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More about halibut IFQs and how YOU may not get to
Posted by fisher on Mar 20 2005
I think Shawn did a great job of discussing the inate problems with the transfer of the charter fishery to IFQs. Given the reality of the situation, it is difficult for me to believe that this has carried as far as it has.
Although charter boats are very visible and are often blamed by locals and others for harming the resource, the fact is that it's the commercial fleet (which usually offloads at off hours and at different docks, and aren't seen by the general public) which catches 86% of the halibut in area 3A (central Gulf of Alaska). Currently the commercial quota is set at one of it's highest ever, 59 million pounds. The charter fleet catches less than 4 million pounds. Additionally, there is a current agenda to allow the commercial fleet to fish during the customary spawning closure. Commercial lobbyists say they need this to compete with fish farms, which can supply fish year round. Halibut bycatch mortalities in other groundfish fisheries also exceed the entire statewide charter catch.
Incidentally, most of the country has a 50/50 split for commercial and recreational fish.
Also worth noting is that since 1995 when the commercial fleet went to IFQs, they have no incentive to fish far away for lots of fish. Now they pick away closer to port following the good tides, good weather, and the market. Fishing 100+ days/year in PWS, I have seen a lot more commercial gear in the relatively shallow water typically fished by the charter and sport fleets. I believe this is why local depletion issues are on the increase.
As stated in the previous post, allocation of IFQs as currently proposed will be based on bogus data. It was so bad that ADF&G no longer collects it! The many who lied on logbook forms will profit greatly while those who have worked hard to build a business and a reputation in the industry will have a choice of purchasing quota from someone who may not deserve it or going out of business. Regardless, the price of a charter fare will increase as demand outweighs supply.
If quota is fully transferable to the commercial side (as is currently proposed) charter guys may have a lot of incentive to sell out to big commercial buyers. Surely this would be a smarter financial decision. This will further eliminate opportunity for people to go out on a charter boat and catch halibut. This seems proposterous in a state that is supposedly trying to promote tourism as a natural resource.
There are many more obvious reasons why this system will be bad for sportsfishermen. www.alaskacharter.org does a good job of listing them.
Please send a letter (or many) if you don't want to see your right to fish deteriorate.
Ted Stevens
522 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington DC 20510
Sen. Lisa Murkowski
709 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington DC 20510
Congressman Don Young
2111 Rayburn HOB
Washington DC 20515
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