ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  HOUSE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE  April 4, 2025 1:03 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Robyn Niayuq Burke, Co-Chair Representative Maxine Dibert, Co-Chair Representative Carolyn Hall Representative Donna Mears Representative Dan Saddler Representative Julie Coulombe MEMBERS ABSENT  Representative Zack Fields Representative George Rauscher Representative Bill Elam COMMITTEE CALENDAR  HOUSE BILL NO. 117 "An Act relating to commercial set gillnet fishing; and providing for an effective date." - MOVED CSHB 117(RES) OUT OF COMMITTEE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: HB 117 SHORT TITLE: COMMERCIAL FISHING; SET GILLNET COOP SPONSOR(s): FISHERIES 02/26/25 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 02/26/25 (H) FSH, RES 03/01/25 (H) FSH AT 11:00 AM GRUENBERG 120 03/01/25 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED -- 03/04/25 (H) FSH AT 10:30 AM GRUENBERG 120 03/04/25 (H) Heard & Held 03/04/25 (H) MINUTE(FSH) 03/06/25 (H) FSH AT 10:00 AM GRUENBERG 120 03/06/25 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED -- 03/11/25 (H) FSH RPT 6DP 1NR 03/11/25 (H) DP: VANCE, KOPP, HIMSCHOOT, ELAM, MCCABE, STUTES 03/11/25 (H) NR: EDGMON 03/11/25 (H) FSH AT 10:00 AM GRUENBERG 120 03/11/25 (H) Moved HB 117 Out of Committee 03/11/25 (H) MINUTE(FSH) 03/13/25 (H) FSH AT 10:00 AM GRUENBERG 120 03/13/25 (H) 03/21/25 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124 03/21/25 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED -- 03/24/25 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124 03/24/25 (H) Heard & Held 03/24/25 (H) MINUTE(RES) 03/28/25 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124 03/28/25 (H) Heard & Held 03/28/25 (H) MINUTE(RES) 04/04/25 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124 WITNESS REGISTER CALVIN ZUELOW, Staff Representative Robyn Niayuq Burke Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Described the purpose of Amendment 1 to HB 117. REPRESENTATIVE LOUISE STUTES Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: On behalf of the House Special Committee on Fisheries, prime sponsor of HB 117, on which she serves as chair, expressed support for Amendment 1. ACTION NARRATIVE 1:03:19 PM CO-CHAIR BURKE called the House Resources Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:03 p.m. Representatives Saddler, Hall, Mears, Dibert, and Burke were present at the call to order. Representative Coulombe arrived as the meeting was in progress. HB 117-COMMERCIAL FISHING; SET GILLNET COOP  1:03:57 PM CO-CHAIR BURKE announced that the only order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 117, "An Act relating to commercial set gillnet fishing; and providing for an effective date." 1:04:13 PM CO-CHAIR BURKE opened public testimony on HB 117. After ascertaining there was no one who wished to testify, she closed public testimony. 1:04:56 PM CO-CHAIR DIBERT moved to adopt Amendment 1 to HB 117, labeled 34-LS0557\N.4, Bullard, 4/2/25, which read as follows: Page 1, following line 2: Insert a new bill section to read:  "* Section 1. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to read: LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the intent of the Legislature that the Board of Fisheries, in adopting regulations under AS 16.05.251(j), added by sec. 2 of this Act, that establish the number of set gillnet entry permit holders that may fish together as a cooperative in each administrative area, (1) for the purpose of maximizing local participation and review, establish the number of set gillnet entry permit holders that may fish together as a cooperative in a particular administrative area at a public meeting at which the Board of Fisheries is scheduled to consider finfish regulations for the area; (2) consider the number of set gillnet entry permits and the number of set gillnet entry permit holders who have historically fished permits together in the area; and (3) preserve the status quo with regard to affecting the number of set gillnet entry permit holders that may fish together." Page 1, line 3: Delete "Section 1" Insert "Sec. 2" Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. Page 1, lines 7 - 8: Delete "present at all times and actively engaged in the operation. Not more than 10 set gillnet entry permit holders may fish as one cooperative" Insert "physically present and actively engaged in the operation, unless the other permit holder is absent for a reason permitted under AS 16.05.253(a)" Page 1, line 15: Delete "." Insert "; (3) establish the maximum number of set gillnet entry permit holders that may fish as a single cooperative in each administrative area; however, no cooperative may be limited to fewer than three set gillnet entry permit holders.  * Sec. 3. AS 16.05.253(a) is amended to read: (a) The Board of Fisheries may require a person who holds a limited entry permit or an interim-use permit under AS 16.43 to be physically present at a beach or riparian fishing site during the operation of net gear or other stationary fishing gear at the site, except when the permit holder is at or traveling to or from the location of (1) a sale of fish caught in the gear or,  if the permit holder is a member of a cooperative  established under AS 16.05.251(j), a sale of fish  caught in the gear of another permit holder member of  the cooperative; or (2) other stationary gear of the permit holder or, if the permit holder is a member of a  cooperative established under AS 16.05.251(j),  stationary gear belonging to another permit holder  member of the cooperative." Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. Page 2, lines 5 - 6: Delete "a single permit holder" Insert "any permit holder who is a" 1:05:02 PM CO-CHAIR BURKE objected for the purpose of discussion. 1:05:16 PM CALVIN ZUELOW, Staff, Representative Robyn Niayuq Burke, Alaska State Legislature, explained that Amendment 1 to HB 117 added intent language specifying that regulations establishing the maximum size of co-ops in each administrative area should be taken out by the Board of Fisheries in cycle with the affected areas fin fish meeting. This would allow the highest level of local participation and review from the residents and stakeholders of each affected area. The amendment also added intent language that directed the Board of Fisheries to consider the number of permits and the traditional size of cooperative operations in an area and to preserve the status quo of the size of cooperative set net operations. In the actual language of the bill, the amendment replaced the words "present at all times" with "physically present" to mirror language in Alaska statute AS 16.05.253(a) which specified circumstances where it would be allowable to be away from the net. The language would ensure that the bill doesn't restrict cooperative operations beyond what was required in statute. The amendment also removed language allowing ten permit-holders to work together in cooperatives state-wide and directed the Board of Fisheries to establish for each administrative area the maximum number allowed in a cooperative, specifying that the number cannot be lower than three. The amendment also amends AS 16.05.253(a) with conforming language to clarify that permit-holders may be absent while delivering fish or traveling to another net. The amendment additionally provides language suggested by former lt. governor, Loren Leman, specifying that any permit-holder may deliver on behalf of a cooperative. 1:07:39 PM REPRESENTATIVE LOUISE STUTES, Alaska State Legislature, expressed support for the amendment on behalf of the House Special Committee on Fisheries, prime sponsor of HB 117. She thanked the committee for creating an amendment that strengthened the bill. 1:08:21 PM CO-CHAIR BURKE removed her objection to Amendment 1. There being no further objection, Amendment 1 to HB 117 was adopted. 1:08:49 PM CO-CHAIR DIBERT moved to report HB 117, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal note. There being no objection, CSHB 117(RES) was reported out of the House Resources Standing Committee. 1:09:46 PM ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business before the committee, the House Resources Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 1:09 p.m.