The overall TAC for 2006 is 69.86 million pounds, down 5.37 percent from the 2005 TAC of 73.82 million pounds. The majority of the reductions were applied to Area 3B and Areas 4A, B, C, D and E.
In Alaska waters, the quotas are as follows: 2C (Southeast), 10.63 million pounds; 3A (central Gulf of Alaska), 25.2 million; 3B (south end of Kodiak to Unimak Pass), 10.86 million; 4A (eastern Aleutians), 3.35 million; 4B (western Aleutians), 1.67 million; 4C, D and E (Bering Sea/Pribilof Islands), 3.55 million.
Outside of Alaska, Area 2B (British Columbia), has a TAC of 13.22 million pounds, which includes sport and commercial catch. Area 2A, covering the West Coast, has a TAC of 1.38 million pounds, which includes sport, tribal, and commercial catches.
The season start date was set at March 5, a week later than last year’s opening date, which was something of a compromise, according to IPHC executive director Bruce Leaman.
“U.S. harvesters wanted a 28th of February start date, the Canadians wanted the 15 (of March), and the processors wanted an early date as well,” Leaman said. “The commission decided to saw it off in the middle.”
The ability to proxy fish for disabled, low income or elderly persons, proposed by four separate individuals, was denied. Leaman explained that the Alaska Department of Fish and Game had mistakenly had proxy fishing for halibut up on its original proxy web page, even though it never has been legal under IPHC regulations, something that was pointed out last year.
“The commission doesn’t allow proxy fishing anywhere, in any of its jurisdictions,” Leaman said.
He also explained why the proposal was denied. “The commission heard testimony from the ADF&G folks and the enforcement folks on this, and there are some issues with not being able to verify that the fish actually get delivered to the proxy while they’re checking things out on the water,” he said. “We did some research on this, and apparently proxy fishing is not allowed anywhere else, in the United States or Canada, so the commission decided on the advice of its two advisory bodies not to approve any changes in the proxy regulations for halibut.”
The state of Alaska allows proxy fishing for fish and shellfish species managed by the Department of Fish and Game. The beneficiary must be either 65 years of age, legally blind or at least 70 percent disabled.
In other actions, the industry proposal to allow live halibut landings to processors was discussed. There was concern by the IPHC staff, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration enforcement personnel and industry on the ability of enforcement to track the movement of live halibut. Therefore, the option of butchering the halibut at the dock prior to weighing was reviewed and practical questions were raised. The commission asked the staff to work with other agency staff to review this option and provide a recommendation at IPHC’s next annual meeting.
The commission did not take action on proposals to implement a legal size limit for all fisheries, including the sport and sport charter fisheries, or to require IFQ holders in Alaska to record dogfish bycatch in logbooks, or to allow offloads to floating processors in Area 4.
The commission also honored Tyler Jones of Bellingham, Wash., as the fourth recipient of the IPHC Merit Scholarship. Jones was unable to attend the meeting because of academic commitments but has been presented with a certificate and plaque, as well as the scholarship of $2,000. The commissioners expressed their continued support for the scholarship program and commended the scholarship committee for its efforts in assessing the candidates.
Seafood Summit 2006, “Sustainability and the Future of Seafood,” took place Jan. 29-31 in Seattle. Seafood Summit 2006 was put on by the Seafood Choices Alliance and brought together global business and conservation leaders in order to expand the marketplace for ocean-friendly seafood. This year’s topics included building a brand, environmentally sound aquaculture and organic labeling for seafood. Attendees heard the perspectives of major corporate retailers, large and small suppliers, journalists, academics, chefs and conservationists.
Seafood Choices Alliance is a global trade association for the issue of ocean-friendly seafood. Founded in 2001 in the United States, its goal is to help the seafood industry make the seafood marketplace environmentally and economically sustainable. There is a growing interest worldwide in environmentally responsible seafood.
The alliance’s Web site, www.seafoodchoices.com, includes a function that allows consumers to scroll through a list of environmentally smart seafood choices and find detailed information on conservation status, fishing and farming practices, seasonality and human health considerations, as well as interesting facts and recipes.
For example, a search on Pacific cod, currently being fished in Homer, brings up these results: “In the last decade, Alaska catches of Pacific cod have been stable, with a quota set each year following an assessment of Pacific cod populations. The fishery closely monitors bycatch and can be shut down if excessive levels of non-target species (such as halibut) are caught. Alaska’s longline Bering Sea and Aleutian Island (BSAI) Pacific Cod fishery is currently undergoing assessment for certification by the Marine Stewardship Council.”
For more information, contact the Seafood Choices Alliance at (202) 483-9750.
The Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation is spending close to a million dollars to buy a barge and outfit it to provide ice to area fishermen during the coming sockeye season, according to KTVA News.
The corporation told KTVA that this is its single biggest investment so far in raising the value of the Bristol Bay fishery. Bristol Bay — the state’s largest salmon fishery — lags about 20 percent behind in ex-vessel value compared to the state’s other salmon fisheries.
The corporation plans to lease the barge out to a processor to sell ice to fishermen in the bay. It’s not yet been decided on which of the bay’s six river systems the barge will operate. Fishermen will be charged for the ice.
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.
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