8 



they might say that there is no scientific base for that, but, you 

 know, if they are releasing 30 billion frys and the natural reproauc- 

 tion of fish is competing for the food out in the ocean, maybe there 

 is an impact. 



The Chairman. But if Alaska has farm fish, there are fewer out 

 there competing in the wild. 



Mr. Naneng. Yes. 



The Chairman. Is that not right? 



Mr. Naneng. Yes. 



The Chairman. But you say you are against farm fishing? 



Mr. Naneng. Yes. Our people on the Yukon-Kuskokwim are 

 against farm fish. It is what we call the aquaculture fish. 



And the one recommendation that we have that I think needs to 

 be really taken a look at and considered is error on the side of con- 

 servation, and that is one thing that we — our people have had to 

 bear the burden of, is conservation. 



The Chairman. And you would rather that we err on the side of 

 conservation? 



Mr. Naneng. Yes. Like I say, the thing has been — under the 

 present system, you know, they do not allow for management deci- 

 sions for conservation purposes, and, you know, we would like to 

 see that conservation be taken a priority over the short-term eco- 

 nomic needs of the people. That is one of the things that our people 

 on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta are saying, is that. 



The Chairman. That is good. You are for conservation and you 

 are president of the village council. You get elected by votes? 



Mr. Naneng. Yes. 



The Chairman. That is an eye opener. People down in my back- 

 yard would not think anybody in Alaska is interested in conserva- 

 tion, the way they talk on the floor of the Senate. 



Mr. Naneng. Well, if we did not have conservation, we would not 

 have the food that we rely on. 



The Chairman. Exactly. 



Mr. Naneng. And salmon is 98 percent of our subsistence food. 



The Chairman. I think we have to get better educated in the 

 U.S. Senate because they think it is just a free-for-all up here and 

 that you are not interested in conservation. I find that people who 

 rely on natural resources for a living know and understand con- 

 servation better than any. 



By the way, in the 56 villages you represent, is there a hospital 

 in one, or do you have to go all the way to Anchorage? 



Mr. Naneng. No, there is Bethel Hospital. 



The Chairman. Bethel. OK Very good, 



Mr. Naneng. I appreciate it. 



The Chairman. Mr. Nielsen. 



STATEMENT OF DONALD NBELSEN, REPRESENTING THE BRIS- 

 TOL BAY BOROUGH FISHERIES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 

 COMMISSION 



Mr. Nielsen. Thank you, Senator. 



For the record, my name is Donald Nielsen and I am a long-time 

 commercial fisherman of the Bristol Bay area. I represent the Bris- 

 tol Bay Borough Fisheries Economic Development Commission. I 

 would like to welcome you to Bristol Bay. 



