Anchorage Daily News

KODIAK -- A petition is circulating through Alaska's fishing communities in hope of catching some breaks at the fuel pump. The price of diesel fuel has topped $5 a gallon in several Alaska ports, and in many cases the price of fish is simply not enough to cover the costs of tying loose.

"We want to get people's attention around the country that this is a very serious concern," said Kathy Hansen, director of the Southeast Alaska Fishermen's Alliance.

Hansen discovered a bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, D-Maine, that would give a temporary tax credit to small businesses, farmers and fishermen to offset high fuel costs. The bill -- H.R. 2133 -- has languished, Hansen said, but Alaska fishermen hope the industry's efforts might breathe new life into it.

Sara Stoner, a Petersburg fisherman, wrote the petition to Congress, which asks for an emergency tax credit, "or any other measure you can enact to offset the high cost of fuel and get us untied from the dock and out fishing."

"From the smallest little fishermen to the biggest boats, everyone is suffering. I'm just 24 and my husband and I are just starting our business," Stoner said. "It's really hard to make all the payments and we're really struggling. So are a lot of other people."

Stoner had gathered nearly 300 signatures in one day last week by taking the petition directly to the docks and downtown businesses.

The tax-relief petition is circulating among fishing groups across the country. Kathy Hansen said the petitions will be collected through Thursday by United Fishermen of Alaska in Juneau, and then sent to Congress.

Lawmakers are hearing the cries for help, but special breaks for fishermen aren't likely, said Arne Fuglvog, legislative assistant for fisheries, transportation and natural resources at Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski's office.

"We're going to look at this and see what we can do," Fuglvog said. "But it's going to be difficult to do something just for the fishing industry, because so many industries are hurting from high fuel costs."

EXXON TAX BREAK TANKS

On another tax front, the so called "oiled" fishermen were disappointed last week when a new law to provide tax relief from any Exxon oil-spill settlements was pulled from the U.S. Farm Bill.

Sponsored by Murkowski, the measure would have provided one-time tax breaks to 30,000 oiled plaintiffs, of which 80 percent are fishermen. Instead of paying 35 percent off the top in taxes, awardees would be able to income average over time and increase retirement contributions.

"The tax provisions that were not strictly related to agriculture -- the vast majority of those were taken out of the Farm Bill," Arne Fuglvog said.

"That's the bad news. The good news is that there did not seem to be any opposition to the substance of the provision, and Senate leadership seems committed to include it at some point," he added.

Fuglvog said he is confident the measure will be included in other pending legislation.

The U.S. Supreme Court must decide by June 27 whether or not Exxon must pay the $2.5 billion punitive damages awarded to fishermen and others because of Exxon's huge Prince William Sound tanker spill in 1989.

Laine Welch is a Kodiak-based fisheries journalist. Her Fish Radio programs can be heard on stations around the state. Her information column appears every other Sunday. This material is protected by copyright. For information on reprinting or placing on your Web site or newsletter, contact msfish@alaska.com.

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