Letter: Trawler Representatives say 50% Halibut Bycatch Reduction is Neither Fair nor Equitable
SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Letters] May 15, 2015
In keeping with our policy on Halibut , both Peggy and I have comments on this letter from Chris Woodley, who is Executive Director of the Groundfish Forum representing the Amendment 80 fleet:
John Sackton: I think the fact that IPHC and the N. Pacific Council have different regulatory roles in Halibut creates some difficult issues - not the least being differing methodology on measurement. Therefore, I see the Council's job as to get past measurement issues, and address the fundamental equity issue at the heart of this conflict. To do so, they have to start from the position that all current users (including bycatch users) have defensible 'rights' for this fish, and then come up with a solution that is equitable for the various sectors and interests involved.
Peggy Parker: NMFS trawl surveys do not estimate halibut biomass across its range or within IPHC regulatory Area 4. Those surveys only occur in the Bering Sea and (less intensively) in the Gulf of Alaska. They do contribute important information to the IPHC's stock assessment, especially for sub-legal (less than 32-inch) halibut. IPHC's assessment of the total female spawning biomass in the last few years notes that it has stabilized near 200 million pounds. The median 2015 estimate of exploitable biomass, consistent with the IPHC's current harvest policy, is 181 million pounds. These numbers apply to the entire range of Pacific halibut -- from northern California to the Bering Sea.
To the Editor:
We think Mr. Clampitt’s letter misrepresents facts about the current halibut by-catch issue in front of the North Pacific Management Council and draws reckless conclusions.
Suggesting that a 50% reduction in bycatch is a "fair share" action is ridiculous. There is nothing fair, equitable or reasonable in using the blunt tool of a 50% re-allocation that could cost hard working Alaskans and fishermen hundreds of jobs and could remove well over $100 million dollars from the State of Alaska's economy in a single year.
Lets put these claims into perspective and gather more facts to fully understand this issue...
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