A headline in Under Current News published June 9th read: “North Pacific Council Bucks Critics, Preserves Status Quo for Alaska Trawlers”.
This is not the news that Alaskan coastal communities and fishermen were hoping for. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council at their June meeting, which ended Tuesday, decided once again to postpone meaningful action to update its definition of “pelagic trawl gear” and continue allowing midwater trawl gear to contact up to 100 percent of the area fished with the seafloor.
“Far away and out of touch, that’s how I would summarize the recently completed NPMC meeting in Newport, Oregon,” said SalmonState ED, Tim Bristol. “The Council’s inaction in the face of the informed testimony of concerned Alaskans is disappointing but no longer surprising. When common sense adjustments and desperately needed changes to trawling are deemed ‘impracticable’ due to their potential negative impact to trawler profits, it’s hard not to conclude that industry now owns this process.” It is undisputed by industry, Council members, and NOAA Fisheries, midwater trawl gear hits the seafloor while trawlers are fishing for pollock. By calling the fishery ‘pelagic’ or ‘midwater’ the public is being deceived as to the nature and impacts of pollock fishing in Alaska’s waters.”
SalmonState works to keep Alaska a place where wild salmon and the people whose lives are interconnected with them continue to thrive.
