102 



Senator Wirth. Thank you all very much. 



Senator Burns. I have a question. Yesterday we took a little 

 slight excursion around the area and I have a question for Mr. Rob- 

 erts. 



I wonder if the Native Alaskans up here, if they want more pro- 

 tection for the fisheries and this type of thing, than what is sup- 

 posedly afforded in the Senate Bill 346? What have you done to 

 protect the logging interest on native lands? What have you done 

 in that regard because I have seen some — well, there have been 

 some abuses on both lands. I wonder what steps you have taken for 

 that. 



Mr. Roberts. There have been steps to direct some of these prob- 

 lems that you are referring to. 



Senator Murkowski. Has anything been done physically, any 

 laws or rules passed to ensure that? 



Mr. Roberts. What you are referring to is the name of Sealaska 

 Corporation, ANILCA, only make recommendations to the Sea- 

 laska Board. We are two separate entities. 



Senator Murkowski. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. 



Senator Wirth. Thank you Senator Murkowski and thank you 

 all very much. We appreciate your coming in today and sharing 

 your thoughts with us. I thank you very much. 



Our fourth panel, if we could ask them to come join us at the 

 witness table: Mr. Don Amend, SSRAA, Mr. Jim Bacon of Alaska, 

 Kay Andrews, United Southeast Alaska Gillnetters and Kate Troll, 

 Executive Director of the Southeast Seiner's Association and while 

 they are moving to the table would our next panel move into the 

 back chairs? 



Thank you all very much. Why do not we just start with you, 

 Mr. Amend, if you do not mind? 



STATEMENT OF DONALD F. AMEND, GENERAL MANAGER, 

 SOUTHERN SOUTHEAST REGIONAL AQUACULTURE ASSOCIATION 



Mr. Amend. Thank you. Some of our panel members were not 

 able to be here but I think we speak for most of the commercial 

 fishermen in our area. 



The majority of southeast Alaskan residents want a stable and 

 diversified economy throughout southeast Alaska and to assure 

 this the Tongass National Forest must be driven by multiple use 

 considerations. The timber industry is just one of three primary 

 users the Tongass Forest. Commercial fishing, tourism and others 

 are also primary users of the Tongass Forest and the economic via- 

 bility of these industries are directly affected by the management 

 practices used on the forest. The decline of Pacific salmon along 

 the Pacific Northwest, outside of Alaska, has been attributed pri- 

 marily to the loss of habitat. Protection of sensitive habitat is es- 

 sential to maintain viable commercial fisheries. In southeast 

 Alaska the majority of the Pacific salmon originate from the Ton- 

 gass National Forest. Therefore, in order to preserve the economic 

 viability of the commercial fishery in southeast Alaska, the Ton- 

 gass National Forest must be managed to protect sensitive habitat 

 that is important to our Pacific salmon. Most people believe this 

 can be done and have a viable timber industry as well. 



