1984-115 Opposing Federal Limited Entry In the Halibut Fisheries.1
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KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
RESOLUTION NO. 84 -115 -R
A RESOLUTION OF THE KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH ASSEMBLY OPPOSING FEDERAL
LIMITED ENTRY IN THE HALIBUT FISHERIES.
WHEREAS, the Kodiak Island Borough has an approved Coastal Management
Plan which provides a system for State and Federal agencies to consider input
from the Kodiak Island Borough on matters of Coastal Zone Management, and
WHEREAS, the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council, NPFMC, is
'determined to manage the halibut fishery through federal limited entry in the
form of license limitation or quota shares, and
WHEREAS, the intent of a license limitation program would be to
eliminate 50 percent or more of the participants beginning with the most
recent entrants, which would affect many Kodiak fishermen, and
WHEREAS, the proposed halibut share -quota system would concentrate
the increasing wealth of our fisheries into fewer and fewer hands, creating
great inequities of opportunity in our fishing community and virtually elimin-
ating the possibility for young people from the Kodiak community from entering
the fishery, and
WHEREAS, coastal communities, specifically Kodiak and the villages
on Kodiak Island, need open access to and competition in the fisheries, leading
to the fairest allocation, and
WHEREAS, the restriction, retardation or exclusion of fishermen to
develop resources that abound in the vicinity would have an adverse economic
effect on this community which has seen a substantial reduction in income from
fisheries during the past two years, and
WHEREAS, the share system greatly hinders diversification, which is am
economic necessity for survival of independent fishermen, and
WHEREAS, the decline of crab stocks and rise of the importance of
halibut fishing in our community demonstrates the need for diversification and
open access to fisheries, and
WHEREAS, more processors also benefit from open access to fisheries
for the local fleet because they are able to buy a bigger share of the fish, and
WHEREAS, the trend of federal management as evidenced by federal
government policy statements is moving away from supporting small independent
businesses, and
WHEREAS, federal government intervention in farming, timber and mining
has led to the demise of the small independent operator and the removal of
industry from small communities, and
WHEREAS, federal limited entry will change capitalization in fishi, .
from buying real assets, usable in other fisheries to artifical investments
such as shares or permits, which will greatly inhibit the ability of the small
",business fisherman to compete, and
WHEREAS, the Alaska fisheries industry is one of the two largest
private sector employers in the State, and as such, too vital to the people and
',the economy to risk all the inherent dangers and inequities of such an irrevers-
,'ible, unnecessary management plan as the shares system, or license limitation,
and
WHEREAS, the entire economy of Alaskan coastal communities such as
Kodiak is small businesses dependently interfacing with the fisheries industry
and providing economic and logistic support to the independent fishermen, and
WHEREAS, the Kodiak Island Borough considers the rich abundant
fisheries resources in the waters surrounding Kodiak and Alaska to be a renewable
PUBLIC resource which serves a primary purpose, along with providing food for
the people of the world, of sustaining the livelihoods and economy of the people
and communities of our Island and State, and
WHEREAS, the idea of permanently turning over the ownership of our
public resource to a few private hands totally contradicts the principle of free
enterprise and is contrary to the fundamentals upon which our country is founded.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly
is opposed to any form of federal limited entry in the halibut fishery (or in
any additional fishery affecting Kodiak fishermen), and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly supports
other management options, such as:
1. Short openings between May and September, such that no more than
1/3 of the quota is expected to be caught in only one opening, and
the first opening should be the shortest in duration to assess stocks;,
2. Hold inspections for enforcement so black cod fishermen will
lose less time fishing and be.able to participate in halibut fishing;
3. Pre - opening registration of IPHC may assess participation prior
to opening;
4. Annual stock survey or assessment; and
5. Better cooperation from the IPHC with Western Alaska Fishermen.
Resolution NO. 84 -115 -R
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This resolution shall be communicated to the following people:
President Ronald Reagan
David Stockman, Director OMB
Senator Ted Stevens
Senator Frank H. Murkowski
Representative Donald E. Young
Governor Bill Sheffield
NorthernPacific Fisheries Management Council Chairman,
J. Campbell
Alaska Legislature
Secretary of Commerce Malcolm Baldrige
Kodiak United Fishermens' Marketing Association
City of Kodiak
Kodiak Halibut Fisherman's Association.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 1st day of November , 1984.
KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
ATTEST:
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Resolution No. 84 -115 -R
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By
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