Juneau watch

Legislators are considering House Bill 199 to help the Alaska Commercial Fishing and Agriculture Bank better compete with the state in making loans.

This sponsor statement explains.

Bill would expand Farm Credit System for fishing

U.S. Sens. Angus King, of Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, of Alaska, are among sponsors of the legislation. More details in this press release.

Fishing finance

Legislation the governor signed into law this week enhances the state's commercial fishing loan program to help the seafood industry cope with "challenging economic conditions."

Sizeable CDQ financing

The federal government is making $197 million in loans available to Alaska's six community development quota companies.

Help urged for seafood processors

"Federal support to help seafood processors weather the pandemic is urgently needed — without it, our nation's entire seafood industry may falter," says this congressional letter to the Biden administration.

Juneau watch

The Alaska Legislature kicked off a new session this week, and lawmakers already have filed some bills of interest to the fishing industry.

House Bill 56 raises limits on certain state commercial fishing loans. The sponsor is Rep. Dan Ortiz, of Ketchikan.

House Bill 29 would prohibit the sale of genetically modified fish in Alaska. The sponsor is Rep. Geran Tarr, of Anchorage.

The major concern for legislators this session will be the same as last year — a multibillion-dollar budget deficit resulting from the decline in oil revenue. This could lead to new or higher taxes for industry and individuals.

UFA weighs in

United Fishermen of Alaska, the state's flagship commercial fishing group, is spelling out its policy position as legislators grapple with the state budget crunch.

Here are three UFA documents addressing key issues:

UFA resolution on state fiscal crisis

UFA resolution on state fisheries loan funds

UFA letter on Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission

How about a (bigger) loan?

Down in Juneau today, the House Special Committee on Fisheries has a 5 p.m. hearing scheduled on two interesting items.

The first is House Bill 261, which provides for larger state loans to help Alaska residents buy commercial fishing permits.

This sponsor statement explains more fully what the bill is about.

The Bristol Bay Economic Development Corp. has sent in a letter supporting HB 261.

Cordova District Fishermen United also likes the bill.

The second item on the committee's agenda is this resolution seeking to designate one sportfish seat and one subsistence seat on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.

News of interest

This just in from the Alaska Commercial Fishing and Agriculture Bank:

Nov. 22, 2011

The Alaska Commercial Fishing and Agriculture Bank (CFAB) will be lowering its lending interest rate by 2 percent on existing and new loans effective Jan. 1, 2012.

Lela Klingert, CFAB chief executive, made the announcement at CFAB's annual meeting on Nov. 18.

CFAB is a private, member-owned cooperative providing financing to Alaskan-owned commercial fishing, tourism and resource businesses since 1980.

At the same meeting, incumbent board member Roseleen "Snooks" Moore was re-elected to a new three-year term.