1994-12 Supporting the Kodiak Commercial Salmon Fishery and Opposing State of Alaska Board of Fisheries Proposal #528.WHEREAS,
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS,
KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
RESOLUTION NO. 94 -12
Introduced by:
Requested by:
Drafted by:
Introduced:
Adopted:
Mayor Selby
Mayor Selby
Kodiak Salmon
Working Group
03/14/94
03/14/94
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE KODIAK COMMERCIAL SALMON FISHERY
AND OPPOSING STATE OF ALASKA BOARD OF FISHERIES PROPOSAL #528
the Kodiak Island Borough recognizes the economic importance and
social and cultural value of the historical Kodiak commercial salmon
fishery; and
the Kodiak commercial salmon fishery has existed for 111 years, since
1882; and
the City of Kodiak has the largest and most diversified fishing port in the
State of Alaska; and
the commercial salmon fishery has generated an average ex- vessel value
to fishermen of over $53,000,000 annually since 1988; and
our economy is dependent on a healthy salmon fishery which generates
up to 5,000 jobs in the summer, and the "average monthly payroll"
increases by four to five times during that period; and
the Kodiak salmon fishery provides revenue in the form of a severance
tax, raw fish tax, marketing tax, and aquaculture tax; and
the Kodiak Salmon Management Plan has been in the process of
rebuilding local stocks through cautious, conservative management
which involved local and district closures, and that resultant stocks are
strong because of this management expertise; and
Proposal #528 changes the time- honored and historical management of
Kodiak salmon based on local stocks, and furthermore, it is inappropriate
to manage Kodiak's salmon fishery for Cook Inlet sockeye; and
Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska Resolution No, 94 -12
Page 1 of 2
WHEREAS, there is no conservation or biological emergency in Cook Inlet, based on
a revised ADF &G Soldotna forecast for an above average run; and
WHEREAS, Kodiak bycatch of Cook Inlet sockeye only occurs when Cook Inlet has
very large runs, and is virtually negligible when Cook Inlet runs are below
four million sockeye; and
WHEREAS, this proposal will displace Kodiak's fleet, forcing more vessels into
constricted fishing areas; and
WHEREAS, traditional fishing patterns will be substantially altered, making it more
difficult for villages to sustain their fishery- dependent economies; and
WHEREAS, the Kodiak recreational and subsistence salmon fisheries are an integral
and crucial part of our coastal culture, providing residents of the island
with an average salmon harvest per capita of 73.2 pounds (1992
survey); and
WHEREAS, alternative means of employment for commercial salmon fishermen and
women are limited, within the Kodiak Island Borough; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KODIAK ISLAND
BOROUGH THAT:
Section 1: The Kodiak Island Borough supports the Kodiak commercial salmon
fisheries.
Section 2: The Kodiak Island Borough strongly opposes the State of Alaska Board
of Fisheries Proposal #528.
ADOPTED BY THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
THIS FOURTEENTH DAY OF MARCH, 1994
Jero
Jack L
ATTEST:
onna F. Smith, Borough Clerk
Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska
KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
M. Selby, Borough
esiding Officer
Resolution No. 94 -12
Page 2 of 2