"An Act making appropriations for the construction, repair, upgrade, and refurbishing of sport fish hatcheries; and providing for an effective date. "

HB 255 will establish a viable sport fishery in the Interior and Southcentral Alaska by extending the life of two fish hatcheries in the Anchorage area and constructing a new facility in Fairbanks. It will do so without the need for bonds, which would require an increase in user fees.

For years, Interior lakes have been stocked by the Department of Fish and Game by transporting young vulnerable sport fish in tanker trucks from Anchorage. The success of this program is questionable based on the amount of loss incurred during the trip. Construction of a new fish hatchery in Fairbanks would greatly enhance the amount of biomass delivered to Interior region lakes. It would also allow the two existing hatcheries in Anchorage to turn their attention to the needs of the region they were originally designed to serve.

HB 255 provides funding for the Fairbanks Hatchery, to be named after the late former Mayor Ruth Burnett and resolve a heating system problem in the two Anchorage hatcheries. Remaining funding would provide necessary repairs and upgrades to other hatcheries around the state.

Sport fishing is one of Alaska's true natural resources for both residents and visitors alike. Many of visitor publications tout sport fishing and we certainly are very proud of our commercial fishery. Of course we all believe that the best fish is the one we caught ourselves.

Passage of HB 255 will enhance the popular past time of sport fishing by increasing the number of fish available for both young and old anglers without raising fees.

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