2012 Troll Quota 20,700 less than last year
jgallagher33
2012-03-31 04:31:42
[url=http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/home/news/pdfs/newsreleases/cf/117669173.pdf][url]http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/home/news/pdfs/newsreleases/cf/117669173.pdf
2012 COMMERCIAL TROLL CHINOOK SALMON QUOTA
Sitka. . The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced today that under Chinook salmon
management provisions of the Pacific Salmon Treaty (PST), the 2012 abundance index (AI) for Southeast
Alaska has been calculated to be 1.52, which results in an all-gear harvest quota of 266,800 treaty
Chinook salmon. This all-gear abundance-based quota represents a decrease of 28,000 fish when
compared with last year’s preseason estimate of 294,800 fish at an AI of 1.69. The commercial troll
fishery preseason Chinook salmon harvest allocation for 2012 is 197,300 fish, a decrease of 20,700
Chinook when compared with last year’s troll allocation.
The all-gear Chinook salmon quota is allocated among commercial and sport fisheries according to
management plans established in regulation by the Alaska Board of Fisheries [5 AAC 29.060(b) and 47.
055]. Most Chinook salmon produced from Alaska hatcheries are not factored into the AI and may be
harvested in addition to the treaty limit.
Salty
2012-03-31 16:11:27
This is just so heartbreaking because it means that all these efforts over all these years amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars of investment and foregone harvest opportunity have resulted in no gain, actually net loss for Alaska Chinook fishermen. It means our investment in conservation is not paying off, that the fish we are sending by and the spawning grounds they are headed to are not being adequately cared for by the Canadians, and the South 48.
I have spent a lifetime working to conserve and enhance salmon, particularly Chinook, and I am so sad that we have not done better. I am wondering what our options are, a new group of Alaskan fishermen committed to forcing conservation and fair sharing by our neighbors? New political leaders in Alaska who actually care about something other than oil and timber?
salmon4u
2012-03-31 16:35:11
This is really sad. I confess to becoming cynical that commercial salmon trollers will ever be treated fairly, in a country where politics and the courts are controlled mostly by big money interests : (
jgallagher33
2012-03-31 17:34:11
I have spent a lifetime working to conserve and enhance salmon, particularly Chinook, and I am so sad that we have not done better. I am wondering what our options are, a new group of Alaskan fishermen committed to forcing conservation and fair sharing by our neighbors? New political leaders in Alaska who actually care about something other than oil and timber?
Salty while it may not have resulted in an increase of fish I have no doubt that it has slowed the downhill spiral. The next treaty needs to make sure we get a better share of the pie.
Something that I have always thought about and not here many people talk about is the need to spread the fleet out. I think it is about time that trollers get a shot at south central and south west fish that are alaska bound. If we can't increase the numbers of SE fish than less boats would make it more profitable for those that remain there. The state could create a new permit that the only way to get would be to trade your SE permit for. You could then buy back an existing SE if you wanted both. A secondary benefit is that it would drive up permit prices.
While this is a surely a pipe dream it would have great benefits to the fleet.
Salty
2012-03-31 19:54:33
Are you thinking of SW and SW Alaska Chinook Stocks? Good luck on that. I spent 8 years on the AP fighting for regaining troll access westward. In the late 90's I changed my position on trolling west of Spencer. We have a nice deal going in SE where we are the only high quality troll caught wild Alaska Salmon source. While it would undoubtedly increase the value of Westward salmon to have some of them caught and handled by trollers, if those guys westward want to stay in the dark ages of salmon harvest and quality then so be it. I kind of like having the corner on the best ocean caught and handled salmon in the world, Alaska troll caught.
I am just finishing up my taxes and plan to start fishing on Wednesday. It has been real slow around Sitka so far but the krill is blooming and I am really looking forward to those first tasty krill fed spring feeders. Mmmmmm!!
Looks like the Sitka Sac Roe herring fishery is going to start today.
Trnaround
2012-03-31 21:08:37
It's surely disappointing to see the abundance index down again but hey Salty it isn't that your efforts have gone in vain. When I entered the troll fishery in 1993 the Chinook opener was 5days, troll permits were $14,000 and you could get a 42 foot Sunnfjord for $125,000. There was virtually no winter fishing. Now thanks to you and others there is almost a year round opportunity for trolling for Chinook. So thank you for the work you have done, for the fishery and the fleet. We can only hope that our neighbors South (all the way to CA) see the opportunity and get it together.
lone eagle
2012-03-31 23:32:38
I remember PFMC saying abundance north of Cape Falcon is similar to last year, maybe them Canadians cut back on production
John Murray
2012-04-02 17:13:28
It would be good if someone in the know layed it out for us.
As others have written I'm also disappointed in the number.There were so many kings around the outside coast in 2011,with many small ones caught in openings,with some area exceptions.During July and early August you couldn't get away from them.Columbia had good runs so there must have been some weak stocks somewhere.Guess it take a lot to get the stars to align in our favor.
One thing about all the buybacks in BC along with their reallocation we are losing allies at the treaty table.
I am interested in hearing Salty expand on his ideas for a new generation of Alaska fishermen forcing conservation and topics surrounding those thoughts. What do you mean, Salty? What are your ideas, even if they might be radical? I just sensed something more in that post and feel you have more to say about what you would and want to see in us new trollers.
Salty
2012-04-02 21:52:10
Good question Timm, I will ponder on an appropriate answer.
Massive herring spawn going off in Sitka yesterday and today.
Happy spring to everyone.
Salty
2012-04-02 22:04:57
"As fishermen organize nationally to protect the Bristol Bay watershed from potential adverse affects from mining, the state of Alaska is blasting a federal watershed assessment that could justify prohibitions against mine wastes in the watershed." From the Cordova Times via Fish Wrap by Pacific Fishing Magazine.
Part of the answer for young people is to get involved in politics at all levels, starting with your neighborhood, your community, your legislative districts, your state, and even national elections. It is easy to be cynical about the difficulties in making a difference, particularly at the national (Presidential level) but politics is probably the most neglected part of most fisherman's business. Get to know your political representatives, and let them know how their actions affect your business.
Timm is correct that I am holding back in the interests of civility, but there are some ideologues running and serving in political office who are not working for trollers.
Trnaround
2012-04-03 00:10:15
Not to cause any dissension in the ranks but who checks up on the accuracy of the "abundance index" ? I would love to see the calculations and how the "index" is calculated. Does anyone know where to find this or who to ask? There have been miscalculations in other fisheries (Sitka Herring). Just saying it wouldn't hurt to look at it.
lone eagle
2012-04-03 04:56:20
Canadian albacore trollers denied access to American waters....probably not a good time to ask ' em for more salmon..
Hi All:
Yes, the quota number is not only disappointing, but it was a big surprise this year. When I received word I immediately contacted ADFG to find out what happened and asked that our biologists take another look at the number. Our team of scientists is really great, but it would not be the first time that the Treaty model that defines the quota spit out a suspicious number and had to be recalibrated. That is NOT to say that looking will lead to a different result, but only that the request has been made that they do the looking. We'll see what happens.
This is a very disappointing situation, given that this year's quota is only 3K fish above the treaty rebuilding number set in 1985. The stocks in our fishery have long been 'rebuilt'. Part of the quota number is the result of true abundance, but a whole lot is also due to the allocation formula build into the 1999 'abundance-based' agreement. Add to that a purely political cut that we were given during 2008 negotiations, and the result hurts. Under the current agreement, the Southeast fleet was cut 15% from 1999 levels, and West Coast Vancouver Island trollers sustained a 30% hit. The issues as to 'why?' are wide and deep and not appropriate for this public forum. Suffice it to say that there are no trollers, anywhere, being treated fairly in this deal. Our coastwide industry must stick together. Please plan to attend port meetings where we can more easily have discussions on treaty and related issues.
I will be at port meetings with Fish and Game in Juneau (tonight Apr 5), Hoonah (Fri 6th), Pelican (Fri 6th), and Sitka (Apr 12). Early in May, I hope hold ATA port meetings in Petersburg, Wrangell, Ketchikan, Craig, and perhaps Sitka. I will definitely hold a meeting in Sitka the last week of June, and depending on closure length, there is usually one in August, so stay tuned. Truly, meetings and phone calls is the best place to discuss these types of issues.
Hang in there - call or email with any questions and I'll do my best.
Dale
ATA
Salty
2012-04-07 16:03:22
Thanks for your excellent work and communication Dale.
The last week in June is not such a good time for a port meeting for many of us anymore as we are fishing every day in June.
Hi Salty:
Yep, I understand lots of folks are fishing, but it's hard to find any time these days that someone isn't out there dragging hooks. And that's a good thing! I'll still come to town and talk to whoever is around and wants to get together. Maybe some folks can make it to one meeting, but not the other. I know that's been the plan for some of the board, who deserve a pass given they just spend a couple weeks at the Board of Fish and ATA Board meetings. Hey, all of you who weren't there, be sure to thank ATA, CTA, and SPC trollers who were at that meeting waving the troll flag...and please join so they can keep doing it. We can't do the work without the fleet support and feedback.
g'Day!
Dale
ATA
salmon4u
2012-04-08 01:24:20
To me it feels obvious that trollers are getting screwed. I don't care what "science" is being used when it's less science than a political excuse. Last year there were so many kings in the ocean it made me sick. Now another year with higher operating costs and yet another cut in our opportunity to make a living. What the hell else are trollers doing besides playing the same old game we're losing at? I say this cut in quota is total BS and we should go to court.
You're right that there is a large amount of politics mixed into our chinook quota calculations. In the 1998 Pacific Salmon Treaty we agree to a low harvet rate to rebuild Chinook stocks. The idea was that when stocks are healthier we would increase the harvet rate. Although the aggregate chinook abundance in SE AK is good, in the 2008 PST we take a 15% r
Dale, if you're still on here; Is ATA going to drop the incidental mortality issue again this year? I heard that we did last year because of the low abundance down south. That seems like less of an issue this year. If there was ever a year to get this implemented it would be this year.
Jonathan
Hi All:
Quick response to a couple of issues raised on quota threads as I race for the plane. If you are in Sitka, show up at NSRAA tonight at 6:30pm and we can have a better conversation than I will ever post here on all of the topics raised.
Actually. the 15% had nothing to do with what we harvest - it had to do with the US getting a deal with Canada. As per usuale, AK was the trading chit.
Abundance...yes, I'd agree that it looks quite high and we are extremely suspicious of the abundance estimate.
'ATA' dropping the total mortality provision?! Nope. That was the PSC commissioners, not the association. Again, this is not a good topic for internet discussion. Come to the port meetings, give me a call, or shoot me private message.
Since I didn't travel with ADFG this year to the southern ports, I plan to come through in early-mid May to hold troller only meetings, so stay tuned for the dates - will be sometime after May 5. In the meantime, hope to see many of you in Sitka tonight.
Gotta fly...
Dale
ATA