Resolution 15-043 Urging the U.S. Navy to Change Training Exercises in the Gulf of Alaska

CITY OF HOMER

HOMER, ALASKA

Zak/Roberts

RESOLUTION 15-043

A  RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER,  ALASKA, URGING THE U.S. NAVY TO CHANGE TRAINING EXERCISES IN THE GULF OF ALASKA.

WHEREAS, The City of Homer supports vibrant fishing economies that illustrate coastal Alaska's reliance on the fish and wildlife resources in the Gulf of Alaska; and

WHEREAS, The City of Homer supports a strong national defense, and recognizes the need for trainings and exercises to promote military readiness; and

WHEREAS, The U.S. Navy plans to conduct training exercises in June 2015 which will release hundreds of thousands of pounds of toxic and other pollutants into waters designated by NOAA as Essential Fish Habitat for a multitude of species that support economic development in Alaskan coastal communities and the harvest of wild Alaskan fish for global markets; and

WHEREAS, The training will also entail various forms of high frequency sonar which will disrupt the behaviors of hundreds of thousands of marine mammals, and have untold impacts on various fish species; and

WHEREAS, The training area is a highly productive region for many marine fish, shellfish and marine mammal populations and supports some of the most productive fisheries in the United States. It is also an important spawning area for many fishes, and the training is scheduled to take place during the summer season when many fish populations are migrating and spawning.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of Homer, Alaska, does hereby request that the Navy move these trainings to less sensitive areas 200 nautical miles from Alaska’s shoreline, and conduct the exercises at a later time in the year to avoid spawning, rearing and migrating fish and other species.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Homer City Council on this 15th day of June, 2015.

                                                                                                         CITY OF HOMER

                                                                                                         ____________________

                                                                                                         MARY E. WYTHE, MAYOR

ATTEST:

___________________________

JO JOHNSON, MMC, CITY CLERK

Fiscal Note: N/A