459 



When asked what they considered the most important 

 industry in Southeast Alaska presently, 4 6% of the 

 respondents chose commercial fishing; 21% chose tourism; and 

 19% chose timber. 



When asked what they considered the most important 

 industry to the future of Southeast Alaska, 37% chose 

 commercial fishing; 21% chose tourism; 21% chose managing 

 use of wilderness, park and monument areas; 15% chose 

 timber; and 11% chose mining. 



When asked about diversifying the Tongass Forest 

 economy, 82% supported greater economic diversity, and 89% 

 agreed that the Tongass Forest management should promote 

 growth in non-timber industries like commercial fishing, 

 mining, and tourism. 



This indicates that the people of the Tongass do not expect 

 to hitch their economic wagon exclusively to the timber industry. 

 Rather, they expect to have a diversified economic team pull them 

 into the future. It is noteworthy that only 9% of the 

 respondents to the survey favored contract cancellation, but 

 fully one half felt that the contracts should be modified. 



We have made the survey available to the Committee. 



B. FISHERIES ENHANCEMENT 



The next area of concern to Sealaska is fisheries 

 enhancement and habitat protection. Sealaska encourages you to 

 strike an appropriate balance between conservation and 

 development. We have proposed that seven areas be designated as 

 Fisheries Protection Areas. These areas provide exceptional 

 habitat and spawning grounds for large populations of fish. 

 Without these areas, the fragile chain holding together the 

 annual ecological cycle of birth and death can be irreversibly 

 destroyed. 



