Juneau Assembly opposes Board of Fisheries proposal to cut hatchery egg take; vote 7-1

The Juneau City and Borough Assembly on Jan. 6 adopted Resolution 3088 urging the Alaska Board of Fisheries to reject Proposal 156, which would reduce permitted hatchery pink and chum salmon egg take by 25%. The measure passed on a roll call vote, 7–1.

The resolution was introduced by Assembly staff and recommended by the manager as a response to potential reductions in hatchery production that the packet said would directly affect Juneau and Southeast Alaska fisheries. Katie Harms, executive director of the Douglas Island Pink and Chum (DIPAC) hatchery, testified in support of the resolution and the regional hatchery programs, saying, "The impact of the assembly taking no action would just lead to somewhat of a disparity between the other Southeast Alaska communities" and that a 25% cut would cause "significant economic harm in the Juneau community." Harms said such a reduction could threaten processors' year-round operations and reduce landing tax revenue.

Assembly members debated whether the assembly should weigh in before the Board of Fisheries process. Assembly member (as identified in the record) who pulled the item said she preferred leaving the decision to the Board of Fisheries and recommended a no vote, saying the board is "best situated to make a decision on this based on the science that they have." Assembly member Wall, who identified herself in the meeting as a fish biologist, proposed removing a whereas clause that asserted the current data on hatchery impacts "remains inconclusive and does not substantiate the drastic cuts proposed by proposal 156." The assembly adopted Wall's amendment by unanimous consent.

After discussion and public testimony from DIPAC's director, the assembly conducted a roll-call vote. Members voting yes were Bryson; Atkinson; Wall; Kelly; Hall; Steininger; and Deputy Mayor Smith. Hughes Candice voted no. The clerk recorded the result as "Motion passes 7 to 1." The amended resolution opposes Proposal 156 and requests the Board of Fisheries to reject it; the resolution was entered into the record as Resolution 3088.

The action is advisory: the assembly's resolution does not legally bind the Alaska Board of Fisheries. The packet noted the assembly typically declines to take positions on statewide issues but said Proposal 156 would directly affect local hatcheries, commercial fishing, and subsistence and personal-use fisheries in Southeast Alaska.

The assembly also recorded that the planning and fisheries information in the packet showed Southeast hatcheries contributed substantially to regional commercial harvest value in 2024 and that a 25% reduction in hatchery production would affect local processors and harvesters. The resolution as adopted removed the clause asserting the packet's interpretation of scientific data.

Votes at roll call and the amendment are included in the official minutes and the assembly packet.

For reference, the assembly placed the resolution on the public hearing portion of the agenda and received brief public comment from Katie Harms, DIPAC's executive director, who said she would be available for questions but did not request extended time.