Fishermen facing big increase in permit fees </MCC HEAD>

Story last updated at 8:28 PM on Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Fishermen facing big increase in permit fees

Some commercial fishermen renewing their state permit cards have been in for a surprise with some recently implemented fee hikes after the Legislature adopted a 10-fold increase in the cap on permit fees.

The Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission uses a specific mathematical formula to determine the fees, according to CFEC's Susan Haymes. For limited entry permits, such as salmon, the permit fee is approximately four-tenths of 1 percent of the estimated permit value. However, the Legislature had the fees capped at $300 up until 2005, when they changed that cap to $3,000. That new cap went into effect in 2006, but was not fully implemented until now. "We kind of staggered the $3,000 cap," Haymes said. "We held some hearings when we were first doing this, and at those hearings it was suggested that we implement it over time."

Non-limited entry fisheries, mostly groundfish such as pollock and cod have a fee based on four-tenths of 1 percent of the average estimated gross earning. Those fisheries saw dramatic fee increases, but did not get the full effect until now. Some of them, mostly large trawlers, have reached the $3,000 cap.

"We applied the fee formula that we always have, but it was capped at $300," Haymes said. "If you actually multiply it all out, it should have been a lot higher all those years."

"I think a lot of guys definitely had sticker shock," she added.

None of the salmon permit fees even approach the $3,000 mark, although several have passed the previous $300 cap, including Prince William Sound, Bristol Bay, and Alaska Peninsula drift gillnets.

Groundfish fisheries are broken up by vessel size, with the smaller vessels generating smaller income and thus smaller fees. Even high-dollar product like halibut only has a $225 fee for longline vessels under 60 feet. Fees for vessels over 60 feet take a substantial jump, to $1,050.

The CFEC office is a busy place. During 2007, the last year for which figures are available, the commission issued 28,416 permits and vessel licenses in Alaska's fisheries.

The CFEC was formed in 1973, the year Alaskans voted for a constitutional amendment allowing limited entry into salmon fisheries.

Low-income fishermen can apply for a reduced permit fee, which is half of the regular fee. Criteria for reduced fees are based on federal food stamp guidelines.

The CFEC has also added a feature allowing permit holders to renew online, a service that has been widely used since its implementation late last year. Forms, information, and fees can be found at www.cfec.state.ak.us.

The Board of Fisheries wrapped up eight days of meetings in Cordova last month, ruling on an agenda stuffed with potential restrictions to commercial fisheries on the Copper and Bering Rivers. Most of the more restrictive items did not pass, garnering praise for the board from Rochelle van den Broek, executive director of the Cordova District Fishermen United, according to the Cordova Times.

"The meeting finally finished after eight long days of testimonies, reports, committees and deliberations," she said. "There were some pretty nasty proposals this go-round that had some fairly serious implications for our fishery here. Thankfully, the majority of the big ones failed. All in all, the Board of Fisheries did a good job."

The failed proposals included prohibiting use of dipnets or gaffs to land chinook salmon, delaying commercial fishing until 5,000 salmon were past the counter and limiting fishing in the inside closure area during weeks 22 and 23 to one period per week.

Efforts to increase bag limits for both sockeye and chinook salmon for personal use also failed.

Cristy Fry has commercial fished in Homer since 1978. She also designs and builds gear for the industry. She currently longlines for halibut and gillnets salmon in upper Cook Inlet aboard the F/V Realist. She can be reached at cristy-fry@excite.com.