Alaska State Legislature

News From The House Majority

web site: http://www.akrepublicans.org

Ken Freeman, Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801
phone: (907) 465-3804
Actuality line: 1-800-478-6540

Speaker Phillips Testifies Before Federal Fisheries Council

House Passes Resolution Opposing Creation of New Subsistence Fishery for Halibut

For Immediate Release: April 16, 1997 Contact: Ken Freeman (907) 465-3804

JUNEAU - Opposing the creation of a new subsistence halibut fishery in Alaska, House Speaker Gail Phillips testified Wednesday before a meeting of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) in Anchorage.

"Adopting these proposed regulations will further complicate the present jurisdictional crisis brewing between the federal and state governments and establish a mechanism which will eventually disrupt our well established halibut fisheries," said Speaker Phillips in her testimony to the Council.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council was recently requested by the Halibut Subsistence Committee to create a new subsistence fishery for halibut in state and federal waters off Alaska.

"We want to make it clear that the legislative leadership is fully cognizant and supportive of the needs of Alaskan residents to harvest halibut for personal consumption. We are all equally aware of the fact that Alaska's marine resources, including halibut, are major contributors to the varied economies of our state," said Phillips.

The Alaska State House Wednesday passed a resolution also opposing the adoption of proposed options now under consideration by the NPFMC. House Joint Resolution (HJR) 34 was passed by a vote of 24-13 and will be up for a reconsideration vote and final passage Thursday.

Representative Alan Austerman, Chairman of the House Fisheries Committee which has sponsored HJR 34 said the resolution makes it clear that the Alaska Legislature does not favor the creation of a new fishery.

The resolution along with the testimony presented by Phillips urges the examination of other options to be considered by the NPFMC such as bag limits, methods and means, seasons and specific area adjustments to accommodate specific problem areas.

For a copy of Speaker Phillips' testimony call (907) 465-3804.

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Broadcast Note: An Audio Actuality is available by calling 1-800-478-6540.