Bill Overview
Title: Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act
Description: This bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to convene an Alaska Salmon Research Task Force. The task force must review and report on research about the Pacific salmon in Alaska, identify applied research needed to better understand salmon migration and declining salmon returns in some regions of Alaska, and support sustainable management of salmon.
Sponsors: Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals dependent on Pacific salmon in Alaska for livelihood, nutrition, or recreation
Estimated Size: 300000
- The bill focuses on Pacific salmon in Alaska, which affects both the ecosystem and the communities that rely on these fish.
- Groups impacted include local and indigenous communities whose livelihoods and food sources are tied to salmon populations.
- Commercial fishing industries, which depend on salmon for economic survival, will be impacted by changes to management strategies arising from research.
- Changes in management and sustainability practices could influence recreational fishing and tourism industries.
- Ecosystem management can have wide-reaching effects on regional biodiversity, influencing conservation organizations and environmental stakeholders.
Reasoning
- The policy will directly impact those involved in the salmon industry in Alaska, including both commercial and subsistence fishers, many of whom are part of indigenous communities. Therefore, the simulated interviews will focus on individuals from these groups. We will include various perspectives such as indigenous rights advocates, commercial fishers, environmentalists, and policy experts.
- Local communities in Alaska, particularly native populations, are highly dependent on salmon for both economic and cultural reasons, and thus they will experience significant impact from the policy. This would represent the group with 'high' impact in the simulated interviews.
- Commercial fishing operations involved in harvesting and selling salmon will feel the effects as sustainable management practices and research may lead to long-term benefits due to improved fish stocks, but perhaps short-term restrictions.
- Environmental advocates and researchers might experience 'medium' impacts, as the research outcomes may align with conservation goals and provide data for further initiatives.
- Some segments of the population may not be directly impacted immediately, resulting in 'low' or 'none' impact ratings, giving us a baseline comparison for common sentiments. This includes people who do not directly rely on salmon but are stakeholders in the environmental outcomes.
- The budget and scale of the policy are significant enough to suggest meaningful research outputs that could influence management decisions within a few years and sustain improvements over a decade.
Simulated Interviews
Commercial Fisher (Anchorage, Alaska)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could stabilize my business in the long run by ensuring sustainable salmon populations.
- I am concerned about potential short-term restrictions that might impact my catch volume.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 3 |
Indigenous Rights Advocate (Fairbanks, Alaska)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This task force is crucial for protecting our cultural heritage and livelihoods.
- I hope it leads to actionable changes that benefit our communities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 2 |
Environmental Scientist (Juneau, Alaska)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is a step forward in aligning ecological goals with industrial interests.
- I am optimistic about the task force's potential to enhance existing research.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Seafood Distributor (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Consistent policy on salmon management ensures my supply chain remains stable.
- I am worried about potential supply reductions in the short term.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Recreational Fishing Guide (Kodiak, Alaska)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Sustainable salmon practices ensure long-term viability for my business.
- I hope the task force can boost salmon populations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 3 |
Subsistence Fisher (Bethel, Alaska)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Preserving salmon is essential to our way of life.
- The task force's research is necessary to adapt to changes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 1 |
Local Restaurant Owner (Homer, Alaska)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I support the task force if it leads to more sustainable salmon stocks.
- Unpredictable supply affects my business directly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 3 |
Environmental Policy Analyst (New York, New York)
Age: 63 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The task force could set an important precedent for other regional fishery management.
- Research synchs well with broader ecological conservation agendas.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Media Journalist (Portland, Oregon)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This task force embodies a necessary focus on sustainable resource management.
- I look forward to reporting on its findings and implications.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Retired Conservationist (San Francisco, California)
Age: 54 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I appreciate any initiative that increases focus on biodiversity and responsible stewardship.
- I hope this research leads to meaningful conservation outcomes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 2: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 3: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 5: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The task force is primarily research focused, thus direct short-term economic impacts are limited to expenditure and employment related to the research activities.
- Long-term sustainability and positive ecological results hinge on the accurate implementation of research findings into policy.
- The cost estimates assume steady funding; any cuts could prolong research timelines or reduce effectiveness.