Resolution 11-033 Urging the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to Adopt Measures that Reduce the Chinook Salmon Prohibited Species Catch

CITY OF HOMER
HOMER, ALASKA

Hogan

RESOLUTION 11-033

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKA, URGING THE NORTH PACIFIC FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL TO ADOPT MEASURES THAT REDUCE THE CHINOOK SALMON PROHIBITED SPECIES CATCH IN THE GULF OF ALASKA COMMERCIAL TRAWL FISHERIES.

WHEREAS, The Kenai Peninsula Borough on March 1, 2011 passed Resolution 2011-019, “A RESOLUTION URGING THE NORTH PACIFIC FISHERIES MANAGEMENT COUNCIL TO ADOPT MEASURES THAT REDUCE THE CHINOOK SALMON PROHIBITED SPECIES CATCH IN THE GULF OF ALASKA COMMERCIAL TRAWL FISHERIES”; and

WHEREAS, The City of Homer concurs and supports the Borough’s action; and

WHEREAS, The North Pacific Fishery Management Council is empowered with the authority and has the responsibility to ensure sustainable fish populations in the waters off Alaska; and

WHEREAS, Salmon of all varieties play a key role in the economy of the Kenai Peninsula Borough; and the City of Homer in particular; and

WHEREAS, Sport fishing guides and charters, commercial set netters and drift fishers, and personal use and subsistence fishers all suffer adverse impacts from poor Chinook salmon stocks; and

WHEREAS, Salmon bycatch measures have not yet been implemented in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) groundfish fisheries; and

WHEREAS, The Chinook salmon is critically important to the Kenai Peninsula economies; and

WHEREAS, The Chinook salmon is an integral part of the Cook Inlet eco-system; and

WHEREAS, The Chinook salmon Prohibited Species Catch (PSC) in the GOA ground fish trawl fisheries during 2010 was over 54,000 fish and has reached unacceptable levels; and

WHEREAS, A PSC limit of 15,000 fish is being considered under Component 1 in Alternative 2 of the Final Council Motion C-3(b) GOA Chinook Salmon Bycatch; and

WHEREAS, Many agencies and organizations are dedicated to the health and survival of the Chinook salmon, the official state fish of Alaska.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Homer, Alaska does:

SECTION 1. Urge the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to adopt and implement management measures to provide immediate incentives for the GOA Pollock fleet to reduce Chinook salmon PSC.

SECTION 2. That this resolution requests that any measures adopted include the hard cap limit of 15,000 fish per year.

SECTION 3. That copies of this Resolution be provided to Governor Sean Parnell and all members of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.

SECTION 4. That this Resolution takes effect immediately upon adoption.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Homer City Council this 29th day of March, 2011.

CITY OF HOMER

______________________________
JAMES C. HORNADAY, MAYOR

ATTEST:

_______________________________
JO JOHNSON, CMC, CITY CLERK