A hotly contested bill that would allocate groundfish rights in state waters (within 3 miles) is currently making its way through the state legislature. Senate Bill 113, "An Act relating to entry into and management of Gulf of Alaska groundfish fisheries," sponsored by Sen. Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, would establish a "dedicated access privilege" program for groundfish fisheries for all gear types, attempting to sort out the sticky question of how the state will grant access to fish and recognize fishing history inside three miles. Fishermen in Homer and Kodiak have testified for and against the bill, with supporters saying it was carefully crafted by the Board of Fisheries as a tool for them and the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission to use to rationalize groundfish stocks, and opponents claiming it is too vague and could be broadened to limit other fisheries that are currently open-access. At a recent Legislative Information Office hearing, 15 people in Kodiak testified against the bill, and only one person for it. However, the bill has backing from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the Alaska Draggers Association, CFEC, and the BOF. The need to decide the issue is made more urgent by the groundfish rationalization program being developed in federal waters by the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council. Homer fisherman Glen Carroll, who sat on the BOF task force committee that put this issue in the legislature's lap, is frustrated by the opposition coming out of Kodiak. "The Kodiak people at the (LIO) teleconference were saying that there was no public process, no hearings, and this should go through the advisory process," Carroll said. "Well, it did. It was a very public process." Carroll said the task force committee came up against the Alaska Constitution that guarantees equal access to all resources, which meant the legislature had to step in as they did when limited entry salmon permits were issued. Carroll also said that Kodiak was well represented on the committee. "Five out of the eleven committee members were from Kodiak," he said. Carroll is concerned about what will happen if the Legislature cannot decide the issue. "I don't know. I'm quite worried," Carroll said. "This may be our last chance. Last year (the moratorium) was such a train wreck, I'm afraid the BOF will just give up." Carroll said the committee worked hard to match something with the federal program that will harm the least amount of people and parallel what comes out of the NPFC, and that this bill is simply a tool that starts the process. "All this does is put in to place the opportunity for process," according to Carroll. "It allows shares to four classes of people, and allows the BOF and CFEC to begin the process of deciding who gets what." Homer's North Pacific Fisherman's Association president Buck Laukitis said they have not taken a stand on SB113, but feel it has some good points. "NPFA doesn't have a position yet," Laukitis said, "but we see this as a culmination of two years of BOF committee work. There are no surprises." Laukitis said the previous attempts were not satisfactory. "Last year we were opposed to the moratorium because it didn't include skipper and crew. This bill has incorporated permit holders, and we think that is a good adjustment. We're glad they incorporated our concerns."

Bill Hogarth, director of NMFS, is inviting all Alaskans to attend a gathering later this month in Washington D.C. called "Managing Our Nation's Fisheries II." Taking place March 24-26, the meeting is a follow-up to a conference held in November of 2003. Attendees will include the nation's eight regional fishery management councils and a diverse group of constituents who are expected to engage in a "robust dialogue" on key fisheries management issues. Alaska will be represented at the conference by Stephanie Madsen, Gordon Kruse, David Benton and Terry Quinn, all of Juneau. According to Hogarth, "Important change is underway for U.S. fisheries policy, as we work to advance our science and management programs." He continued, "There has been enormous momentum building for a shift in fisheries management strategies toward ecosystem and market share programs, and NOAA is working with the regional councils to make these advancements become a reality." One topic of considerable public interest that will be addressed is fisheries governance, with a focus on the regional council process for managing fisheries. The conference panels are developed around these key issues: Ecosystem Approaches, Strengthening Science/Management, Criteria for Individual Fishery Quota Programs, Marine Protected Areas and Deep Water Corals, Reconciling Statutes, Overfishing and Rebuilding and Fisheries Governance. Primary focus will be on implementing an ecosystem-based approach for fisheries, strengthening scientific advice for fishery management decisions, addressing the various statutes governing our nation's fishery management process, and design of IFQ programs for fisheries. Conference logistics can be found at www.managingfisheries.org/.

Cristy Fry has commercial fished in Homer since 1978, and has also designed and built gear for the industry. She currently longlines for halibut and sablefish, and gillnets salmon in Upper Cook Inlet aboard the F/V Realist.