Letters: Duncan Fields Says Trawler 'doomsday' Scenarios for Kodiak Under Council Plans Not True
SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Letters] March 17, 2016
Hi John,
Your article, “ Kodiak Processors Tell City & Borough Wrong Plan for GOA Groundfish Would Devastate City's Economy” (March 16) provides lots of good information but the information doesn't support the conclusion that Alternative 2 is the only or best choice to address Gulf of Alaska bycatch management concerns. The doomsday worst case scenario outlined is not reporting but propagandizing.
Yes, the Gulf of Alaska trawl fleet provides the pounds that keep Kodiak processors operating year around, helping to reduce unit costs for all species and providing processing jobs and community infrastructure. Yes, markets and prices for groundfish and other seafood species are reduced and all of Alaska's seafood industry is facing tough times. And yes, the West Coast groundfish rationalization program has resulted in some unintended consequences.
The fact that the non-pollock, non-rockfish groundfish fishery was closed in May of 2015 ...
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