Sponsor Statement for SJR 33

"the American Fisheries Act"

I introduced SJR 33 to put the State of Alaska on record in support of an important Congressional initiative to preserve American control of the commercial fisheries in our nation’s 200 mile economic zone and improve the conservation of those resources. This initiative is S.1221, the "American Fisheries Act," sponsored by Senator Stevens along with Senators Murkowski, Breau, and Hollings. The act would increase the U.S. ownership standard for vessels fishing in U.S. waters and close a loophole in the commercial fishing reflagging prohibitions that allowed at least 14 additional large factory trawlers in waters off Alaska. The bill would also phase out all large factory trawler ships whose size and harvesting power threaten conservation management goals and responsibilities.

Alaskan fishermen and on shore processors have struggled to gain a foot hold in these new and valuable fisheries off of our own shores. The state has directly assisted in this development through loans and tax incentives. It is estimated that at least $80 million was spent in bottomfish facilities alone in the 1986 to 1991 period of the state’s tax incentive program. In addition to allowing expanded harvesting opportunities to Alaskan fishermen, this development has extended the processing season in many communities so that year round jobs have replaced the seasonal, migrant worker prone jobs. The year around operations of Alaska’s seafood industry has further stabilized the economies of Alaska’s major transshipment and commercial centers.

The growth and presence of large, foreign controlled fishing fleets in U.S. waters contradicts the very purpose and intention of the original Magnuson-Stevens Act to control and Americanize the harvest of off shore fish resources and to protect them from depletion. The current over capitalization of the off shore harvesting capacity threatens both the resources and our Alaskan economic stake in its continued health. I believe that the success of Senator Stevens in the passage of S. 1221 is of foremost importance to the economic interests of the state and its citizens. Moreover, it is critical to the long term vitality and sustainability of our off shore marine resources.