Dear UFA members and friends,
The UFA Board held our annual Spring meeting last week in Juneau and staff has been busy carrying out the actions of the Board.
We have posted Resolution 2018-1 A Resolution in Support of Sea Otter Management on our website and submitted Comments on Department of the Interior 2019-2024 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas 5 year Plan to the regulations.gov docket.
Letters on bills and confirmation of appointments have been sent as these have come up in the Legislature and are noted below.
Legislative Finance subcommittees committees in the House have closed out and budgets are being heard in the full finance committee, while Senate finance subcommittees are continuing their work. Some work in the legislature has been delayed for health priorities …We wish a restful recovery for Rep. Guttenberg, and other members who have been suffering the flu or shoveling injuries.
UFA Executive Director Frances Leach and President Jerry McCune have been busy at the Board of Fisheries Statewide Dungeness Crab, Shrimp & Miscellaneous Shellfish meeting in Anchorage this week. We expect to catch on with membership mailings when things settle down next week, so thank you for your patience, and your support.
-Mark Vinsel
UFA Administrator
Please support our business members – see links on our website…
To join UFA see https://www.ufafish.org/become-a-member/
Contents:
- What’s new – appointments
- UFA Board Meeting actions on legislation
- The 30th Alaska Legislature – happenings since our last update
- Legislative meetings of interest for the week of March 12
- To testify, watch or listen in to a hearing
- Bills related to fisheries, and others that may be of interest to fishermen
- What’s new – appointments
Governor Walker appointed Tiffany Zulkowsky to House District 38 Seat (Feb. 22) and appointed Mike Shower to Senate E seat (Feb. 20)
The Governor appointed Dale Kelley as the second Commissioner of the Commercial Fishery Entry Commission. Confirmation hearings began on March 8 for Kelley and the previously appointed V. Fate Putman in House Fisheries, and they are scheduled in Senate Resources next Wednesday – see below. We eagerly await the Governor’s appointments to the Board of Fisheries and recommendations for the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.
- UFA Board Meeting actions on legislation…
The UFA board took actions to support appointment of V. Fate Putman and Dale Kelley as CFEC commissioners. House Special Committee on Fisheries interviewed both of them and Mark Saldi for the Fishermen’s Fund Appeals and Advisory Commission at its meeting this Thursday, March 8… see meeting link for video.
UFA voted to support the following fisheries legislation:
New bill HB 354 – “An Act relating to dive fishery management assessment procedures.” …moved out of House Fisheries committee on March 8 – (Ortiz – UFA supports) Meeting video … UFA letter
New bill HB 379 – Fishermen’s Fund “An Act relating to claims against protection and indemnity insurance policies of vessel owners.”….moved out of House Fisheries committee on March 8 (Ortiz – UFA supports) – Meeting video … UFA letter
HB 231 – “An Act relating to the Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission” (Administration – UFA supports)… moved out of House Fisheries on March 6 and is now in House Finance…(UFA supports) Meeting video … UFA Letter
HJR 35 / SJR 13: Urging Co-Management Plan for Sea Otters (Millett & Stevens – UFA supports) – Scheduled for Monday March 12 in Senate Resources – see below.
SB 210 – Mislabeling by retail food establishments (Wielechowski – UFA supports)
- The 30th Alaska Legislature – happenings since our last update…
Senator Lisa Murkowski addressed the legislature (February 22 – Video on Gavel to Gavel)…
Text of speech as prepared
Senator Dan Sullivan addressed the legislature (February 16 – Video on Gavel to Gavel)
Text of speech as prepared.
New Bill SB 211: Temporary Transfer of Commercial Fishing Permits
“An Act relating to the temporary transfer of limited entry commercial fishing permits; and providing for an effective date.”
Read the current “version b” of the bill in its entirety here….see below for March 12 scheduled hearing for public testimony in Senate Resources.
Sponsor Senator Gary Stevens is open to input from female fishermen regarding whether they prefer to be called “fishers”.
HJR 12 – Opposing FDA approval of GM Salmon and urging labeling (Tarr) – passed the Senate (2/19) and is awaiting transmittal to the Governor) UFA letter of support .
- Legislative meetings of interest for the week of March 12
The House Special Committee on Fisheries does not plan to meet during the week of March 12 – and expect to hear presentations on invasive Pike and a CS for HB 199 Habitat Permitting in the following week of March 19.
Monday, March 12, 2018
3:30 P.M. Senate Resources Committee – Room 205
SJR 13: Urging Co-Management Plan for Sea Otters (UFA Supports)
Meeting link…. Meeting Documents… Bill home page for tracking, full text, and documents
Also see UFA Resolution 2018-1 A Resolution in Support of Sea Otter Management (February 28, 2018)
&
SB 211 “An Act relating to the temporary transfer of limited entry commercial fishing permits; and providing for an effective date.”… also known as the Master Fisher Act.
Meeting link…. Meeting Documents… Bill home page for tracking, full text, and documents
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
10:00 A.M. House Fisheries special committee – Room 120 – Does not plan to meet unless something urgent comes up with bills previously heard… Meeting link
11:00 A.M. Senate Finance Transportation and Public Facilities subcommittee – Room 205
Alaska Marine Highway System Committee Questions… Meeting link
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
1:00 P.M. House Resources committee – Room 124 –
HB 260 – Fish and Game licenses electronic form – public testimony…Meeting link
3:30 P.M. Senate Resources committee – Room 205 – consideration of Governor’s appointees to CFEC – Dale Kelley and V. Fate Putman – public testimony (UFA Supports both)
Meeting Link … meeting documents
Thursday, March 15, 2018
10:00 A.M. House Fisheries special committee – Room 120 – Does not plan to meet unless something urgent comes up with bills previously heard… Meeting link
Friday, March 16, 2018
1:00 P.M. House Resources committee – Room 124 – HB 260 – Fish and Game licenses electronic form – Invited testimony…Meeting link
- To testify, watch or listen in to a hearing … To testify it’s best to go to a Legislative Information office – see them online at http://akleg.gov/lios.php .
If you can’t get to an LIO you can call in to listen in or testify through the following numbers – & ask for the specific committee hearing:
From Anchorage based phones call 907-563-9085;
From Juneau based phones or outside Alaska call 907-586-9085;
From other areas of Alaska, call toll-free 844-586-9085…and ask for the specific hearing.
To watch hearings online go to legislative home page at http://w3.akleg.gov/ at the time of the hearing, and click on the “Live Now” tab, and then select the meeting.
To watch floor sessions and other hearings see Gavel to Gavel archives.
- Bills related to fisheries, and others that may be of interest to fishermen…
HCR 8 – Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center (House Fisheries – passed House and Senate Committees, now in Senate Rules)
HJR 12 – Opposing FDA approval of GM Salmon and urging labeling (Tarr – passed House and Senate, awaiting transmittal to the Governor)
HB 14 – Leg. approval of Bristol Bay sulfide mine (Josephson – now in House Resources – new fiscal notes posted by DEC, DNR & ADFG)
HB 17 – Establishing a fish and game conservation program/account in ADFG (Josephson – now in House Resources)
HB 19 – Ban neonicotinoid pesticides (Drummond – passed House Resources, now in Finance)
SB25 – Motor Fuel Tax – Senate Rules by Request of the Governor (Senate Finance)
HB 29 -Prohibiting sale of genetically modified fish/fish products (Tarr – House Fisheries)
HB 32 – Relating to the labeling of food; relating to the misbranding of food; requiring labeling of food produced with genetic engineering (Tarr- House Resources)
HB 42 – Relating to seizure of property; relating to forfeiture to the state – includes language on seizure of fishing permits (Wilson – House Finance)
HB 46 Procure AK Fish, Ag Prod.; Raw Milk Sales (Tarr – House Finance)
HB 56 Relating to limitations on certain commercial fishing loans (Ortiz – Passed House – now in Senate Finance)
& companion bill:
SB 71 – Relating to limitations on certain commercial fishing loans (Stevens –Senate Finance)
HB 60 – Motor Fuel Tax (House Rules by Request of the Governor –now in House Finance)
SB 89 – Shellfish Enhancement Hatcheries (Stevens – now in Senate Finance)
HB 128 – companion bill (Ortiz – passed House and now in Senate Finance)
SB 95 – Mariculture revolving loan fund (Stevens – Senate Finance)
HB 76 – House companion bill – (Ortiz – passed House and now in Senate Finance)
HB 87 Board of Fisheries and Board of Game – Conflict of Interest (Stutes –passed House, now in Senate State Affairs)
HB 88 Board of Fisheries Membership (Rep. Stutes – now in House Fisheries)
SB 92 – (CS Posted) An Act relating to abandoned and derelict vessels; relating to the registration of vessels; relating to certificates of title for vessels; relating to the duties of the Department of Administration; relating to the duties of the Department of Natural Resources; establishing the derelict vessel prevention program; establishing the derelict vessel prevention program fund; and providing for an effective date.” (Micciche – CS passed Senate Resources – now in Senate Finance)
HB 107 Fisheries enhancement permit – egg & unfed fry enhancement in same waters (Talerico – House Resources)
SB 115 “An Act relating to the Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission; and providing for an effective date.” (Administration – Senate State Affairs) )
HB 231 “An Act relating to the Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission; and providing for an effective date.” (Administration –Passed House Fisheries, now in House State Affairs)
HB 129 – Fish and Game offense, licenses, and penalties (Administration – Passed House Resources and Judiciary committees and was given an additional referral, currently in House Finance)
SB 60 -Companion bill passed (Administration -now in Senate Judiciary)
HB 149 – Board of Fisheries five year cycle (Chenault – House Fisheries)
HB 155 – AK Mental Health Land Exchange (Ortiz –House Finance)
SB 173 – “An Act relating to the liability of a person or the state for the release of certain pesticides during application on a utility pole.” (Micciche – passed S. Resources and now in S. Judiciary)
HB 177 – Invasive Species (Tarr–House Finance)
HB 188 – Regional permit banks (Kreiss–Tomkins – passed House Fisheries, now in House Labor and Commerce)
HB 199 – Salmon Habitat permitting (Stutes – House Fisheries – awaiting new CS)
HB 237 – Salmon Escapement Goals (Neuman – House Fisheries)
HB 354 – Dive Fishery management (Ortiz – passed House Fisheries and now in House Resources)
HB 379 – Fishermen’s Fund reimbursement (Ortiz – passed House Fisheries and now in House Labor and Commerce)
SB 210 – Mislabeling by retail food establishments (Wielechowski – Senate State Affairs)
SB 211 “An Act relating to the temporary transfer of limited entry commercial fishing permits; and providing for an effective date.” (Stevens, referred to Resources and Finance committees)
HJR 35 Urging Co-Management Plan for Sea Otters (Millett – House Community and Regional Affairs – UFA Supports)
SJR 13: Urging Co-Management Plan for Sea Otters (Stedman – Senate Resources – UFA Supports)
SJR 3 Urging the President of the United States and the United States Congress to mitigate the harm done to the state’s seafood industry because of the withdrawal of the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement; and urging the President of the United States and the United States Congress to work to benefit and protect the state’s seafood industry (Senator Wielechowski –Senate State Affairs)
Compiled by UFA staff and made possible by the support of our Group, Business, Individual and Crew members.
To join UFA see https://www.ufafish.org/become-
ufa@ufa-fish.org
PO Box 20229
Juneau AK 99802
(907) 586-2820