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SOUTHERN SOUTHEAST REGIONAL 

 AQUACULTURE ASSOCIATION, INC. 



1621 Tongass Ave., #103 Ketchikan, Alaska 99901 



(907) 225-9605 



Public Testimony 



Tongass National Forest Hearing 



April 24, 1989 



By: Donald F. Amend, General Manager 

 Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association 



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 of the Tongass Forest. Commercial fishing, tourism and others are also primary 

 users of the Tongass Forest and the economic viabUity 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 primarily to the loss of Sb&at. rt»tidTS»n of sensitive habitat is essential to 

 maintain viable commercial fisheries. In Southeast Alaska the majority of the pacific 

 salmon originate from the Tongass National Forest. Therefore, in order to preserve the 

 economic viability of the commercial fishery in Southeast Alaska, the Tongass National 

 Forest must be managed to protect sensitive habitat that is important to our pacific 

 salmon. Most people believe this can be done and also have a viable timber industry. 



The timber industry argues that if Section 705(a) of ANILCA is changed, the jobs and 

 economic viability of the timber industry will be threatened. However, current ANILCA 

 provisions does not assure adequate protection of sensitive salmon habitat. To put this 

 in perspective, in 1988 there were about 2200 active commercial fishermen. In 

 comparison, the timber industry employed 1800 loggers. In general, at the present time 

 the total employment and value of finished product from fishing and timber are achieving 

 a rough balance. 



In a recent survey by the SEALASKA Corporation, 46% of Southeast Alaska residents 

 believed commercial fishing was the most important industry in Southeast Alaska now, 

 compared to 19% for the timber industry. When asked which would be the most 

 important in the future, the resialts changed very little: commercial fishing - 37%, Timber 

 15%. The respondents also said they wanted economic diversity (82%), and they wanted 

 more non-timber industries like commercial fishing (89%). Yet 90% believed both timber 

 and commercial fishing could co-exist. Even in Ketchikan, where a major pulp mill exists 

 and has a strong timber influence, the majority of the people voted similarly to all 

 Southeast Alaska residents. 



PRIVATE NON PROFIT HATCHERIES 



