2002-24 Endorsing Rock Fish ProgramKODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
RESOLUTION NO. 2002 -24
Introduced by: Manager Carlson
Requested by: Borough Assembly
Drafted by: Manager Carlson
Introduced: 08/29/2002
Adopted: 08/29/2002
A RESOLUTION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
ENDORSING THE CENTRAL GULF OF ALASKA (CGOA) PILOT ROCKFISH PROGRAM
AS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR KOD A.
WHEREAS, the seafood industry is the largest sector of the Kodiak economy and
accounts for over 2,800 12 -month annual average jobs, contributing approximately 64
percent of Kodiak's basic economy; and
WHEREAS, Kodiak is the largest employer of processing workers in the State of Alaska
who are residents of the community and who make up a large portion of the social and
cultural fabric of Kodiak; and
WHEREAS, groundfish is the mainstay of Kodiak's processing industry accounting for 70
percent of the volume and the majority of the processor worker employment; and
WHEREAS, the Kodiak fishing economy is in crisis with volume, price, vessel values, and
employment decreasing dramatically in recent years due in large part to cheap, foreign -
farmed salmon; and
WHEREAS, the Kodiak groundfish fleet has been severely impacted by Stellar Sea Lion
closures of historic fishing areas and large reductions in allowable catch for both Pollock
and Pacific cod which comprise the largest portion of value for groundfish; and
WHEREAS, four processing facilities have closed due to financial issues over the last two
years in the Kodiak Island Borough which represents nearly a quarter of total processing
capacity; and
WHEREAS, the number of processing days per year continues to shrink, weakening our
processing labor force's ability to have year -round employment and forcing them to seek
employment elsewhere; and
WHEREAS, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council continues to implement
dramatic changes as demonstrated by the American Fishery's Act, and Individual Fishing
Quotas for Halibut and Sablefish, that move the industry away from fisheries that harvest
the most fish in the shortest amount of time to maximizing the value of each fish caught
over a safer and more cautious fishing period; and
WHEREAS, Kodiak pioneered the shorebased Central Gulf of Alaska (CGOA) rockfish
fishery and is the dominant community with historical participation in the CGOA rockfish
fishery; and
Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska Resolution No. 2002 -24
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WHEREAS, stopping the "race for fish" will halt high volume -low return processing and
allow for value added fresh fish marketing which has the potential to significantly increase
ex- vessel prices and cause a commiserate increase in the number of processing days and
the wholesale value of the finished fish products; and
WHEREAS, changing the rockfish fishery structure will allow the fishery to fill processing
voids during the year stabilizing employment for our processing workers and also allow
the fishery to be moved from the July time frame that is in direct conflict with the salmon
processing season; and
e res is -mar eting model can be used to increase value of other fish
products delivered to Kodiak;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH ASSEMBLY
that:
Section 1:
ATTEST:
The Kodiak Island Borough endorses the CGOA rockfish pilot program as an
economic development program that will help stabilize the Kodiak fishing
industry based on a structure that protects the Kodiak Island Borough
economy by ensuring the product is landed and processed locally.
Section 2: The Kodiak Island Borough supports the cooperative proposal for CGOA
rockfish so long as sufficient mechanisms are in place to ensure the product
will be landed locally and that community protection be provided through the
offices of the Secretary of Commerce in concert with the Kodiak Island
Borough Assembly representatives that allows for the purchase and
administration of processor shares through a first right of refusal on any sale
of those shares that would result in processing rights being removed from
the Kodiak Island Borough.
Section 3: The Kodiak Island Borough respectfully requests that the Alaska
Congressional delegation implement the CGOA rockfish pilot program.
ADOPTED BY THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
THIS TWENTY -NINTH DAY OF AUGUST, 2002
Judith A. Nielsen, C c, Borough Clerk
Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska
KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
Gabrielle LeDoux, Borough Mayor
Resolution No. 2002 -24
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