(JUNEAU) - Fishing season is right around the corner. To prepare for it the Alaska Legislature just took a big step to making sure Alaskan families will not drive home after a fishing trip with an empty cooler in the years ahead.

The Sport Fish Hatcheries Bill passed the State House this afternoon. It will build the first and only fish hatchery in Fairbanks, renovate two existing hatcheries in the Anchorage area and make hatchery improvements in Southeast Alaska.

Sen. Ralph Seekins (R- Fairbanks) sponsored the fish hatchery bill. "This provides a user pay - user benefit program that assures fishing also includes catching."

SB 147 applies a sport fishery enhancement charge of $9.00 to sports fishing licenses to fund the hatchery construction work. The enhancement charge expires when the construction bonds are paid off.

Rep. Jim Holm (R - Fairbanks) played an important role in this effort with his companion fish hatchery bill (HB 252) in the State House.

The bill now goes to Governor Frank Murkowski's desk for his signature.

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