As Alaskans, we benefit in countless ways from the foresight of the framers of our state constitution.
As an angler, I am especially thankful for their attention to our salmon. It is not hyperbole to declare that the salmon abundance we enjoy is because of the ways conservation of our natural resources were baked into the constitution.
I am especially thankful for renewable resources this year as we face very difficult decisions in the face of unprecedented budget shortfalls.
While I doubt the framers could have anticipated our current budget crisis, by ensuring that we protect fish and game for the benefit of all Alaskans, they did us a favor. Unfortunately, there is little doubt that we need to cut programs and services, while also finding new sources of revenue, but as we make critical choices about our budget, we also need to recommit to protecting our renewable resources in perpetuity so we can avoid future crises.
Nobody likes cuts or taxes, so I applaud the Legislature’s efforts to grapple with these tricky choices. As they weigh our options, I’m writing to urge our elected officials to honor our state’s historical commitment to fish.
Simply put: our wild salmon are a renewable resource we can’t afford to jeopardize. One simple act that will ensure that salmon continue to exist for future generations is HB 199. Rep. Louise Stutes’ bill represents an opportunity to enact forward-looking legislation for our fish that would make the constitutional framers proud. HB 199 will modernize our fish habitat protection laws, creating clearly enforceable habitat protection standards while allowing greater public input into the permitting process for development projects that may impact fish-bearing streams. It will create a more transparent process, allowing the state to grow responsibly while protecting habitat for salmon that are core to our economy and our unique way of life.
Kevin Maier
Juneau