Fishing Industry

I understand the importance of the Alaskan fishing industry and will continue to fight to protect and enhance our vital industry. 

I am a member of the Fisheries Committee and Fish & Game Finance Subcommittee, which means I help create the Fish & Game agency budget. Although the entire State of Alaska's operating budget has been cut significantly over the past eight years, I have worked hard to maintain funding most recently as a member, and previously as Chair of the Fish & Game subcommittee from 2016-2020. In recent years, I have consistently voted against cuts to fishery surveys. 

I have also sponsored and passed multiple bills pertaining directly to our fishing industry:

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• HB 41 (2022) creates the regulatory framework for Fish and Game to permit shellfish enhancement and restoration projects

• HB56 (2018) gives greater loan access to fishermen to buy or repair equipment, and purchase IFQ shares. I hope this bill gives more financial opportunity to younger fishermen as we avoid the graying of the fleet.

• HB76 (2018) expands access Mariculture Revolving Loan Fund for shellfish and marine plant hatcheries. These funds will be used to develop seed supply, which is a critical part of our growing mariculture industry.

• HB354 (2018) updates the self-assessment process for the Southeast Regional Dive Fisheries Association (SARDFA). This allows permit holders actively participating in the fisheries to have more control over their self-assessed tax.

• SB61 (2019) incentivizes vessel owners to carry Protection and Indemnity insurance, providing better coverage for crew members.

Lastly, I have worked with the Walker and Dunleavy Administrations and our entire Federal Delegation - Senators Murkowski and Sullivan and the late Representative Young - to fight to protect our transboundary waters from potentially disastrous Canadian mines.