Here's a sponsor statement from Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, on his sea otter control bill.
Senate Bill 60 would have the state pay Alaska Natives a $100 bounty for every sea otter taken lawfully under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Stedman says the fast-growing population of voracious sea otters threatens the future of dive and crab fisheries in Southeast Alaska, jeopardizing hundreds of jobs and tens of millions of dollars in economic activity.
The bill is up for a hearing at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Senate Resources Committee.
A second hearing appears ti be scheduled for this Friday (15th) in Senate Resources for additional public testimony
ReplyDeleteGod bless Bert for having the courage to sponsor this bill. The otters are out of conrtol do to lack of management. Soon, let unchecked, they will starve themselves to death. Going extinct with them will be most of the shellfish. Along with proper management, this bill might also help to rejuvenate the native culture of harvesting them. Now, to reduce market restrictions...
ReplyDeleteI'd love a sea otter pelt, how many to make a fur coat?
ReplyDeleteBetter yet, a sea otter tarp to cover the seine.
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