CITY OF HOMER

CITY HALL

MEMORANDUM 07-28

To: Homer City Council
From: Homer Economic Development Advisory Commission
Date: February 16, 2007
Subject: International Pacific Halibut Commission Action Limiting Halibut Take

At its February 13 meeting, the Homer Economic Development Advisory Commission (EDC) voted to request that the City Council direct the City Manager to send a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice protesting the recent action of the International Pacific Halibut Commission to set a one-fish halibut bag limit for sport-guided charter fishing in Area 3A (which includes Homer) during part of the summer sportfishing season. The EDC believes that the IPHC decision was made without adequate study of the social, environmental, and economic impacts and should be rejected by the Secretary of State.

The EDC spent considerable time discussing this issue and decided a recommendation to the City Council is appropriate in light of the potentially severe impact to the local economy if the IPHC decision is approved. Time is of the essence in communicating the City’s concerns to the Secretary of State.

RECOMMENDATION: Direct the City Manager to send a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as soon as possible, protesting the IPHC decision that would impact Homer’s halibut charter industry by imposing a one-fish bag limit during part of the summer sportfishing season.