If the NPFMC sets too low an allocation, those of you who choose to catch your halibut on a charter will be saddled with a one daily bag limit now and quite possibly forever.
We think you deserve better. And we think you can help.
This one-per-day regulation affects only those anglers who choose to catch halibut aboard a charter boat in Southeast Alaska – 98% of whom are non-residents of Alaska.
Governor Palin appointed six of the eleven voting council members on the NPFMC. They take their direction from her office. Until recently, the Governor only had to please people who vote in Alaska. Now, with a national election on the line, the voice of the out-of-state angler – that’s you – who travels to Alaska and makes major economic contributions to our communities can be heard.
To be clear, Angling Unlimited is not telling anyone how to vote in the election. All we’re saying is that right now your opinion counts with Governor Palin and to share it with her.
The time is Now!
If you’d like to let Sarah Palin know your opinion, you’ll need to email and/or fax her immediately. Tell her you support the alternative plan offered by the Charter Halibut Task Force. It addresses conservation, fairness and assures the angling public reasonable access to a federal resource, including a two-per-day bag limit throughout the season. |
If you’re willing, please provide a CC of your email to Tom@seagoalaska.org
Facts to Consider:
- Charter fishers in Alaska catch less than 10 percent of the overall harvest of halibut in the state of Alaska
- Commercial Bycatch of halibut (fish caught and killed while pursuing other species) is more than double the charter catch.
- According to the MacDowell Group, charter fishing makes an annual contribution of over 31 million dollars a year in Sitka alone. This means jobs for everyone from your captain, deckhand, and hostess. It also means jobs for the wait persons at local restaurants, retail sales people, mechanics, and countless others. Your business matters to Alaska and the Governor needs to know this.
- Commercial harvesters were given, free of charge, transferable quota shares (IFQ’s) for the harvest of halibut in 1995. Since that time the price of halibut has tripled and the market value of the IFQ’s have quadrupled. The NPFMC’s attempt to limit charter harvest is driven by only one motivation – protection of IFQ share value. This fails to take into account fairness to other groups, overall economic benefits to communities, and best use of the resource.
Address Your Letters, Emails and Faxes to:
The Honorable Sarah Palin
550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 1700
Anchorage, AK 99501
Sarah.palin@alaska.gov
Fax: 907-269-7461
The Recreational Fishing Alliance’s website has a simple way to get clients to submit a letter to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.
Go to http://www.joinrfa.org, under Support Recreational Halibut Fishing in Alaska, click on the link to send an electronic letter. Letters will be printed out on Monday, Sept 22, and FedXd to Gov Palin and the NPFMC before the Sept 24 deadline. (Send this even if it’s later than September 22, 2008 – it will still be useful)
Washington and Oregon Voters: Your governors appoint voting members to the NPFMC. Write them and ask that they support the alternative plan offered by the Charter Halibut Task Force.
The Honorable Chris Gregoire
Office of the Governor
PO Box 40002
Olympia, WA 98504-0002
Phone: (360) 902-4111
Fax: (360) 753-4110
Email: http://www.governor.wa.gov/contact/
The Honorable Ted Kulongoski
Office of the Governor
160 State Capitol
900 Court Street
Salem, Oregon 97301-4047
Phone: 503.378.4582
Fax: 503.378.6827
Email: http://www.oregon.gov/Gov/contact_us.shtml
Captain Tom Ohaus and Captain Chuck McNamee
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