= Jerry Mackie, 37 KNews from the
Senate Majority
Alaska State Legislature
Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press
Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Phone: 907/465-4582
http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540
Legislature Defends Alaska’s Shore Based Fishermen
Passed Resolution Supporting Senator Stevens’American Fisheries Act
For Immediate Release: March 25, 1998 Contact: Dave Gray, Aide to Senator Jerry Mackie, at (907) 465-4925.
Juneau – The House voted 30 to 4 Wednesday to support Senate Joint Resolution No. 33 urging Congress to pass legislation that would restrict foreign owned ships or factory trawlers from fishing within the nation’s 200 mile off shore zone. The resolution passed the Senate with a unanimous vote March 5, 1998.
Sponsor Senator Jerry Mackie (D-Craig) said the resolution supports S. 1221, authored by U.S. Senator Ted Stevens, called the "American Fisheries Act". The Act would not only reduce the amount of foreign ownership allowed in these large vessels, it would also limit their size and horsepower.
"If enacted, this legislation will greatly improve the ability of our fishery resource managers to conserve the offshore fish stocks and prevent over harvesting by the large factory ships," Mackie said. "In the Bering Sea, the increased numbers of these large ships has created a fishing derby style of harvesting the resources. In most cases, the total catch of a species is taken in one month or less of intense activity. This severely jeopardizes the nation’s ability to manage the resources wisely."
"Supporting the passage of the American Fisheries Act will benefit Alaskan fishermen and processors dependent on these resources by insuring the sustainability of future harvest levels," said Mackie.
The Act, according to Mackie, will also result in increased opportunities for Alaskan processors and fisherman to participate in the fisheries. Mackie is concerned that the factory trawlers provide little benefit to Alaskan communities, unlike the shore based fleet that processes all product in local processing facilities. These facilities provide Alaskan jobs and contribute to local tax bases.
"It has been a long struggle for residents to gain a share of these valuable fisheries off our own shorelines. I would hope that the effect of S.1221 would will increase our participation in the fisheries," Mackie stated.
Mackie’s resolution supports Senator Stevens’ actions in obtaining passage of the American Fisheries Act scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday, March 26 in Washington D.C.
The resolution will now be sent to Al Gore, Vice-President of the United States and President of the U.S. Senate; Strom Thurmond, President Pro Tempore of the U.S. Senate; Newt Gingrich, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; and members of Alaska’s Congressional Delegation including Senator Ted Stevens, Senator Frank Murkowski and Congressman Don Young.
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= Jerry Mackie, 37 K