By Masha Herbst
Morris News Service-Alaska

JUNEAU - Changes to the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute's funding and board of directors are among the issues the Joint Legislative Salmon Industry Task Force is considering as it prepares for the upcoming session.

The Legislature created the task force in 2002 to recommend laws to help salmon fishermen, processors and communities cope with market changes caused by competition with foreign farmed salmon. Last year the task force proposed more than a dozen pieces of legislation and four became law, said co-chairman Sen. Gary Stevens, a Kodiak Republican.

"It was easier the first time because there were some obvious things that needed to change, so we worked hard to get those through - assistance to processors, salmon marketing, assistance to fishermen," Stevens said. "This year, you'll probably see fewer pieces of legislation, but more difficult, complex pieces of legislation that might or might not make it through the process."

Stevens is proposing to reduce ASMI's board of directors to nine people instead of 25 and to change the taxes fishermen pay to support the agency.