The Alaska House Resources Committee on April 4 advanced House Bill 117, which would change how cooperative set gill‑net fishing operations are regulated, approving an amendment that directs the Board of Fisheries to set maximum cooperative sizes by administrative area and forwarding the bill from committee with a recommendation and a zero fiscal note.

The amendment, explained to the committee by Calvin Zulo, staff to Co‑chair Representative Burke, adds intent language directing the Board of Fisheries to address maximum cooperative sizes in each administrative area during the affected areas finfish meeting and to consider the number of permits and traditional cooperative sizes when setting limits. "This amendment adds intent language that regulations establishing the maximum size of co‑ops in each administrative area should be taken up by the board of fisheries in cycle, with the affected areas finfish meeting," Zulo said.

The amendment also replaces the phrase "present at all times" with "physically present" to align the bill's text with Alaska Statute 16.05.253(a), clarifying the circumstances under which permit holders may be away from their nets. It removes language that would have allowed a statewide cooperative size of 10 permit holders and instead directs the Board of Fisheries to set area‑specific maximums, with the amendment specifying the number may not be lower than three. Finally, the amendment clarifies that any permit holder — not only a single permit holder — may deliver fish on behalf of a cooperative.

Representative Stutes, the bill sponsor, thanked committee members and staff for working on the amendment and said the changes "have made this a better bill" that will "facilitate the user groups that we intend." After discussion, the committee adopted the amendment without objection and then, by unanimous consent, passed House Bill 117 from committee as amended, with "additional recommendations and attached 0 fiscal note," the co‑chairs said.

The committee record notes an amendment deadline of noon on April 4 and identifies the committee work order for the measure as 34‑LS0557. Committee staff thanked Andrew Magnuson (Records) and Zachary Lawhorn (Juneau LIO) for staffing the meeting. The committee asked members to remain afterward to sign the committee report for House Bill 117. The House Resources Committee adjourned at 1:09 p.m.; its next scheduled meeting is April 7 at 1 p.m.

Votes at a glance: Amendment 1 to House Bill 117 — adopted by voice/consent; House Bill 117 — forwarded from committee as amended with a recommendation, work order 34‑LS0557, attached fiscal note: $0.