Digging geoducks: Alaska's geoduck farmers are as close as they've ever been to being able to expand out of the Southeast Panhandle and into South Central — and even into development-starved western regions of the state. HB 60, sponsored by Homer Rep. Paul Seaton, is their vehicle. The brief bill says only that the Alaska Department of Fish & Game cannot use the absence of naturally occurring geoducks in a management area as the sole basis for denial of a permit to "transfer" the giant clams (i.e.,start a farm) in that region. Seaton first introduced the bill in 2007. It passed the House in both of the last two terms but also died in the Senate Resources Committee both times, largely due to opposition from ADF&G.
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