BILL: HB 143 SHORT TITLE: NO REPEAL OF SPORT FISH GUIDE LICENSING

Bill Text 26th Legislature a.. 00 HOUSE BILL NO. 143 01 "An Act repealing the termination of licensing and regulation of sport fishing operators 02 and sport fishing guides and licensing and registration of sport fishing vessels; and> 03 providing for an effective date." 04 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA 05 * Section 1. Section 8, ch. 70, SLA 2004, is repealed. 06 * Sec. 2. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).

Be aware that our State Representatives, ADF&G, DNR and Alaska State Parks are all working aggressively to implement some form of "Limited Entry Program/Sport Fishing Guides Services Board" for sport fish guides in Alaska. Representatives and agencies are working overtime to implement some form of system which they believe will somehow increase professional standards within the sport fish guiding and also result in what they term REDUCED ENTRY to guided sportfish anglers.

SALT WATER SPORT FISHING GUIDES AND CREW PROHIBITED FROM RETAINING FISH IN 2009 IN SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA

For the full story released on MARCH 13th click on heading above.

Governor Names Nominees for NPFMC

March 10, 2009, Juneau, Alaska – Governor Sarah Palin today forwarded her nominations of Robert “Ed” Dersham and Dan Hull to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce for appointment to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. Dersham currently serves on the council and is being nominated for a second term. Hull has been an active public participant at council meetings and has served on council committees.
The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires governors of specific coastal states to provide a preferred candidate for each vacancy as well as two alternate nominees. In addition to Dersham and Hull, Governor Palin named Mike Heimbuch and Gale Vick as alternate nominees.

Canada Sets One Halibut Daily Recreational Limit

Canada Sets One Halibut Daily Recreational Limit
As of March 1st Canada Dept of Fish and Oceans (DFO) implemented a coast wide opening of the recreational halibut fishery with a daily limit at the start of the season is one (1) per day with a total possession limit of two (2).

In a letter from the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans addressed to the Sport Fishing Advisory Board it stated, ”For 2009, Canada has agreed to a Canadian TAC of 7,630,000 pounds. This results from a 10.4% reduction in the coast-wide Canada-US catch this year. While it will be challenging, the Department (DFO) will plan Canadian Fisheries to meet this obligation. As well, the existing domestic allocation framework will remain with an 88:12 sharing arrangement and provisions for agreed adjustments.”

The official notice did not include a closing date, but the season can be shortened and will close prematurely if the 12% catch ceiling is exceeded and no or insufficient compensated transfer occurs to offset for fishing over the 12% of the halibut TAC by the recreational sector according to the local sport fishing advisory board chair from Victoria.