A New Attack on The Last Frontier: Alaskan Halibut

July 22, 2013 - How would you like to pay a commercial fisherman for the "opportunity" to fill out your bag limit?

In yet another troubling precedent, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council has approved regulations for pacific halibut that would 1) reduce the recreational allocation of "guided anglers" who fish on charter boats and transfer that quota to the commercial sector, and 2) offer those anglers the "opportunity" to rent those fish back from owners of commercial catch share quotas.

Here's how it would work: first, recreational anglers would be divided into two separate (and unequal) sectors: "guided" and "unguided" angler sectors.

Recreational fishermen who have their own boats would have their allocation taken "off the top" as has always been the case in Alaska. Trawl bycatch and subsistence fishing would also be taken off the top. Whatever is left over would be divided between the commercial longline sector and the new "guided angler" sector.

Charter fishing for halibut in Alaska is already limited to a Guideline Harvest Level (GHL) and a new limited entry program that caps the charter fleet's capacity. The new allocations, called the Catch Sharing Plan (CSP) would further reduce the percentage of halibut landed by guided anglers.

Under most circumstances, the new allocations under the CSP would result in a reduction of the traditional two-fish halibut bag limit by half, or one fish.

But wait! Should an angler on a charter vessel wish to keep a second fish (as allowed for unguided anglers) the charter captain could "rent" the fishing privilege from a commercial fishermen, who would receive a check for that fish at market rates.

In other words, you would have to pay for that fish before you even go fishing!

Take action now against this flagrant resource grab. It's fast and easy when you submit comments on this proposed federal rule online:

http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2011-0180

"Alaska's fabled reputation as 'the last frontier' takes on a new meaning when we consider the precedent set by the CSP's provisions for renting quota from the commercial sector. If allowed to stand, this assault on the public trust doctrine will spread to other states and anglers can expect many more 'opportunities' to rent fish from commercial fishermen who will receive a check while sipping their morning coffee," said RFA's West Coast Regional Director, Jim Martin.

"The RFA and the Alaska Charter Association have been working side by side for many years to stand against the imposition of catch share systems on the charter fishing industry, and we feel that the recreational fishery must stay united and resist all attempts at sector separation," Martin added.

In 2011, a broad-reaching education campaign conducted by the ACA resulted in over 4,000 public comments on a similar Catch Sharing Plan, a record number of comments in the state of Alaska's history.

"This plan will in effect put me out of business. It will hurt our industry to the point it is unlikely there will be boat launches in Ninilchik or Anchor Point. It will close down our local fish processors," wrote local charter captain Rod Van Saun. "The Catch Share Plan has nothing to do with conservation. It only has to do with allocation. The commercial industry wants to take your fish away and catch and sell them for a profit."

Charter fishing operators, lodges and related businesses are encouraged to join the Alaska Charter Association: membership forms can be found at www.alaskacharter.org. Individual anglers can become associate members of the ACA at no cost. More information about this CSP issue can be found at the website as well as links to provide donations for this battle.