Alaska House subcommittee presses Fish and Game on vessel repairs, maintenance funding

Juneau — Department of Fish and Game leaders told the Alaska House Finance Committee’s Fish and Game Subcommittee on Feb. 1 that long-running deferred maintenance on aircraft and vessels, and uncertainty in shipyard schedules, are the primary budget risks to field surveys and seasonal operations.

"We have a deferred maintenance list that outlooks many years," Administrative Services Director Bonnie Jensen said, describing a live internal document used to prioritize projects and to request funding through the Office of Management and Budget. Jensen said smaller routine replacements are embedded in operational project budgets, while larger vessel and aircraft repairs often cross fiscal years and have historically been funded through capital appropriations.

Committee members focused on two department vessels. Britney Honey Hewitt, administrative operations manager for the Division of Commercial Fisheries, said the research vessel Medea did not yet have a shipyard contract or RFP and that the department was still identifying funds. She estimated that comparable shipyard work has fallen in the $1.1 million to $1.3 million range in recent projects.

"Without the repairs, the vessel cannot operate safely," Honey Hewitt said, noting the department has used a mix of deferred-maintenance accounts, proceeds from sales and some federal earmarked funding to cover Kestrel shipyard work.

Representative Stutes and others urged the committee to ensure funding is sufficient so repairs are completed and surveys continue. "It's futile to reduce a budget to the point where safety is at risk," Stutes said, arguing that missed repairs would interrupt research and survey seasons.

Commissioner Doug Vincent Lang said the department looks first to in-state shipyards if cost-effective, but procurement and repair schedules frequently cross fiscal years, which complicates planning. He told members the department prefers to combine capital and federal resources where possible to avoid gaps.

The department said the Kestrel work is currently covered by a cobbled mix of funds but the Medea shipyard work lacks a contractor and a finalized cost estimate. Representatives pressed for more complete project-level funding details and for clearer documentation of maintenance plans.

The subcommittee did not take formal action during the hearing; Chair Jimmy closed the meeting and said the subcommittee will reconvene March 3 to continue business.

The reporting is based on the department's Feb. 1 presentation and committee Q&A.