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Halibut Allocation Update – The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) last week voted 6 to 4 against analyzing higher numbers for final guided sport halibut allocation. This issue will be decided in October. SEAGO board members Seth Bone, Stan Malcom, and Tom Ohaus joined executive director Henry Mitchell in Anchorage during the first week of April to represent your interests. Despite losing the vote, some positives came out of the meeting, including four council members who responded to our message. The charter industry was well represented by volunteers and paid representatives – Henry Mitchell from SEAGO and Earl Comstock from the Charter Halibut Task Force (CHTF). It was by far our most united and best organized effort at the council, and it shows if we work hard, we can gain two more members and win the final vote in October. A big concern for us emerged at the NPFMC meeting: Denby Lloyd, commissioner of Alaska Department of Fish and Game, seems to think we can do just fine with a one halibut per day daily limit. We have our work cut out to convince the State of Alaska, right up to Governor Palin’s office, that a one-halibut per day limit, especially when paired with the king salmon regulations we face, will cause great harm to the local economies that depend on major inputs from the guided sport fishery. SEAGO executive director Henry Mitchell will work tirelessly between now and October, when final allocation is set, to make it clear that the one halibut limit is disastrous. If SEAGO is to succeed in this effort, we need YOU to join, we need your financial support, and we need you to make plans to travel to Anchorage in October when the NPFMC decides your final halibut allocation.
Chinook sport allocation cut 48% – The state’s king salmon abundance index (AI) of 1.07 blindsided us and the commercial fishing industries of Southeast Alaska. At that level we have the following regulations (for the full text of the emergency order, see ADFG Chinook Emergency Order)
SEAGO supports long term conservation of king salmon and will work with the State of Alaska to achieve the conservation goals for king salmon in 2008 with the least devastation to our industry. Of current interest to many SEAGO members and other charters is the four-line rule in May and June and trying to find a way that it doesn’t apply to halibut fishing. Many businesses have moved to a six-line model, especially as fuel costs have gone through the roof.
SEAGO was founded by concerned charter and lodge operators throughout Southeast Alaska who believe our industry can no longer rely on the efforts of a few well intentioned volunteers. In order for charter fishing to survive and continue to make major contributions to the coastal communities of Alaska we need a well funded organization and professional representation. We invite you to join. Visit our web site at http://www.seagoalaska.org or contact our executive director, Henry Mitchell at (907-947-2121) or email: seagoalaska@gmail.com SEAGO Board Members
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