Tag Archives: Alaska Legislature
Alaska Legislature approves seafood task force for sector in ‘crisis’
The Alaska Legislature on Sunday approved creating a task force to make policy recommendations to help the beleaguered commercial fishing industry. The task force is modeled be off another legislative task force created more than 20 years ago to help the salmon industry. At the time, salmon fishermen were struggling with the impacts of low prices and competition with farmed salmon. Alaska’s commercial fishing sector has recently struggled with low prices, a global market swamped with low-priced Russian seafood, and the closure of several seafood processing plants. Salmon returns have crashed in critical fisheries across Alaska. The United Fishermen of Alaska estimates that the state’s economy lost over $2 billion in 2023 alone as a result of the commercial fishing sector’s struggles. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:00
Alaska Legislature boosts allowable payments from fund that covers fishers’ crew medical costs
Maximum payouts from a fund that covers medical costs of injured seafood harvesters would be boosted under a bill that won final passage in the Alaska Legislature on Thursday. The measure, Senate Bill 93, would boost allowable payouts from the Fishermen’s Fund to $15,000 per injury or disablement from the current $10,000 maximum. The fund is financed directly by commercial fishers through their license and permit fees. The change in maximum payouts under the fund would incur no new cost to the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, according to the fiscal notes submitted for lawmakers’ review. more, >>click to read<< 10:13
Kodiak lawmakers outline fishery-related accomplishments and ambitions
A bill that passed the Alaska Legislature last year has already started to benefit the fishing industry, and more fishing-specific bills are in the works this year, state lawmakers representing Kodiak said on Friday at an industry conference. Alaska Senate President Gary Stevens, a Republican leading a bipartisan majority, told the audience at ComFish Alaska that he is particularly proud of a bill he sponsored that expands allowable tax credits for investments in equipment to process seafood beyond salmon and herring. The bill expanded allowable seafood-production tax credits to investments in equipment for pollock, Pacific cod and sablefish, also known as block cod. Previously, only salmon- or herring-related investments were eligible for those credits. >click to read< 08:55
Sen. Pete Micciche proposes setnet buyback bill
Sen. Pete Micciche (R-Soldotna) is having another go at getting a bill through the legislature that would reduce the number of commercial east side setnetters in Upper Cook Inlet by about half, something that is supported by the leaders of the Kenai Peninsula Fishermen’s Association, a setnetter organization. Micciche and KPFA say the effort began about four years ago, and Micciche pre-filed a bill before the last legislative session. That bill, Senate Bill 135, stated that “the Alaska Legislature finds that it is in the public interest to reduce the number of commercial setnet fishers on the east side of Cook Inlet.” >click to read<16:53
Fishermen watch, wait, work, while Alaska Legislature in limbo
An Alaska government shutdown is a fisheries shutdown. Commercial, sport, gillnet, dipnetters and subsistence fishing would all be impacted in devastating ways if a fiscal year 2018 budget isn’t approved by the Alaska Legislature by July 1. United Fishermen of Alaska, which represents 33 Alaska commercial fishing organizations, is taking the stance that people should “work on the season,” said President Jerry McCune. “As it gets closer to the deadline, we’ll get more worried and put the pressure on the Legislature to fund Fish and Game at least, if they’re not coming up with a budget,” he said. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s 2018 fiscal year budget of $200.16 million was agreed upon by both the House and the Senate in April. Of that, commercial fisheries were allotted $70.77 million. click here to read the story 11:34
Let’s hope Alaska revenue solution isn’t too hard on ‘the other guy’
I keep hoping that the motto of the famous Anchorage bar Chilkoot Charlie’s, “We cheat the other guy and pass the savings on to you,” can work out for me, but in these trying economic and political times, I’m a little concerned. It seems obvious that Alaska’s fiscal crisis will actually require a bit of sacrifice from all of us as well as action from the — so far pathetically unproductive and seemingly delusional — legislative majority. The governor, to his credit, has submitted legislation for a combination of budget cuts and revenue enhancements to bring us something that might resemble sustainable government. As an Alaskan, I’m hoping the can find the gumption to act soon and wisely enough to stave off economic collapse. As a commercial fisherman, I’m hoping to escape targeting as “the other guy.” Read the rest here 11:05
Alaska Legislators reject Board of Fisheries confirmation
adn.com JUNEAU, Alaska — The Alaska Legislature has rejected another term for Board of Fisheries member. Vince Webster had served on the board since 2007. In recent days, the Kenai River Sportfishing Association put out a call to action against Webster, saying in part that the failure of a task force on Cook Inlet king salmon rested largely with him. continued
