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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes2001-017 I I I Sponsored by: Janke CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA RESOLUTION 2001-17 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA, SUPPORTING THE QUTEKCAKSHELLFISHHATCHERY AND THE COMMENTS THEY SUBMITTED ON REGULATIONS BEING PROPOSED BY THE ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME REGARDING AQUATIC FARMING WHEREAS, the Qutekcak Shellfish Hatchery (QSH) was built by and is owned by the Alaska Department ofFish & Game (ADFG), leased to the City of Seward, and the lease is assigned to the Qutekcak Native Tribe for operations and maintenance; and WHEREAS, QSH was built to overcome the largest hurdle facing the shellfish farming industry in Alaska, i.e. the absence of a source of any species other than oysters and the farmer's inability to secure sufficient quantities of high quality oyster seed from outside sources; and WHEREAS, QSH is the only private permitted producer of indigenous shellfish seed in Alaska; and WHEREAS, growth of the industry, and QSH success, requires diversification into new higher value species (geoduck clam, littleneck clam, rock scallop, and basket cockle) as identified in the business plan as a key component of operational feasibility, that was required by statute, and reviewed and approved by ADFG prior to granting a hatchery permit; and WHEREAS, the existing language of the Constitution, Statutes, Administrative Code, and ADFG's regulations provide a consistent and reasonable basis to promote the shellfish farming industry in Alaska and to protect fish and wildlife resources and existing uses; and WHEREAS, ADFG's current interpretation of existing regulations and their proposed amendments violates the will of the people as expressed through their legislators in the Aquatic Farm Act of 1988 and interpretations articulated by the Department in 1996, 1998, and 2000 supporting on-bottom culture of indigenous species. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA, that; Section 1. Concurs that ADFG should attach conditions to issuing a permit that are necessary to protect natural fish and wildlife resources, their habitats, and other uses, but attaching conditions to permit applications, and existing farmers that are not necessary to protect resources or,existing CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA RESOLUTION 2001-017 uses are detrimental to the farmers, applicants, and the QSH, all of whom have an interdependent relationship. Section 2. The Seward City Council supports the concept that existing regulations are adequate to protect the resources and existing uses when consistently applied on a case-by-case basis in reviewing applications for new aquatic farm sites. If a complete revision of the regulations is nonetheless forthcoming, the Seward City Council urges the Department to allow and encourage input in developing regulations that will promote rather than hinder the growth of the aquatic farming industry in Alaska while protecting the resource and existing uses. PASSED AND APPROVED by the City Council of the city of Seward, Alaska, this 22 day of January, 2001. THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA fa-\ \)~ -LV Edgar Blatchford, Mayor AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: Blatchford, Brossow, Calhoon, Clark, King, Shafer None Orr None ATTEST: " //~ Patrick Reilly City Clerk .. ",," """ . ~.., of SElift."" (CltY~~.~~?O~~~2~ :t . ,.)J . ~~'. '" ~ .. .-.:1.v ..- - i~- ~ ~ ~ = : SEAL \ : :e: :e- . . . - ~ \ - ::: *: .. l ~ " d' "~ 9''':....~ $ ~~~~.".tl~..~CO"t"..~ 'Ii, <::- 0 F A\.r........ 'I',......"..