Today April 28th the Senate Resources Committee will hold a hearing: Overview: Area M
Fisheries Part 1. ADFG Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang will give that presentation, hearing will begin at 3:30pm.
On Monday May 1 at 3:30 in Senate Resources will be Overview: Area M Fisheries Part 2, with Kiley Thompson, Frances Leach, Virgil Umphenour, Curt Chamberlain, Brian Ridley.
Alaska Legislators Introduce Bills to Close Area M Salmon Fisheries
On April 12th Senator Donald Olson of Golovin introduced Senate Bill 128 to close the June salmon fisheries in all of Area M. The bill was referred to Senate Judiciary and Resources committees. Senator Kawasaki added on as a co-sponsor April 14th and the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on SB 128 April 21st.
At the April 21 hearing on Senate Bill 128, Committee Chair Claman made several points: His office has received more calls and emails on SB 128 than on any other bill during his 9-year tenure on the Senate. The Senate Judiciary Committee will not close the public hearing on the bill until “all who wish to testify are given an opportunity to testify.” Chairman Claman recognized that there are constitutional questions raised by SB 128, and given the few days left in this year’s regular session, SB 128 is unlikely to get another hearing before the legislature adjourns. Members of the public should continue to submit comments to senate.judiciary@akleg.gov but avoid sending multiple emails.
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard limited testimony of just 20 members of the public at the April 21 hearing, 15 of those 20 from across the state were opposed to SB 128.
On April 26th Representatives Cronk, McCormick, Stapp, Foster, and
Tomaszewski sponsored the introduction of House Bill 180, which was
referred to House Fisheries and Resources committees. Senate Bill 128
and House Bill 180 are identical in language, and would close the ADFG
Salmon Management Area M from June 10 through June 30 in 2023.
At this writing, House Bill 180 is not yet scheduled for a hearing.
