Good morning everyone meeting a house special committee on fisheries. We'll come to order the time is 1005 Thursday, February 12th
2026 already
members present are
speaker edgement
Representative him shoot
representative
Elam representative McCabe and my soft chair stutes.
We do have a quorum to conduct business
I'm going to ask everyone to please silence your cell phones and we are asking that you
please do not approach the table here if you want to pass a message if
you would get a hold of my staff. Jane Pearson should be delighted to help you
out in passing that message. I'd like to thank Andrew Magnuson from the House
Fisheries Committee's secretary. Nice to see you again Andrew as usual. And we
have Kyla.
Tupon from the Juno-LIO helping us today.
Thank you, Kyla.
At today's meeting, we'll be having a presentation
on the PNP Hatchery Program, including an update
of McDowell Group's Economic Impacts of Salmon Hatcheries
presented by the Alaska Regional
Aquaculture Association.
Presenters today are in person, Scott Wagner.
and general manager of the Northern
South Eastern Regional Aquaculture Association.
And online is Tina Fairbanks,
Executive Director of
the Kodiak Regional Aqua Culture Association,
with that, Mr. Wagner,
if you would please come to the table,
put yourself and your affiliations on the record
and Ms. Fairbank, you can also place yourself.
and your affiliation on the record once Mr. Wagner has completed that and to keep everything
straight although there won't be too much question I ask that you please identify yourselves
before speaking each time.
Vistries will be back on record.
To the committee members, we have plenty of time today,
so feel free if you have a question
to ask it as the presentation proceeds.
So with that, thank you.
Mr. Wagner, it's up to you!
All right, well good morning.
My name's Scott Weiner, General Manager
for NSRA out of Sitka.
And online, We have Tina Fairbank.
She's gonna take over the first half of the
presentation and then I'll close it out at the end there.
So thank you a little tech help for advancing the slides.
Okay, I got it. We're good. Okay.
Mr. Fairbanks, you there.
Good morning. My name is Tina Fairbank.
I'm the executive director of Kodiak Regional Aquaculture Association and has
got indicated.
We are here today representing a larger group of hatchery operators in the
regions across Alaska.
Thanks so much for having us and that we from my part
permitting us to speak to you at a distance today.
Thank you. Please move forward with your presentation.
Okay. Well, I'm going to do this a little bit blind.
Sounds like Scott has a slide deaf up and obviously our first slide.
Um, it's just an introduction to this presentation about the Alaska's private nonprofit hatchery associations.
Um a big part of our programs are to promote sustainable salmon runs and Scott, if you want to move to the next slide.
I'm on slide two.
Okay.
I know that the faces on the Chief Committee
can change with some regularity.
So I'll start with a brief rundown
on Alaska's nine private nonprofit hatchery associations
and a bit of the background on programs.
As you can see,
Aquaculture Association's actively engaged
in salmon enhancement stretch from Kodiak
to Cook Inlet,
perchoying down to Juneau
and all the way down the catch cam.
So, next slide.
Okay.
Each of the associations is dedicated to their mission to increase salmon abundance and enhance
fisheries while protecting wild salmon stocks.
This re-enhancement projects are not permitted if they are anticipated to have a significant
negative effect on natural production and in fact are meant to provide added opportunity
rather than supplant it or replace existing populations or fisheries.
So, we talk a great deal about the hatchery programs themselves.
It's important to note that the Hatchery Program and private nonprofits were established
in response to depressed salmon fishery across the state, and many of the associations began
with directed efforts at rehabilitation of wild stocks.
Next slide.
Okay.
statehood was predicated on a desire to assume management of Alaska's fisheries within state
waters. In the years that followed, the state established the fisheries rehabilitation,
enhancement, and development, or FRED, division within ADF and G,
and the statutory regulatory framework for the P&P hatchery program not long after.
It was during the period of budget contraction and fiscal challenges in the
not only many of the state's hatchery facilities, but also took on many
of their rehabilitation duties of The Fred Division.
Mr. Banks, we have a question for you from speaker Edgman.
Absolutely.
Yes.
And I apologize for biting into early.
Really important to get the flow going here.
But yesterday on the House floor, we had where I thought were some really informed comments
about Russian hatcheries, Rebecca Schwonke, I think made those comments.
And it got me to thinking a little bit about it, and I just had a conversation about hat
cherys and Russia on their role that they're playing in a whole broad scope of things.
And I've been on a fishery committee for a number of years now, Madam Chair,
We dutifully go through this presentation.
It seemed like once every couple of years,
but we never have a presentation
on what's happening on the Russian side,
which really sort of impacts a lot of things.
And I can't expect Ms. Fairbanks or anybody
on The roster this morning would be able to really...
provide much commentary on that, but maybe at some point down the way we could have a presentation of what's happening on the other side of the pond because I think it really impacts a lot of things outside of our own hatcheries, you know, who play an important role course but but there's also as a global picture here that that I
Thank you, Ms. Tina Fairbanks, again, to the chair, you know, we have a small amount
of time looking at the fact that there has been increased production from particularly
of pink salmon, from Russian hatcheries, and that also coincides with a fairly significant
increase in wild stock production over the last few years.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game actually has started a salmon ocean ecology program
and they've done a number of presentations that show that there have been a significant
increase, particularly in the Comtaca region and even those areas that border the Bering Sea
for pink salmon in general.
Do, of course, focus on our production here in Alaska, and I know that when people are
talking about those increasing numbers of pink salmon, the indications are that environmentally
ocean conditions are very favorable to pink famine right now, um, in questions that have
been raised about Alaskan production of Pink Salmon, we don't have the graphic on this
slide deck for you today, but we have put together information on the overall biomass
of salmon in the North Pacific as well as what portion of Salmon in that greater biomass
is represented by Pink Salmon and then also by Alaska Hatchery Pink salmon.
And I don't want to get this wrong, but the Alaska hatchery pink salmon make up about
16% of all pink famine, and then if you look at those larger biomass numbers, Alaska Hatchery
When we are talking about these larger scale and perhaps scaling up programs in Russia for pink salmon,
I think that contextualizing that in relation to the overall biomass in the North Pacific
is an important part of that conversation.
And I don't know if that answers questions that you have,
and try to provide some more information on what that Russian production looks like as a portion
of both pink salmon biomass, salmon bio-mass altogether, and just then the biomass of
organisms swimming in a larger northern Pacific Ocean.
Great to get whatever data we could, whatever sort of map that might be out there that shows
how many of the hatcheries exist.
I really don't know a whole lot other than casual reading, but I know intuitively and
otherwise that they're playing a bigger role than we might know about it.
Mr. Banks, to follow up on that, I'm curious as to know if the genetic testing lab that
place any kind of informational role in determining Russian salmon.
I am not aware against, excuse me, this is Jennifer Banks again, I'm not
aware of what their function is out there, all the sort of Scott, if he has any
That lab work.
Scott Wagner, no, I don't have any knowledge
specific to that lab, but I do know that I believe
is either next week or week after.
Bill Templin will be in front of you guys.
Correct, we're going to have a presentation by them.
He may be the better one to ask specifically more
about the genetics and those labs.
No worries, it certainly will anticipate that.
Thank you.
You can proceed, Ms. Fairbanks.
And we have been joined by Representative Vance.
Excuse me for that.
Thank you.
Okay.
I believe we're on slide five.
Yes.
Is that correct?
Okay, that's a time of statehood and the establishment of the P&P hatchery programs.
In the years prior to the establishment of the Fred Division and P&P program, commercial
harvest had been in decline and were at an all-time low, which you can see with the indications
in the chart of statehood, the implementation of limited entry, and then the P andP hash
With the benefits of enhancement programs and favorable climate regime shift, you can see that in the decades since the advent of the PMP program, average harvest of both wild and enhanced fishery stocks have increased and have stayed high for a sustained period of time.
Next slide.
The PMP program's truly represent one of the most successful and consistent public
private partnerships in the state's history.
These facilities, whether state or privately owned, produce salmon for the common property
that includes sport, subsistence, personal use, and commercial fisheries at no cost
to the State of Alaska.
The program is entirely self-funded through cost recovery of returning adult salmon as well as
the self-assessed salmon enhancement tax that commercial salmon permit holders levied on themselves
in each treatment with an active aquaculture association. The revenues generated through
commercial harvest, landing, and stitch taxes would go back into the communities and into state
coffers and represent a great return on the state's initial investment into these programs.
Jack, just for a moment, I should have probably done this initially just
for anybody that's listening and isn't quite sure. PNP stands for private
nonprofit. So I just wanted to get that clarification out there. Thank you,
Ms. Fairbanks, if you want to continue.
Slide 7.
Thank You.
Thank
you Scott.
Thank
you. Representative Stutz, this is Tina Fairbank's again.
You know, the Patrick programs in the state of Alaska receive thorough oversight from the Department of Fish and Game through a robust permitting process, including ADF and G, Alaska Department in environmental, and I've forgotten my, my ADE, department of natural resources and occasionally even federal agencies.
We also provide consistent and detailed reporting to ADSNG, as well as the other resource agencies.
Alaska's programs are one-of-a-kind, seated in precautionary science-based management,
regulated by the department, led by stakeholders,
and able to be engaged by public in each region through regional planning teams
and through comprehensive standard planning.
Next slide.
And, as you can see here, the distribution of hatcheries by association throughout South
and Central and Southeast coastal areas is broad and extensive.
I'll give a brief overview of the Agriculture Association located in the South Central
coastal area of this state before turning it over to Scott Wagner so he can cover the
last half of presentation in Southeast Association.
The project established in the south central area of the state are operated by
Coliac Regional Aquaculture Association, Cook Inlet Aquiculture
Association. Prince William Sound Aquoculture Corporation
and the Valdez Fisheries Development Association
Hatchery programs from Colic Cook inlet and Prince Liam Sound produce
primarily pink chum and sockeye salmon with
For brevity, though each association deserves time and attention for their unique characteristics
and has programs finely tuned to the needs of their region, I'll stress that each Association
produces fish for all common proper users, which is whether they are sport, subsistence,
personal use of commercial pressures.
The associations are governed by boards of directors representing all those user groups
The programs of the South River Central Region cover a lot of ground and support countless
stakeholders.
Our programs range from production of all five species of Pacific salmon at our two
facilities here in Kodiak and directed stocking projects for Sakai and Koho in the villages
To cook in the Aquaculture Association's work on invasive species, to the largest peak
salmon facility, and highly successful co-hose sport fishing program run by Valdez Fisheries
Development Association.
And the five hatcheries operated by Prince William Sound Aquiculture Corporation, which
generate over half of the salmon harvest in that region and contribute significant sport
and subsistence opportunities for the villages and salmon users throughout Prince Williams
And here I'll go ahead and let Scott take over thank you
Representative him. Thank you through the chair. My question is about the
Nymphs
Hatchery would that be a little port Walter and is it still operational? I heard I'm gonna mention it and okay?
I just wait. Thanks. You okay. Okay.
Thank You
Okay, good morning. Once again, for the record, my name is Scott Weidner. I'm the General Manager of Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association, or NSRAA, better known as INSARA, locally.
INTARA operates based out of CICCA and operates four hatcheries in the region.
And based at a Ketchikan is a Southern Southeast regional aquacultur association,
or SERA, who operates six hatchers.
The next three hatchery associations are non-regional private nonprofit organizations.
As required in statute, salmon hatcheries in Alaska must be private non-profit.
Right here in Juneau is the Douglas Island Pink and Chum Hatchery, and they additionally
operate the center of Hatcherie south of Juneaux.
Located near the southern tip of Bear enough Island is Armstrong Quita Hattery, the only
Awesome, and Sitka is the Sheldon Jackson Hatchery.
They're missing off this slide, hit deck here,
but is it the Shawn Jackson hatchery
operated by the Sitksound Science Center?
Previously operated
by Sheldon Jaxon College, which is my alma mater
and where I was first introduced to Hatcheries
over 30 years ago.
Lastly, there is a small federal hatchery, Littleport Walter located on the East Bear
Enough Island, based out of the Okbei Laboratory as their primary field research facility for
salmon and other species.
And I won't know, and this is probably what Rebecca is getting at, that this facility
was recently shut down by NOAA in the last couple months and is now shuttered, the lights
are out, ten years off, it's closed.
And currently they have no plans for continuing research at the site, salmon or otherwise.
And in contrast to the south central region, the primary species of production in southeast
of Chum Salmon.
Similar to Pink's production, in the South Central region the production of chum salmon
allows for sufficient revenue to help offset costs of rearing and releasing the more costly
to produce coho, sockeye, and chinook salmon, which require a significant investment of
time and water resources compared to Chumb Salmon
Also unique to the southeast region is the additional complexities of production and
harvest management in relation to Pacific salmon treaty.
A significant portion of the Sakai Co. and Chinook production in southeast is to meet
treaty objectives or to offset treaty quota loss of historical harvest to southeast common
property fisheries, including sport fishing, as a result of previous treaty agreements.
And if you have any questions about these specific programs, we'll be happy to provide
I love it.
I loved it so much.
Thank you, Chair Stuits, through the chair, Mr. Wagner.
I don't know how much you can speak to Littleport Walter.
I had heard that it closed down.
But I guess my biggest question is, was the research they were doing, like, a long-term
data set that now has at least an interruption or is completely ended, or was it more individual
projects?
With the closure of that, how long was it there?
It was like many, many years.
Scott Wagner for the record.
Both, I would say, for many generations of salmon,
they've been releasing King salmon
and doing various research projects on those.
Six years ago now, we have been partnering
with Little Port Walter, trying to develop
one of the King Salmon brood stocks, the Kita broodstock,
bringing into our facilities as a production stock.
And so we started that about six years ago
and we're gonna continue that work there regardless
if they are open or not.
But yeah, we are losing quite a bit.
So that facility is built originally by the CCC
in the 30s.
Representative Elam.
Thank you.
Thanks for the presentation to come out
and meet with us today.
I'm not quite sure how to sort of structure this question.
roll with me for a moment. But with the number of hatcheries that we have there, do we
have data that kind of says, this was sort of the stock of salmon that
we had before fishery, before we started getting into a lot of harvest versus like,
how many fish I guess is the question that I'm wondering is, how
Scott Weiner for the record. I could refer you back to another previous slide if you'd like me to. Yeah
I can't remember what number it was. Was that the one on this one?
Yeah, so on slide five. This isn't specific to a region.
This is statewide
But there it takes some time we could potentially come up with a regent by region
Estimate in this format, but this is showing the wild in the yellow and and the hatchery in blue
I got you. Okay. Thank you follow-up, please follow up certainly
So the surge there. I mean you can definitely see from like 75 80 out
the
Wildstock harvest is significantly higher, but then you have the the numbers and the blue there
Do we know sort of how that kind of well? It's commercial fishing. So never mind.
Thank You. Ok. Yeah, you answered it. ok.
Thank you.
I want to piggyback off of Representative Hymshoot's question about the loss of this research.
How much are you able, you and the other hatcher is able to absorb it?
Do you know if the department is taking on some of these roles because we know that the
Has there been conversations that you could tell us about what do we do now?
Well, unfortunately, this is Scott Wagner for the record. At the state level, I mean,
funding for research and other islands for fishing game has been going down. You know,
they've lost weirs, they lost other just monitoring capabilities in recent years.
The specific to that development of that king salmon broodstock,
created, or that project was created by Fish and Game and Littleport, and we only came into it
really about four or five years ago now I guess. Because the state was backing out and then also
LittlePort, they used to have multiple stocks at that location and they got rid of one and
they just narrowed it down to one stock. So when we came in trying to continue that development
I can't speak for NOAA.
Our staff is actually meeting with them today
to talk about what may be happening in the future.
They have been communicating with another independent agency
who is interested in sign a MOU with M to operate.
That is a research location that hasn't been finalized.
But unless something changes, funny and wise, for NOA,
they have no intention of re-inishing anything at that site.
follow up representative. Thank you madam chair and I know that
you're in the process of figuring all this out but in your opinion what is the impact of the loss
of this facility and not only to the partnership with the hat race but what does it's going to mean
you know, specific to Littleport. It has a long history of not just King salmon research,
but pink salmon, coho, the development of lake stocking of salmon was kind of came out of that
facility in the 70s. There's a lot of history, of beneficial development,
of hatchery techniques that have come out there over the years. So it definitely was a shame to see
It specifically answers your question, but yeah, well, thank you for that. And Madam Chair, if we could
maybe have the conversation this conversation with the commissioner about, you know, what his
assessment is of this and the conversations, You know what what can we do planning for the
I like to plan for the future of what's needed and be able to prioritize and
maintaining these stocks for not just commercial but that sounds like a
sport fish with the lakes and rivers is highly important in being able
to maintain the genetics of our program. So I'm interested in learning more
about this and instead of lacking more research what we can do to be
able maybe pick up and continue that work.
And Representative Ants, we're certainly happy to facilitate that request.
I think that's a really good idea, so thank you.
Representative McCabe.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I can hardly wait till we get the Russian oligarchs in here to tell us about their hatcheries.
So no, I'm curious.
I am not sure who this is for, but where do you typically get your funding for like
Scott Wagner for the record, it was kind of briefly outlined but so all
hatchery associations in the state are private non-profit. We are funded by
commercial salmon fishermen and those funds come through several different
means. One is the salmon enhancement tax. So regions that have
salmon enhancement, the fishermen elected years ago to tax themselves a certain
percent that come back to our associations to produce more salmon for
the mid-future. That funds maybe 10% of our budget. The remaining comes from
what's called cost recovery where the associations harvest returning salmon,
sell those, and use those proceeds to fund their annual budget, follow up.
Coming back or no, no. We're not allowed to create deployed
The state does do that in their lake stocking program
But but the hatcher associations do not do them and follow up, of course
Thank you. So the two in in Kodiak are the katoui bay hatchery and the or is that state in the Kodiok hatary, right?
All that team to respond
mr. Banks did you hear the question?
I did hear the question.
Thank you.
This is Tina Fairbanks for the record.
KREA, called the Agricultural Aquaculture Association, operates two facilities.
Color Creek Hatchery and Catoy Bay Hattery.
Bulbs are owned by the state of Alaska and operated by KRIA.
Between our two facility, we produce all five species,
have a cooperative agreement with Alaska Department of Fish and Games,
to produce, specifically to reduce king salmon for the Kodiak road system.
And our Pelicrycatchery produces primarily sockeye salmon and sporkish,
and our Kichoye Bay Hatchery Facility produces pink chum,
soceye, and co-host salmon primarily for commercial.
contribution, but also both Sakai and Koho make a significant contribution for
sport and subsistence purposes. And we are also in the process of launching a
rehabilitation project for Carlak-Shinuk through our Pelicrycatchery
facility. It's in that it's, in, the very initial stages for approval through the
to the permitting process.
Follow up.
Since we have plenty of time.
Certainly.
Maybe you can help me with the mechanics of the whole thing.
I've been a little bit involved from sort of a transporter.
It seemed to me we used to do egg takes in Fraser Lake
and bring them back to Pillar Creek.
and then send them somewhere else once they were hatched so they're not imprinted right or they
don't imprint. How does that work? In other words we didn't take them back down to Fraser Lake or
Fraser River area. We put them some somewhere in Cody. That creek hatchery in the context of the
And its primary function was to be a central incubation facility for Sock Eye Salmon.
The eggs taken from Wildstock Lake's upper station primarily, which has since transitioned
to Salterie Stock, a little closer to the hatchery facility itself, the transports of
town where the Pelicrycatchery was so different that it was not reliable and then for the
primary purpose of that facility was, as you said, to bring eggs back to the facility and
then stock them into barren lakes around the Kodiak Archipelago to create opportunity
where it didn't already exist.
Spirit and Lake on the West Side of Kodiak and that returning fishery, those eggs are
hatched out at the hatchery and then stock is fried into Spirit & Lake or we have some
saltwater imprinting projects as well that contribute to that same fisherY with a return
create the creation of a terminal area where all of the returning fish can be harvested.
So Frager Lake itself has a large fish path and that is that return to Frasier Lake,
which was buried by a waterfall, is one of
the greatest fisheries enhancement success stories in the Kodiak area for certain and
With the fish pass, it is self-sustaining.
Multiple soci stocks were actually planted in Fraser Lake
along many decades ago.
And that was done by the Fred Division, the work on Fraser
Lake.
So, in combination,
the delivery category and the works that we did on the
south end to establish some of the initial programs for
as well as that monumental fish paths and project to produce fish from a barren lake
at Fraser Lake also on the south end of Kodiak. Thanks. I appreciate it.
I do remember that being a really robust program down there and I got to go swimming in Salty Lake
because of it one year. Well you know to follow up on this it's really
This is really kind of exciting to hear, and based on some of your questions, Representative McCabe,
the collaborative effort these hatcheries have in providing fish not only commercially,
helping to finance and support the efforts.
And everybody gets a benefit from it,
the not just commercial, but sport fishermen too.
So this is really kind of an exciting program
to see this collaboration going on.
But with that, Representative Ilam.
Thank you.
Well, I'm just kind curious where the hatchery fish,
like where they go from a habitat perspective.
during returns. You know, we have a lot of open ocean, but we also have pretty limited
habitat areas within our freshwater areas. And so I'm just wondering what kind of
impacts maybe, I mean, that's a lotta fish, you know. Do they get into the fresh waters? Do
they compete with wild stocks for food and habitat within some of those other areas?
If you're speaking to the return side of it and in the fresh water, there is no competition
for food resources because they're not feeding, but I will say that more to
the concerns of interaction with Hatchery and Wild.
You're getting an update from Bill Templin on the Alaska Hatcher Research Project next
week or week after I came around when the date is, and he'll be able to provide specific
details on those questions you are asking.
Follow up.
What kind of interactions do they have in the wild and in salt waters and are there
As a returning to the facility? Well, I guess I'm really kind thinking about it from a foraging perspective
We've heard a lot about habitat
Effects on the oceans the saltwater areas. We have a lotta you know protected waters throughout southeast and south central
I don't know, we've heard a lot about habitat areas, and so I'm wondering, is there competition
between wild and hatchery stocks as we are monitoring that?
What are we looking at there?
If you're speaking to returns, not just returns but even also throughout the life cycle.
On the juvenile?
Yeah.
Atmaigrating?
Yeah, there's been multiple studies done on outmigrading fry under some specific to
Hatchery and not just hatchery, but salmon in general
Do you know how the significant effect on the the zooplankton abundance is primarily driven by other species?
Predominantly ground for species just because of their sheer biomass volume
Okay, thanks
Conti please
Okay
Think we're on slide nine
All right, so collectively using our most recent economic
update 2023 McKinley research study, average annually, the hatcheries of Alaska contribute
162 thousand salmon to sport, person use, and subsistence fisheries. Have a total economic
output of 576 million. Create 219 million annually in labor income. Contribute 3 million
annually on fisheries business tax. Over 14,000 individuals earned income from hatchery salmon
These are impressive figures for commercial fishermen funded nonprofits
While the annual X vessel value salmon produced by hatchery association varies
It consistently provides up to 20% of the total value of all salmon harvested in the state
This contribution is significantly higher when you look independently by a region with significant
that by region regions that have significant hash reproduction.
Some years X vessel value can approach 40% of the total for those individual regions.
And on this slide is a brief list of short and longer term priorities.
Maintaining hash repurmented levels is vital during this challenging time for the seafood industry.
Stability and production is critical to ensure that fishermen, processors and markets can continue
to recover from the 2023 market crash and depress prices. While prices have gradually improved,
there is hesitant optimism for salmon prices this season. They will almost certainly not return
to prices seen just four years ago. Next bullet point, work to improve coordination between state
There are multiple state agencies involved in permitting the salmon hatcheries in the state,
primarily ADF and G, but also DNR, DEC, as well as the Department of Commerce Division of Investments
and Department Revenue who collects the Salmon Enhancement Tax and Fishery Assessment Taxes.
And lastly, ensure adequate ADFG funding as their fishery management, data collection,
and research are essential in overseeing a wealth, understood, and managed wild
and hatchery salmon resource for the long term. And then on the
There are 11 aging state-owned hatchery facilities
operating and maintained at no cost to the state
by the private nonprofit associations.
Most of these facilities are now over 40 years old
and begin to show their age and significant infrastructure
improvements will likely be needed in coming years.
Then lastly, continued funding for ASME for development
of existing and new markets for Alaska salmon
and all seafood is vital to make sure
that Alaska fishermen receive a premium price for their catch
as we've seen what market volatility can do
And just a side note there, some of you likely really know this,
but worldwide, Sam and consumption, only about 10% is wild.
About 90% of Sam is consumed in the world is farmed.
And that has been a shrinking percent over the years.
20, 30 years ago, those numbers were flipped.
Wow. And this last topic to cover is one I spoke with several of
you on regarding, and that is the fishery assessment tax.
Over 15 years ago, a D.O.R. regulation implementing a fishery assessment tax was created in order
to allow hatchery operators an alternate means of revenue generation separate from standard
cost-covery operations in which the hatcher operators harvest and sell a portion of the
insurance salmon for annual funding needs.
My organization, Insra, has only hatra association to utilize this assessment and did so for
Changes in DOR regulations in 2024 modified some conditions of the regulations and some
previous regulation language needs clarification. This has created challenges implementing this
option currently. And the main issue, the current Department of Revenue Fisher Assessment Model
relies on reporting timelines and definitions. Don't align with how we actually generate our
This misalignment creates avoidable inaccuracies
and administrative burden and implementation challenges.
Propose fixed, adjust reporting deadline
from October 1st to November 1 to allow finalized data.
Clarify how current years defined for organizations,
operating on a fiscal year.
And then lastly, allow limited flexibility to apply
an assessment rate below the DOR calculate where appropriate.
And just why does this matter?
These target adjustments will help to improve the efficiency and fairness without change in the underlying assessment framework
And they will also support consistent administration while preserving accountability and transparency
Currently the primary revenue and the hazard operators are working collaboratively. We've had some positive
communications the last month or so
They did get a a 0360 waiver request
Initiated and that's under review by own be and hopefully that will take care of the 2026 season for us
But longer-term regular updates will still be needed for some of those underlying
changes I referenced and just that you know, it'd be great to continue to have support from legislature to
Have the Department of Revenue work with us on this issue and and create a better path forward
And then that is it. Thank you for your time
And I'd like to schedule a tour or more information on Alaska's salmon hatcheries.
You can find the hatchery contact information at the salmonferhatcherysalaska.org website.
Well, we certainly appreciate your presentation and we have a couple questions from our members here, representative Hymchute.
Thank you, Chair Studs, through the Chair, Mr. Wagner on slide 13.
I'm trying to understand, do we need a bill or?
No, DOR is all regulations.
There are companion fishing game statutes,
but those currently are working.
So, I would say no.
Okay. Thanks.
And this is the issue we talked about last year.
Okay, thank you.
Representative Vince.
Thank you, have a follow-up to that as well.
I think we're tracking on the same line of questions here.
across all of the HATRI programs, or is this specific to you?
Well, this assessment, any HACRI associate can utilize our organizations,
the only one who has ever utilized it.
Follow up.
Follow-up.
Represent events.
Has there been conversations as to why the others have not been doing the assessments?
Yeah.
I mean, it's a very unique tool.
It may not fit for every area.
it will fit, it'll work better in certain harvest areas than others,
depending upon the structure of those returns.
Most of Insra's terminal harvest
areas, we don't have much in way of intercepting fisheries,
so our fisheries are pretty clean. There are 90 plus percent
convenient tool. And the reason why the fishermen like the tools is because it
allows them to continue fishing. They continue to fish, yes, they have to pay
more in tax, but they get to keep fishing, the other option is we shut it down and
we do cost recovery and no biggest to
fish. Thank you. Are there other questions or comments?
Seeing none, we certainly appreciate both you, Mr. Wagner and
If we have any other questions, we'll pass them on to you.
All right, appreciate that.
Thank you for your time.
I see no further business to come before this committee.
Next week, excuse me, currently,
Bill Templeton is at the Pacific Salmon State Commission.
meeting, and so we didn't get a hold of him, so I can't tell you exactly when he will be
presenting to this committee. But next Thursday, we will have the Bristol Bay
Research Science Institute, which ought to be interesting. We'll be sending you an email to inform
you and also posting it. So with that, seeing no further business,