Johnson OUT!

4/16/2009
THE JOINT SESSION OF THE ALASKA LEGISLATURE JUST VOTED AGAINST THE CONFIRMATION OF BRENT JOHNSON TO THE STATE FISHERIES BOARD.
Governor Palin says. “Brent Johnson was both qualified and willing to serve on this high-profile board, and would have been the first Cook Inlet setnetter appointed since Dannie Garroutte was appointed by Governor Jay Hammond in 1975,” she said. “While it‘s discouraging to see politics undercut Brent’s opportunity for service, I recognize the legislature’s statutory authority not to confirm an appointment. I remain proud of the many individual Alaskans who spoke up in support of Brent Johnson, and thank the presiding officers for their efforts to keep the process fair.”

"Inordinate and potentially unfair" influence of commercial fishermens groups!

Members of the state Legislature have introduced resolutions asking Gov. Sarah Palin to examine the "inordinate and potentially unfair, unethical, and disproportionate influence of the commercial fisheries industries on fisheries management in Alaska."
The lawsuit the United Cook Inlet Drift Association, a commercial salmon fishermen's group, filed against the U.S. commerce secretary on March 5. The lawsuit, among other things, wants stop to personal use dipnet fisheries open to Alaska residents only. In their resolutions, the legislators ask the governor to oppose the lawsuit. And they ask for an examination of the commercial fishing industry's "disproportionate influence."Rep. Bill Stoltze, R-Chugiak, is the prime sponsor of House Joint Resolution 32. Sen. Charlie Huggins, R-Wasilla, is the prime sponsor of Senate Joint Resolution 22.

Get ahold of your local repsesentatives! A call, email or letter is a powerful tool to help get your point across.

King Salmon bycatch hard cap. Too little Too late?

The panel voted unanimously Monday to cap the number at 60,000, or fewer under certain conditions.
Billions of pounds of Bering Sea pollock are caught each year. But village fishermen say the pollock fleet is catching and killing far too many of the salmon that communities depend on for food and money.
Nicole Ricci, a foreign affairs officer for the State Department, told the council just before the vote that the cap wouldn't do enough to meet a treaty agreement between the United States and Canada to ensure strong salmon stocks in the Yukon River.
"I don't understand how you can call this a reduction," Ricci said. She noted that the upper limit of the cap is higher than the average bycatch over the past decade.
"This has been one of the most disappointing things that I have sat through," she said.
Under the motion approved by the council, the cap would drop down to about 47,600 salmon if the industry's salmon bycatch routinely exceeds recent averages. Those refusing to take part in incentive programs would face far lower bycatch limits.
The council, consisting of government and industry representatives, sends recommendations to the U.S. commerce secretary for approval before the new bycatch rules can take effect in 2011.

Palins pick for fish board draws fire.

Kenai River Sportfishing Association (KRSA) Opposes Johnson’s Appointment to Alaska Board of Fisheries.
Sportfishermen are opposing the appointment of Brent Johnson to the Alaska Board of Fisheries (BOF).
.“Anyone who believes in Alaskan’s subsistence, sport and personal use fishing rights should be appalled by this appointment,” said KRSA executive director Ricky Gease. “Johnson is unable to see other points of view and has shown in his past interactions with the Board that he is not able to take a fair and balanced approach to fish allocation decisions.”
Tell your legislator what you think about this pick.

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.