appointee to the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission (CFEC), informed the committee that he was first appointed to the Limited Entry Commission in 1982 and has been reappointed in successive administrations. He further informed the committee that prior to serving on CFEC, he was an attorney for Alaska Legal Service. He suggested that he has experience being on the receiving end of agency decisions and knows ways in which to keep an agency out of trouble. Mr. Twomley said that although serving on CFEC is demanding work, it's especially strong with the current membership. Therefore, Mr. Twomley requested the committee's permission to continue sitting on the CFEC in order to conclude some of the work he began. 8:36:22 AM REPRESENTATIVE HARRIS inquired as to what CFEC does. MR. TWOMLEY explained that the notion is that in order to manage the fisheries in the state one must gain control of the variables. One of the large variables is the number of participants and the pressure they exert on the fisheries. For quite some time, Alaska failed in its efforts to limit entry in its salmon fisheries, which lead to the establishment of the current limited entry commission. He specified that CFEC will limit entry if it will serve conservation and prevent economic distress among fishermen. The statute requires that CFEC rank each applicant and award permits based on who has demonstrated the most dependence on the fishery. 8:38:14 AM REPRESENTATIVE HARRIS asked if CFEC supports the state buying back limited entry permits under certain conditions. MR. TWOMLEY answered that he is supportive of reducing the fleets, particularly in the salmon fishery, in situations in which it can improve the situation. He expressed the need to perform a fishery-by-fishery analysis in order to determine whether it's a good investment in a particular area. 8:38:57 AM REPRESENTATIVE HARRIS recalled mention that in some cases there are more permit holders than [permit holders who] actually fish and asked if that's a problem for the state or the fishery in the future. MR. TWOMLEY opined that it's a major issue. Such a situation may improve the economics for those who are active in a fishery. However, it's a large factor when considering any type of fleet reduction remedies because the question becomes whether it would be a good investment [for the state] to purchase permits that aren't being fished. 8:39:55 AM REPRESENTATIVE HARRIS recollected discussion of taking back permits because, in some cases, the state gave permits at no cost. MR. TWOMLEY related that the nature of limited entry permits is that they are privileges. Statute is explicit that the state has the power to take back or modify those permits without compensation. However, that principle is being challenged in court in a case in the Kenai fishery. In that case, the claim is that the limited entry permits are more than privileges and they represent a property right that should be compensated if taken. In further response to Representative Harris, Mr. Twomley related his belief that limited entry permits are clearly a privilege under the law. The aforementioned has been very important in dealing with other entities, such as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), that would like to seize and force the sale of limited entry permits. 8:41:36 AM CO-CHAIR THOMAS directed attention to the shrimp fishery, which CFEC is attempting to limit now. He related his understanding that there will be a lottery to give out the last permits. MR. TWOMLEY explained that statute instructs the CFEC to award the permits to those who need it the most and move down the point level. The shrimp fishery is reaching a point level at which there are more people than permits. In that instance, the statute specifies that there be a lottery confined to those at a specific point level. 8:42:53 AM CO-CHAIR THOMAS surmised then that the dependency basis will be dropped when a lottery is implemented. MR. TWOMLEY pointed out that this process was set by the legislature and thus is modifiable. "It is the case that all the people in that category have measured up in terms of dependence under the system. So, they all at least look the same when it comes to the standard measures for dependence," he explained. He acknowledged that there may be other things to consider. 8:44:25 AM MR. TWOMLEY, in response to Co-Chair Thomas, explained that dependence is measured by the point system that measures all applicants. The dependence measure doesn't include consideration of who is currently fishing and who isn't. 8:44:58 AM CO-CHAIR LEDOUX inquired as to how the log of the CFEC is doing. MR. TWOMLEY opined that the CFEC has made progress in the last decades. He reminded the committee that there was a difficult confluence of events in the 1980s during which the supreme court held up many cases while waiting for the decision in Ostrosky because some speculated that it would eliminate [the limited entry system] entirely. However, when Ostrosky upheld the decision, all the supreme court decisions came in a flood and many reversed past CFEC decisions. Furthermore, it was determined that reversal of a CFEC decision can be applied retroactively and could basically undo a fishery. The aforementioned was coupled with several fisheries under pressure that had to be limited in the late 1980s and [the CFEC] decided to settle the Wassillie case, which provided an entire class of plaintiffs an opportunity to apply for the original salmon fisheries. Therefore, a flood of new applications came forward and under the settlement the Wassillie applicants couldn't fish until and unless a permanent permit was received from the CFEC. This all led to the CFEC facing some 900 cases in the 1990s and since that time at least 26 additional fisheries have been limited. To date, the total number of cases before the hearing officers and CFEC is 230. 8:48:13 AM CO-CHAIR LEDOUX asked if there is any effort to look back and determine whether there are cases that have fallen through the cracks. MR. TWOMLEY replied yes. He explained that the first priority is for cases in which the immediate right to fish is at stake and then the oldest cases are taken next unless there is a particular fishery that's under pressure and requiring attention. The Wassillie case was a priority and those cases were completed in the fall of 2000. In the 1990s there were also fisheries that were under pressure and requiring attention. In 1997 when the bottom fell out from under the salmon fisheries, everything changed. 8:49:30 AM MR. TWOMLEY, in further response to Co-Chair LeDoux, highlighted that sometimes it appears that a fishery can wait when, for example, it is healthy and wealthy. He emphasized the need to prioritize. 8:50:53 AM CO-CHAIR THOMAS inquired as to whether the sport charter fleet could petition the CFEC to be limited under state law. MR. TWOMLEY related his understanding that it would take legislation to do so because he didn't believe that the CFEC has such authority. 8:51:47 AM The committee took a brief at-ease. CO-CHAIR LEDOUX, upon determining that no one else wished to testify, closed public testimony. 8:53:07 AM CO-CHAIR THOMAS moved that the committee forward Bruce Twomley's name to the full body for consideration in joint session. There being no objection, Mr. Twomley's name was advanced. ^Board of Fisheries CO-CHAIR LEDOUX announced that the next order of business would be a confirmation hearing for Jeremiah D. Campbell to the Board of Fisheries. 8:53:43 AM JEREMIAH D. CAMPBELL, Appointee to the Board of Fisheries, introduced himself. 8:54:14 AM REPRESENTATIVE HARRIS inquired as to Mr. Campbell's background noting that he is in receipt of letters from the United Fishermen of Alaska (UFA) who aren't very supportive of Mr. Campbell's nomination. 8:54:39 AM MR. CAMPBELL informed the committee that he was born and raised in Seward and has commercial fished in various types of fisheries. He noted that his family started a custom seafood processing shop and as of three years ago started a sport fishing charter business. That business also does sightseeing and with the purchase of a 100-foot commercial fishing tender the [charter business] will also do salmon and herring tendering. In further response to Representative Harris, Mr. Campbell confirmed that he is actively participating in both the sport and commercial fishing industries. 8:56:26 AM REPRESENTATIVE HARRIS asked if Mr. Campbell felt that he has the experience and knowledge to address the allocation issues and other complicated state issues of the various fisheries. MR. CAMPBELL replied yes, and related that by growing up in a small fishing community he has been allowed to experience the various commercial fisheries, sport fishing, tendering, and seafood [processing]. The aforementioned experience, he said, affords him the ability and qualities to reach decisions that are consistent with good fishery management. Furthermore, Mr. Campbell said that he has good people skills and has always made himself available to those on all sides of an issue. Moreover, he related that he believes in the board process and trying to keep an open mind when trying to reach tough decisions that impact the livelihood of many. 8:58:35 AM REPRESENTATIVE HARRIS asked if Mr. Campbell has sat in on a board meeting. MR. CAMPBELL replied yes, adding that he just completed sitting in on his third or fourth meeting. In fact, he noted, he chaired his first committee, the Southeast King Salmon Management Plans for Districts 8 and 11. The aforementioned committee had to address many tough issues. He noted that he received many compliments with regard to how he handled himself and thus the opposition from the UFA was a setback, which he characterized as unfair and unwarranted. Mr. Campbell explained that the opposition from the UFA was in response to his vote in opposition to the equal split herring fishery. 9:00:16 AM REPRESENTATIVE HARRIS asked if Mr. Campbell's testimony before the House Resources Standing Committee referred to investment fisheries. MR. CAMPBELL replied yes. He recalled that his reference to investment fisheries was in the context of rationalization. He explained that he didn't want the state's fisheries to turn into investment fisheries such as has been the case with some of the federal fisheries in which the actual permit holder doesn't actively participate in the fishery and in essence leases his/her permit. 9:01:27 AM MR. CAMPBELL, in further response to Representative Harris, clarified that he doesn't support the lack of active participation [by the permit holder]. Mr. Campbell opined that he didn't want the little guys to be squeezed out by those who are buying up as many permits and individual fishery quotas (IFQs) as possible in order to simply have an investment. 9:02:24 AM REPRESENTATIVE HARRIS recalled Mr. Campbell's mention of chairing a committee on the board and asked if it dealt with equal split harvest proposal. MR. CAMPBELL replied no. In further response to Representative Harris, Mr. Campbell said that he did make comments on the split harvest relating his belief that the fishery was a healthy, competitive fishery that was doing well under the current management plan given the current conservation statistics. The issue for him, he related, was in relation to the public ownership and the means of production. He opined that there were just too many unknowns in regard to the loss of jobs and small businesses that depend upon the sac roe fishery for part of their income. At the time, he said he didn't believe it was warranted to choose that route. However, he acknowledged that in the future such an option may be warranted. Furthermore, it didn't seem fair to penalize those who bought into limited entry. 9:05:59 AM REPRESENTATIVE HARRIS inquired as to the difference between a rationalized and a restructured fishery. MR. CAMPBELL related his belief that Chignik probably qualifies as a restructured fishery and thus it's being tweaked to make it a more viable fishery. A restructured fishery changes the policies in order to allow progressive opportunities such that a long-term sustainable fishery is created while the limited entry aspect of that fishery is maintained. The board has provided options such that fishermen can be competitive or enter the cooperative. On the other hand, a rationalized fishery is when, due to conservation or economic concerns, the state or the federal government enters the scene and divides up the shares. In such a situation there are not many choices, there is no competitiveness, and many people don't qualify, he opined. 9:10:12 AM REPRESENTATIVE HARRIS inquired as to what Mr. Campbell views as the most important issues facing the Board of Fisheries in the next couple of years. He also inquired as to how Mr. Campbell believes allocation amounts should be determined. MR. CAMPBELL opined that probably some of the most important issues will be the following: restructuring of the salmon industry around the state; the rationalization of the Gulf of Alaska; and the charter IFQ. With regard to the allocative decisions, those are based on various things, including history, length of participation in a fishery, et cetera. As a board member, Mr. Campbell said that during deliberations and committee work regarding allocation amounts much information can be extracted and one can decide what is the best for the overall health of a fishery. He highlighted the need to be cautious when allocation amounts are moved from one sector to another. 9:14:17 AM REPRESENTATIVE WILSON recalled Mr. Campbell's support of the reduction of the Copper River King salmon fishery, which many people believed was too drastic of a reduction. MR. CAMPBELL characterized the aforementioned decision as difficult. He explained that the purpose of the reduction of the Copper River King salmon fishery was to restrict access inside the barrier islands of the Copper River Delta to commercial fisheries. He recalled that under the original proposal no more than one 12-hour opening for the first three weeks of the Copper River fishing season was allowed. The majority of that meeting dealt with the lack of King salmon in the upper river areas. Mr. Campbell pointed out that ultimately the openings in the Copper River area were restricted in the first two weeks. He explained that the first amendment restricted the Copper River fishery to a 12-hour opening in the first two weeks of the fishery. The second amendment, which Mr. Campbell offered, changed the language "12-hour opening" to "one commercial fishing period". Mr. Campbell said he made it clear that if the run was large, the period could be extended by emergency order. He opined that the board was trying to balance the needs of all the users in the Upper Copper River. 9:18:35 AM REPRESENTATIVE WILSON asked if Mr. Campbell, a nonqualifying halibut chart owner, can remain neutral through the discussions regarding IFQs. MR. CAMPBELL replied yes and emphasized that he doesn't bring any agenda to the board. He opined that the board needs to do what is right for the resource and the fleet. He noted that he does oppose IFQs as currently written. Although the IFQ is a great tool for the commercial fishing industry, he opined, it isn't appropriate for the sport fishing charter sector. However, he said that he does support limitations on the charter fleet because something needs to be done to check the growth of the charter fleet, otherwise the guideline harvest levels will be exceeded. He discussed the various options that need to be reviewed. The charter fleet is stuck because it's not an actual user of the resource as it is a service industry that provides access. Therefore, the question becomes how access can be limited for the hundreds of thousands of people who use the resource. In further response to Representative Wilson, Mr. Campbell said that his sport fishing and sightseeing businesses wouldn't qualify for any [IFQs] because they weren't in existence during the qualifying years. 9:23:14 AM REPRESENTATIVE WILSON returned to the equal split proposal for the herring sac roe fishery and pointed out that over 80 percent of the permit holders were agreeable and 90 percent of the processors were agreeable. She requested explanation of the decision. MR. CAMPBELL opined that the Board of Fisheries took all sides into account on that decision. He reiterated the huge unknowns in changing the management scheme and emphasized that he didn't believe the time was right for the equal split proposal. 9:24:58 AM REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER referred to Bob Tkacz's journal "Laws for the Sea" in which Mr. Campbell was quoted, in reference to the sac roe herring issue, as saying that perhaps UFA was using this as a smoke screen. If that's the case, Representative Kapsner inquired as to the reason Mr. Campbell believes UFA opposes his nomination to the Board of Fisheries. MR. CAMPBELL opined that it appears the UFA president who was hired for the Sitka Herring Group was upset when this vote came down. Within 12 hours of the vote, hundreds of e-mails were submitted from the president of UFA requesting that UFA members withdraw support for his nomination. He opined, "My vote is my vote." Mr. Campbell then pointed out that three other people voted the same as he did. The issue is that the equal split didn't occur. However, he highlighted that this is only one issue and that he has received positive feedback from various sectors of the fishing industry. Mr. Campbell specified that he views each issue on its own merits. 9:27:57 AM REPRESENTATIVE SALMON inquired as to Mr. Campbell's views on subsistence fishing and where it falls in terms of priority with sport and commercial fishing. He further inquired as to which fishery takes priority when the runs are low. MR. CAMPBELL opined that subsistence is a vital part of Alaska's heritage and economies in rural areas. However, the law specifies that is no longer a rural/urban preference and all Alaskans have to be considered equal with regard to subsistence use. When runs are low subsistence should have the first priority, which is the way the law is set up. If runs are too low to support subsistence, then the matter moves to Tier II and where the individual lives and the importance of subsistence fishing to that individual's survival comes into plan when determining priority. REPRESENTATIVE ELKINS asked if Mr. Campbell's opinion of the president of UFA is that he is a paid lobbyist. He then asked if the president of UFA is listed as a paid lobbyist by the Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC). 9:30:44 AM MR. CAMPBELL said that he was told that the president of the UFA was a lobbyist by members at the Southeast meeting. He said that he could neither confirm or deny that. He mentioned that the president of UFA was hard core on his views. 9:32:13 AM REPRESENTATIVE ELKINS recommended that Mr. Campbell find out if the individual in question is a paid lobbyist before making a statement to that effect. MR. CAMPBELL said that if he's speaking out of turn he would apologize. 9:32:56 AM CO-CHAIR THOMAS asked if Mr. Campbell believes that sport fish operators should pay a raw fish tax. MR. CAMPBELL answered that he would probably say no, adding that he didn't know how it would be paid. CO-CHAIR THOMAS explained that the raw fish tax is similar to what loggers pay to harvest timber. Co-Chair Thomas related his belief that whomever harvests the fish should pay the state for doing so. He then asked if Mr. Campbell believes that sport charters should pay an enhancement tax to hatcheries that produce fish for those who fish. MR. CAMPBELL opined that much of the sport fishing interests have paid for certain amounts of releases and operational costs at some of the hatcheries in Southeast. Mr. Campbell emphasized that if the sport fishing fleet wants to have access to those hatchery fish, then the fleet should pay its share. 9:35:39 AM CO-CHAIR THOMAS noted that he represents Cordova and opined that with the board has driven another nail in the coffin of a struggling community. He said he understood the need for fish "Up River," but taking fish out of one spawning area consistently for a few years results in the fish not returning. He related his belief that the management techniques should have been decided by the managers, who are difficult to recruit, particularly when the Board of Fisheries usurps his/her power. He then turned attention to the Sitka co-op that is based on safety and noted that Sitka has done that before. He then recalled Mr. Campbell's comments about handing down IFQs to [family members] to which he opined that if one works hard he/she deserve to reap the rewards. He then questioned why Mr. Campbell entered the commercial tender business when everyone else is leaving it. He questioned whether Mr. Campbell knew something he didn't or is co-oped/partnered with someone who got Mr. Campbell a contract. If the aforementioned is the case, Co- Chair Thomas opined that Mr. Campbell would have a conflict of interest. Co-Chair Thomas related that he would like Mr. Campbell to use his influence to obtain a 32-inch limit for halibut for sport fish, sport charters, and subsistence fisheries. Co-Chair Thomas concluded by saying that he's not totally pleased with Mr. Campbell's nomination, and inquired as to why he decided to serve. However, he commended him for stepping forward. 9:40:41 AM MR. CAMPBELL said that he has had a desire to be in public service and fisheries seemed to be appropriate since he has been involved in it for most of his life. Mr. Campbell opined that he can help make a difference in the future of Alaska's fisheries by making good decisions within the board process. He further opined that board members must have an open mind and a willingness to learn. He mentioned that some individuals in the sport fishing industry encouraged him to look into the Board of Fisheries. 9:43:15 AM REPRESENTATIVE WILSON recalled that Mr. Campbell is connected with sport and commercial fishing. She highlighted that currently if one is involved with commercial fishing, that individual is conflicted out, but that's not the case if one is involved with sport fishing. She asked if Mr. Campbell believes that's appropriate. MR. CAMPBELL related his understanding that any issue before the board that provides a direct financial interest for the member or his/her family, regardless of whether it was sport or commercial fishing, could lead to the member having a conflict of interest [and being unable to participate on that issue]. He said he would review whether the conflict of interest provision applies to sport fishing interests. 9:45:37 AM CO-CHAIR LEDOUX then turned to public testimony. 9:45:52 AM MEL MORRIS, Vice Chairman, Board of Fisheries, informed the committee that he has been on the board for three years. After working with Mr. Campbell over the last four months, Mr. Morris said he has been extremely impressed with Mr. Campbell's ability to work hard and chair the Southeast Committee. Furthermore, Mr. Campbell is articulate regarding his views and accepts the outcome, Mr. Morris related. He concluded by opining that Mr. Campbell will make an excellent member of the Board of Fisheries. 9:47:25 AM RENEE COOK, Member, Sitka Charter Boat Operators Association; Board Member, Alaska Conservation Alliance, related her support of Mr. Campbell, which she opined is open minded enough to make the proper decisions. She said that thus far Mr. Campbell has done a great job. 9:47:59 AM BURNIS SIMS, Member, Alaska Conservation Alliance, informed the committee that he runs a charter boat out of Homer. He related his belief that Mr. Campbell would make a good member of the Board of Fisheries. 9:48:28 AM DEBORAH SIMMS informed the committee that she is also a charter boat owner. She opined that Mr. Campbell will be a good representative on the Board of Fisheries because he has worked hard and has worked on both sides. She noted that Mr. Campbell has been a vice president of the Seward Charter Boat Association and Seward Fish & Game Advisory Committee. She related her support for Mr. Campbell. 9:49:07 AM PETER KARWOWSKI, Magic Waters Charter, opined that Mr. Campbell will be open minded and able to see both sides of an issue. 9:49:37 AM BRUCE ELKINS, Sea Flight Charters, said that he believes Mr. Campbell will do a good job. 9:49:48 AM KEITH KALKE stated support for Mr. Campbell and applauded his participation. 9:50:01 AM BEAVER NELSON informed the committee that he has commercial fished since 1969. He related that he is an avid sport fisherman and hunter and is a member of the UFA. He further related that he fished the Sitka sac roe herring and personally attended the Board of Fisheries deliberations in Valdez and Ketchikan during which the board addressed very contentious allocative issues. During both meetings, Mr. Campbell acted in a responsible and thoughtful manner to all issues presented. He said that he saw no evidence to support that Mr. Campbell is a single-issue board member. Furthermore, members of the public who worked with Mr. Campbell at the committee level provided comments in regard to how well Mr. Campbell handled himself. Mr. Nelson said that he particularly values that Mr. Campbell has hands-on experience in a variety of Alaska outdoor endeavors because these experiences and his ability to ask pertinent questions have enabled Mr. Campbell to quickly come up to speed on complicated issues. In conclusion, Mr. Nelson opined that Mr. Campbell has done a good job on the Board of Fisheries and will do so in the future. 9:50:53 AM JAMIE ROSS informed the committee that he has been a commercial fisherman for 25 years and has been involved in some of the most controversial fisheries in Alaska, including fishing in False Pass and Chignik and participating in the Sitka sac roe fishery. In fact, he estimated that he has been before two to three Board of Fisheries meetings a year for the past 20 years. He related his belief that a board member should be judged just like any other man and that is based on whether he has honesty, integrity, and is willing to perform hard work. Mr. Campbell exhibits all of those qualities, he opined. He further opined that Mr. Campbell will be one of the best Board of Fisheries members of the board. 9:52:03 AM DONNA BONDIOLINI stated her support the appointment of Mr. Campbell to the Board of Fisheries. She suggested that Mr. Campbell's diversified background will be an asset for the Board of Fisheries. Furthermore, she didn't believe that Mr. Campbell has an agenda, which is how it should be for the Board of Fisheries members. 9:52:45 AM RICKY GEASE, Executive Director, Kenai River Sport Fishing Association, related the association's support of Mr. Campbell's appointment to the Board of Fisheries. After watching him during two Board of Fisheries meetings, Mr. Gease said that Mr. Campbell works hard to seek solutions that will work for all user groups. Furthermore, Mr. Gease opined that Mr. Campbell is articulate, meticulous in planning and decision making, and is a great addition to the Board of Fisheries. Therefore, Mr. Gease encouraged the committee to confirm Mr. Campbell. 9:53:43 AM RON RAINEY, Chairman, Kenai River Sport Fishing Association, reiterated the association's support of Mr. Campbell's appointment. He noted that he was impressed with Mr. Campbell's commercial and sport fishing background. He indicated that he was also impressed with the way in which Mr. Campbell seeks in- depth information on the issues. Furthermore, Mr. Campbell seems to be fair and willing to make tough decisions. Therefore, Mr. Rainey encouraged the committee to confirm Mr. Campbell, which he characterized as the right thing to do for the state. 9:54:27 AM VIRGIL UMPHENOUR, Chairman, Fisheries Subcommittee, Fairbanks Fish and Game Advisory Committee, said he is in favor of the confirmation of Mr. Campbell. He recalled that during the Valdez Board of Fisheries meeting, he ascertained that Mr. Campbell reads the various staff reports, listens to all the user groups, and does his homework. Mr. Umphenhour concluded by strongly urging the committee to confirm Mr. Campbell. 9:56:13 AM DICK BISHOP, Alaska Outdoor Council (AOC), reminded the committee that the AOC is the state's largest outdoor user group, summing 12,000 strong. The AOC, he related, strongly supports Mr. Campbell's appointment to the Board of Fisheries as he has an impressive resume, great experience, and performed a good job during his short tenure with the board. Mr. Bishop opined that Mr. Campbell has handled the issues fairly and with an open mind. He highlighted Mr. Campbell's earlier comment that he attempts to do what is right for the resource, which Mr. Bishop said is of most importance. 9:57:43 AM BOB THORSTENSON, President, United Fishermen of Alaska; Lobbyist for the Sitka Herring Group, Southeast Alaska Seiners Association, Armstrong-Keta Inc., and Wrangell Seafood Inc., began by saying that he could think of no higher calling than to be paid to work for commercial fishermen. Mr. Thorstenson pointed out that although his vote may have been influenced by the recent Board of Fisheries meeting, 16 other organizations within UFA voted to oppose the confirmation of Mr. Campbell. He noted that none of those 16 groups had anything to do with the Sitka sac roe, but rather have an interest in what happens in the halibut fishery, the fishery in Prince William Sound, and the issues in Cook Inlet. Therefore, he related that the UFA vigorously opposes the confirmation of Mr. Campbell, who the organization believes is inexperienced. Furthermore, the three meetings during the five months of his service indicate that Mr. Campbell will be a poor board member for both commercial and sport fishermen. 9:59:17 AM SCOTT MCALLISTER, President, Herring Marketing Association, explained that the Herring Marketing Association represents the marketing interests of the Sitka Sound sac roe group in which he is a fishermen. He informed the committee that he has never qualified for one pound of IFQ or been awarded any permit through the permit process but rather has been vested as a businessman in commercial fisheries. He explained that the Ketchikan meeting regarding the Sitka Sound sac roe fishery was a plea from fellow businessmen in that industry to change the paradigm of the Sitka sac roe fishery to a more cooperative effort for biological concerns, subsistence, and to secure a foothold in the Japanese market for roe. 10:00:57 AM CO-CHAIR LEDOUX announced that Mr. Campbell's name would be forwarded to the full body for consideration. 10:01:07 AM ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business before the committee, the House Special Committee on Fisheries meeting was adjourned at 10:01:15 AM.