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Southeast Conference

Halibut Bycatch Regulation

May, 2012

         

This June in Kodiak the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council will host a meeting to discuss issues associated with by catch regulations. Heath Hilyard, the Executive Director at Southeast Alaska Guides Organization (SEAGO), is asking for support of reducing the allowable Gulf of Alaska halibut bycatch halibut prohibited species catch). Below is a letter he wrote to address this important topic. 

 

While commercial and recreational fishermen have experienced dramatic cuts in their harvests over past years due to declines in the exploitable halibut biomass, the limit on halibut bycatch in the Gulf of Alaska has not been significantly changed since 1989. 

 

Currently there is a halibut bycatch limit of 2,300 metric tons (mt) in the Gulf of Alaska-or just over 5 million pounds! 

 

After over 20 years of the status quo limit, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (the Council) is finally considering reductions in the bycatch (or PSC - prohibited species catch) in the Gulf of Alaska. The upcoming meeting in Kodiak is a critical decision-point: this is the time when the Council can decide to take a proactive approach to rebuilding the halibut stock by reducing halibut bycatch limit or they can decide to postpone this important conservation action yet again.

 

The Council is poised to take final action on halibut bycatch (PSC -Prohibited Species Catch). The Council is currently considering a range of reductions from 5-15% for the trawl and hook and line fleets in the Gulf of Alaska. If the Council is going to take action soon, this is the meeting at which it has to happen, and this is the meeting to provide your input to the Council about the importance of reducing the waste of our precious halibut resource. 

 

Two things to keep in mind, from a purely political perspective:

 

1)      There are no trawlers operating in Southeast Alaska.  So, this does not threaten to create a rift in Southeast Alaska communities like charter vs. commercial issues do.  In fact, the charter and commercial sectors in Southeast Alaska are in agreement on the necessity for bycatch reduction; and

2)      When you look at Southeast Alaska with regard reduction in catch limits, when compared to other halibut regulatory areas, we have unquestionably been the hardest hit.  The move from the closed area model to the coastwide assessment model several years ago shifted several million pounds from Southeast Alaska to Southcentral Alaska. 

• As a ________ (commercial halibut fisherman, charter operator, sport halibut fisherman, subsistence fisherman, consumer of halibut, etc.) I strongly support reductions in Gulf of Alaska halibut bycatch (halibut PSC). 
• The exploitable biomass-the portion of the halibut population that is available for commercial harvest-has declined 58% over the past decade.
• To conserve stocks, Gulf of Alaska commercial catch limits have been reduced 60% and Southeast charter catch limits have been reduced 34%.
• Trawl bycatch caps have not been reduced since 1989.
• Bycatch now kills as many halibut, in numbers of fish, as are harvested in the commercial halibut fishery.
• Gulf coastal communities depend on halibut for sustenance and livelihood. 
• Reducing bycatch is critical to conserve and rebuild the halibut resource.  
• National Standard 9 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act requires that bycatch be reduced.
• The Council should reduce halibut bycatch NOW by at least 15%.

 

To find out how to submit comments visit this link:  

http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/

 

 Contact:

Heath E. Hilyard, Executive Director

Southeast Alaska Guides Organization (SEAGO)

heath@seagoalaska.org

907.244.4909

http://www.seagoalaska.org

SEC Highlights

April Events:

April 22 - Earthday

April - Registration for Lemonade Day Alaska

 

May Events: 

May 1 - May Day

May 6 - Lemonade Day Alaska

May 5 - Cinco de Mayo 

May 13 - Mother's day

May 28 - Memorial Day 

If you would like to submit an article or event announcement for the Southeast Conference E-News,  please send your request to arielle@seconference.org.