FY2007-12 Comments to the NPFMC on Gulf of Alaska RationalizationKODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
RESOLUTION NO. FY2007 -12
Introduced by: Borough Manager
Requested by: KIB Assembly
Drafted by: City Manager /Mayor Selby
Introduced: 11/02/2006
Failed: 11/02/2006
Reconsidered: 11/02/2006
Postponed: 11/09/2006
Amended: 11/09/2006
Adopted: 11/09/2006
A RESOLUTION OF THE KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH ASSEMBLY
PROVIDING FUTHER COMMENTS TO THE NORTH PACIFIC FISHERY
MANAGEMENT COUNCIL ON GULF OF ALASKA RATIONALIZATION
WHEREAS, the harvesting and processing sectors of the Kodiak fishing community are
substantially engaged in and substantially dependent upon Gulf of Alaska groundfish fisheries;
and
WHEREAS, Kodiak's economic and social health is intimately dependent upon the community's
sustained participation in all aspects of the Gulf groundfish fisheries; and
WHEREAS, the Kodiak Island Borough has made substantial investments in support of and in
reliance upon the Gulf groundfish fishery, such as water system improvement and expansion
and port and harbor improvements and expansion; and
WHEREAS, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council has developed a suite of fishery
allocation alternatives for the Gulf of Alaska groundfish fisheries, and is working toward adoption
of a preferred alternative for implementation; and
WHEREAS, allocating exclusive harvesting and /or processing privileges promotes consolidation
in the fishing fleet and the processor sector, which can improve efficiency, but which can also
result in skippers, crew members and processing workers bearing costs of consolidation without
fully sharing in the related benefits; and
WHEREAS, while fishery rationalization may create opportunities and incentives to produce
more and higher value products, it also changes the distribution of fishery revenues among
participants with resulting disruptive effects on the communities in which they live; and
WHEREAS, by awarding harvesting and /or processing privileges, fishery allocations make
possible orderly harvesting and processing, but it also facilitates the migration of landings to
communities with infrastructure advantages (such as road system access) and creates barriers
to entry for later generations of fishery participants; and
WHEREAS, as a result, it is essential that the potential adverse affects of Gulf groundfish
rationalization be identified and analyzed and that adjustments be made to mitigate the potential
adverse effects of Gulf groundfish rationalization on Kodiak prior to any program implementation;
WHEREAS, it is the Kodiak Island Borough's intent that a full, and frank exchange of information
and opinions concerning Gulf groundfish rationalization take place among the constituencies of
the Borough that would be most directly affected by such program, if adopted; and to the extent
possible, to encourage the development of consensus among these constituencies concerning
the preferred elements and options of such program; and
Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska Resolution No. FY2007 -12
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WHEREAS, the City of Kodiak and the Kodiak Island Borough joined together to appoint a Gulf
of Alaska Groundfish Rationalization Task Force to provide a forum for the full, and frank
exchange of information and opinions concerning Gulf groundfish rationalization and an
opportunity for the development of consensus on preferred elements and options of a Gulf
groundfish rationalization program, should it move forward; and
WHEREAS, while the Task Force is continuing to work, they have recently provided the Borough
Assembly with a number of recommendations that the Borough Assembly is actively endorsing;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KODIAK ISLAND
BOROUGH THAT the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) suspend action on
Gulf of Alaska groundfish rationalization until, at least, such time as the NPFMC has conducted
its 18 month review of the Bering Sea crab rationalization program and the public has had an
opportunity to evaluate and comment on the impacts of crab rationalization and to evaluate the
NPFMC's adjustments (if any) to the crab rationalization program;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
requests that the NPFMC take the following Gulf groundfish management actions as soon as
possible, notwithstanding the NPFMC's suspension of any further action on Gulf groundfish
rationalization:
1. Initiate a discussion paper on an allocation of Gulf Pacific cod to ensure that it is fair and
equitable participation among gear groups and all fisherman.
2. Initiate a discussion paper on phase -out of the offshore sector in the Gulf of Alaska.
3. Initiate a discussion paper on identifying and removing latent licenses from the Gulf
groundfish sectors that are subject to the License Limitation Program.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
requests that the NPFMC is hereby requested to take the following actions in connection with its
development of a Gulf of Alaska groundfish rationalization program:
1. Complete the Council's review of the Bering Sea crab rationalization program to enable
the public to evaluate and comment on the impacts of crab rationalization and to enable
the Council to make appropriate adjustments to the Guff rationalization program in
response.
2. Thoroughly analyze each alternative being considered by the Council before eliminating
any of the alternatives, to provide the public with the opportunity to compare the effects of
the various alternatives on harvesters (including skippers and crew members),
processors (including workers), fishing support services, and Gulf fishing communities.
3. Include limits on harvesting consolidation through vessel use caps that apply without
exemption, and that are calculated to sustain skipper and crew employment opportunities
and compensation.
4. Develop and bring forward for consideration an additional alternative which includes no
processor shares, linkages or privileges of any kind. For alternatives already being
considered, include measures to maintain a diverse, competitive processing market, by
providing a substantial pool of groundfish privileges for each sector that can be harvested
without penalty and are not subject to processor linkage or processor closed class
delivery requirements. This should include phasing out of the off shore processing sector.
Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska Resolution No. FY2007 -12
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5. If processing prh ileges are included, limit consolidation of such privileges through
processor and facility use caps.
6. Designate Federal harvesting privileges by region to reflect landing patterns similar to
those occurring prior to program adoption, and require that fish harvested under such
privileges be landed in their designated region.
7. Include a reasonable groundfish allocation which may be harvested and processed
without holding any Federal or State dedicated access privilege, subject to restrictions
that the State of Alaska may deem necessary to maintain the entry level character of
such allocation.
8. Include a community fisheries quota program that provides an opportunity for small Gulf
coastal communities to enhance their residents' participation in the Gulf groundfish
fishery, under the conditions that the allocation to such program does not disrupt other
Gulf of Alaska fishery dependent communities by displacing their fishermen, is required to
be harvested by residents of the eligible communities, and requires that harvests made
under such program be delivered on shore within the region of their allocation.
9. Include a community purchase program that provides Gulf coastal communities with the
opportunity to maintain participation by their residents in the Gulf groundfish fishery by
acquiring harvesting privileges for use by their residents, under the conditions that the
Kodiak Island communities are eligible communities, and such program includes
reasonable limits on the amount of harvesting privileges that any single eligible
community may hold.
ATTEST:
ADOPTED BY THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
THIS NINTH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2006
i fl
Nova M. Javier, CMC, orough Clerk
Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska
KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
4/
rome M. elby, Borough Mayor
Resolution No. FY2007 -12
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