Alaska's Fisheries

Doing what Alaskans do best. Senator Murkowski and her freshly caught Coho. Senator Murkowski discusses fishery issues in Kodiak.

Alaska's fisheries and fishing industry are the very heart of Alaska's coastal communities and crucial to the nearly 60,000 Alaskans across the state whose livelihoods are directly or indirectly based on it. It is important that the state's fishing industry which employs so many Alaskans and accounts for the bulk of the state's exports be strengthened and encouraged to expand.

The successful reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act in the closing hours of the 109th Congress was the most significant federal fisheries legislation to pass in many years. The reauthorized MSA uses the “Alaska model” of fisheries management as the basis. This is strong recognition of the success of our management.

The Supreme Court ruling reducing punitive damages in the Exxon Valdez case from $2.5 billion dollars to $500 million dollars was extremely disappointing. The ruling adds insult to injury to the fishermen, communities and Alaska Natives who have been waiting nearly 20 years for proper compensation following the worst environmental disaster in our nation’s history.

I am proud to have won a proposal to provide tax relief to the 33,000 victims of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. My legislation provides for three year income averaging and allows an IRA contribution of up to $100,000, from the judgment. On June 26, 2008 I introduced the Fisheries Fuel Tax Relief Act of 2008. The legislation would provide relief to commercial fishermen with a two-year temporary income tax credit to offset the high cost of fuel. This short term plan gives aid to our commercial fishermen to continue harvesting our state’s resources.

A long-term solution to addressing the high cost of fuel is critical. I will continue working with the appropriate State agencies and the Environmental Protection Agency in order to evaluate whether a state grant program to assist fishermen in purchasing more fuel efficient engines is a viable option. There are similar emissions reduction programs in a number of other states, including California and Texas, in which incentives to repower and reduce emissions are funded. Programs like these may also be possible to develop in Alaska.

I am also actively working to provide relief for recreational and commercial boaters who are threatened by a burdensome new permitting process for discharges incidental to normal operations.  On September 18, 2006 a federal court ruled that the EPA must end its long-standing rule exempting incidental discharges from permitting required under the Clean Water Act.  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is appealing the ruling in hopes that it will not be required to implement a new rule, but in the meantime has developed a proposed rule which would require new permits.

I fought for and won an amendment to S.2766, The Clean Boating Act, which provides an exemption to only recreational boats. There is no evidence that an exemption for only the recreational sector is appropriate or justified.  I support a reasonable, size-based exemption to the new discharge permits for both commercial and recreational boats.

During Senate consideration of S. 2766, I offered my amendment that allows an exemption for commercial vessels.  I believe an exemption for small commercial vessels is reasonable, as S. 2766 would exempt recreational boats of any size. 

The Administration introduced an off-shore aquaculture bill, S. 1609, last session, but it has not been marked up by the Senate Commerce Committee. Even with amendments to allow Alaska to opt out of the program and a prohibition on aquaculture off of Alaska within the EEZ, I still have concerns that the administration is not adequately addressing environmental risks, socio-economic impacts on existing commercial fisheries and communities, and more oversight and monitoring. A staff working document has also been released, but it still has several substantial deficiencies.

I introduced my own aquaculture bill, the Natural Stock Conservation Act of 2007 which requires the appropriate federal agency to determine the type of analysis necessary and report back to Congress for approval before NOAA can proceed with site location and permitting.  My bill also requires consultation with the Governor of an applicable state and approval by the appropriate regional fishery management council.

I continue to work on other fisheries issues that can help our fishermen expand markets for wild Alaska seafood, including canned salmon in the Women, Infant and Children (WIC) program, international food aid and school lunch programs.  I was able to get mandatory Country of Origin (COOL) labeling on seafood and I am actively involved in discussions on increasing seafood safety and promoting the health benefits of our abundant sustainable wild fisheries.

Press Releases* Browse by: -- Month -- January February March April May June July August September October November December -- Year -- 2008 (13) October 2008 17th - MURKOWSKI COMMENTS ON NOAA’S LISTING OF COOK INLET BELUGA AS ENDANGERED   02th - Murkowski votes for economic rescue plan  September 2008 27th - SENATE PASSES LEGISLATION TO HELP SAFEGUARD ALASKA SEAFOOD   23th - Senate passes Murkowski-Stevens Exxon Valdez Oil Spill provision, and additional funding for Southeast Alaska communities and schools  August 2008 06th - SEN. MURKOWSKI CALLS ON THE WHITE HOUSE TO ENDORSE CONSTRUCTION OF MORE ICEBREAKERS   04th - PRESIDENT BUSH SIGNS MURKOWSKI BILL FOR A MORATORIUM ON DISCHARGE PERMITS FOR COMMERCIAL FISHING VESSELS  July 2008 31th - SENATE COMMITTEE PASSES MURKOWSKI BILL TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS IN RURAL ALASKA  23th - MURKOWSKI SAYS RATIFICATION OF LAW OF THE SEA TREATY IS BEST WAY TO PROTECT AMERICA’S ARCTIC INTERESTS  22th - CONGRESS PASSES MURKOWSKI BILL FOR A MORATORIUM ON DISCHARGE PERMITS FOR COMMERCIAL FISHING VESSELS  14th - MURKOWSKI APPLAUDS LIFTING OF EXECUTIVE BAN ON OFFSHORE DRILLING  * Currently displaying the latest 10 records. Select a month and year from the Browse by select box to view more records.