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Hello
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If
you enjoy halibut fishing or enjoy eating sport caught halibut, an
issue has come to light that requires your attention.
A
commercial fishing group based in Seattle has submitted a proposal to
the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) that would cut
the daily halibut bag limit for all unguided recreational anglers in
Alaska from two fish to one.
This
proposal is not about conservation. It does not identify a biological
need, stock concern, or sustainability objective. Instead, this is an
allocative proposal that would take fish away from Alaska residents
and give them to out of state commercial interests.
Pacific
halibut are managed jointly by the IPHC, NOAA Fisheries, the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council, and the Alaska Department of Fish
and Game. Under long-standing U.S. policy, conservation matters are
addressed by the IPHC, while purely domestic allocation decisions are
handled by regional fishery management councils. A statewide
reduction in bag limits for Alaskans is a domestic allocation issue,
not an international conservation one.
For
that reason, many Alaska legislators and the Alaska Department of
Fish and Game oppose this proposal and are urging NOAA Fisheries to
ensure it is not considered by the IPHC but instead referred to the
North Pacific Fishery Management Council where Alaska has appropriate
representation and input.
Public
comments matter, and the deadline is January 18. If you care about
your access to Alaska’s fisheries and about keeping allocation
decisions where they belong, I encourage you to submit a comment
opposing this proposal.
You
can comment directly to the IPHC at:
https://www.iphc.int/form/iphc-stakeholder-comment-form/
This
is a straightforward issue of process, fairness, and local impact.
Alaskans deserve a voice in decisions that affect Alaska fisheries!
I
am honored to be your effective advocate in Juneau. Please contact my
office when you have ideas or concerns by calling 907-283-7996 or by
email at sen.jesse.bjorkman@akleg.gov
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