Earlier this morning the Senate State Affairs Committee took testimony on Sen. Bill Stoltze’s bill, which would prioritize the personal use fishery over others during times of low abundance.
Sen. Stoltze(R-Chugiak): “By and large I’m a huge supporter of the commercial fishing industry. I see the vibrance, vitality, and economic importance of the commercial fishing industry and I’m very proud, I was reappointed, I’m starting my ninth year serving on the Seafood Marketing Board. The only committee I requested of all the committees we have an opportunity to serve on. I didn’t try and find a sportfish committee, I found one that really benefits our state’s economy and the commercial fish, so it’s not an either/or. It really gives some more tools to address an Alaskan-ization of our fisheries.”
But Homer commercial fisherman Wes Humberg said there are intrinsic problems with the dipnet fishery that need to be addressed before this bill should be considered…
Humberg: “They have taken and now they charge people to go dip netting in the Kenai River. That’s another commercial enterprise against the commercial drift fleet or the set netters. Now we’ve got guys building dip nets. That’s another commercial enterprise going on. I don’t begrudge anybody for taking their salmon, but let’s get it down to the point where we quite shipping this fish out of the state. Millions and millions of pounds of salmon leaving here. How much fish does a person need? If you need 200 salmon to feed your family, more power to you.”
Testimony ran overtime, the bill will be scheduled for another hearing.