Board of Fish Legislation - Need Comments sent in

Discussion area for political and legal issues affecting Alaskan salmon fisheries.
Post Reply
Ocean Gold
Member
Posts: 134
Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2008 1:22 pm
Location: Juneau
Contact:

Board of Fish Legislation - Need Comments sent in

Post by Ocean Gold »

SB 284 introduced by Senator Lyda Green would designate seats on the Board of Fish. Senate Resources heard the bill this week and accepted a committee substitute and held the bill for another hearing. The CS language now reads (full legislation not copied here)
The board consists of
(1) two members who represent commercial fishing interests and who do not hold and do not have an immediate family member who holds (A) a sport fishing operator license under AS 16.40.260; (charter) or (B) a sport fishing guide license under AS 16.40.270
(2) three members who represent personal use or subsistence fishing interests and who (A) do not hold and do not have an immediate family member who holds (i) a commercial fishing permit or crewmember permit under AS 16.05.480; (ii) a sport fishing operator license under AS 16.40.260; or (iii) a sport fishing guide license under AS 16.40.270 or (B) do not own or have an immediate family member who owns a commercial fish processing business;
(3) two members who represent sport fishing interests and who (A) do not hold and do not have an immediate family member who holds a commercial fishing permit or crewmember permit under AS 16.05.480; or (B) do not own or have an immediate family member who owns a commercial fish processing business.

(e) in this section, "immediate family member" means (1) the spouse or domestic partner of the member; or (2) a parent, child, including a stepchild and an adoptive child or sibling of the member if the parent, child, or sibling resides with the member, is financially dependent on the member, or shares a substantial financial interest with the member.

During the hearing that was held the following testimony was heard:
For support of the bill
1. The commercial fishermen control the Board of Fish
2. Need a board of fish that is fair
3. Sport fish/PU/Subsistence does not have a voice on the Board of Fish
4. Local Advisory committees have designated seats for different users
5. It's all about allocation and we'll fight until we get new people that will see things our way

Comments opposing the bill
1. The bill as written would cut the pool of individuals that would be eligible to serve
2. This is a statewide board not just a Cook Inlet Board
3. What knowledge would three PU/subsistence users seats bring to the table
4. Commercial fisheries are the largest private sector employer in the state and two is not enough
5. This does not solve the problem - a professional board is needed
6. MOst permit holders in AYK are subsistence and commercial and would not be able to serve
7. People with cross over experience would not be able to serve
8. Requirement that sport and PU/Subsistence seats may not have a family member with even a commercial crew license is too restrictive
9. Subsistence community does not feel that they can be represented by PU representatives
10. This bill does not include tender contracts among the items that would disqualify someone from sport or PU/subsistence seat.
11. Divisive - the resultant board would likely be more fractionalized, and it is not clear how the stated makeup would help the board make good decisions
12. This is a reaction to allocation decisions - what problem does this solve?

Address letters to:
Senator Charlie Huggins, Chairman
Senate Resources Committee
Alaska State Legislature
State Capitol, Mail Stop 3100
Juneau, AK 99801

Fax to 907-465-3265

Also if you read this far, the Governor announced her Board of Fish appointments today with the re-appointment of John Jensen and Mel Morris and appointment of William Brown of Juneau (sportfisherman)
Salty
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Posts: 2399
Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2008 1:46 pm

Re: Board of Fish Legislation - Need Comments sent in

Post by Salty »

Good post, thank you Ed. Tell us about Bill Brown.
Ocean Gold
Member
Posts: 134
Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2008 1:22 pm
Location: Juneau
Contact:

Bill Brown

Post by Ocean Gold »

I've only meet him once. He repairs fishing reels "Taku Reel Repair" and was a economics prof.and thats all we got. Sorry
Post Reply