Sea otter bill advances despite tribal council concerns

Alaska sea otter bill receives first hearing amid tribal council concerns

A bill allowing commercial sale of sea otter pelts from Southcentral and Southeast Alaska received its first congressional hearing Wednesday, drawing support from its sponsor but concerns from federal officials and a ranking committee member about enforcement and tribal consultation.

H.R. 8401 would allow non-Alaska Natives to produce and sell handicrafts from sea otter pelts harvested by Alaska Natives for subsistence. Current law restricts sale to "significantly altered" authentic native handicrafts. The bill removes that limitation and allows international commerce.

Bill sponsor Rep. Nick Begich said the measure addresses overpopulation of sea otters that are depleting shellfish resources critical to coastal communities and dive fisheries. "Dungeness crab, sea cucumbers, geoducks, clams and urchins are the backbone of our dive fisheries and our emerging mariculture industry," Begich told the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries. "Community after community, our fishermen and shellfish farmers are watching otters strip the resource bare before anyone can harvest it."

The Department of Interior supports the intent but warns it would be difficult to verify whether products came from legally harvested otters.

Rep. Kyle Huffman, ranking member, said the bill "inappropriately shifts the response responsibility to subsistence harvest and disadvantages Alaska Native artisans who carefully process pelts into arts and handicrafts. The bill also circumvents the Indigenous Peoples Council for Marine Mammals."

Begich said he is listening to Alaska Native organizations, fishermen and coastal communities and expects to refine the bill as it moves through the process. The bill was introduced April 21. No vote was taken at Wednesday's hearing.