A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HOMER, ALASKA, OPPOSING ANY ACTION THAT MAY ADVERSELY IMPACT THE VIABILITY OF THE HOMER CHARTER BOAT FLEET.

WHEREAS, Halibut are a public trust resource for the benefit of all Americans, Alaskans and locally the members of the Homer area community; and

WHEREAS, The Magnuson-Stevens conservation and Fishery Management Act is the law that governs Halibut fishery management decisions; and

WHEREAS, within the Act is the requirement for fair and equitable allocation decisions; and

WHEREAS, The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) has allocation decision authority; and

WHEREAS, NPFMC will be deciding the halibut charter boat GHL allocation plan that will govern the local halibut charter boat fleet; and

WHEREAS, the NPFMC has no recreational representation as required by law, but continues to move forward with no representation of the recreational fishery; and

WHEREAS, the Homer community has many charter boat owners and operators that are an integral part of this community and make may contributions to its' success; and

WHEREAS, the Homer Charter Association being the local industry association representing more than 70 local charter businesses and more than 100 boats; and

WHEREAS, the Homer charter boat industry contributes in many ways both socially and economically to the local communities, and provides some 360 full and part time jobs; and

WHEREAS, the Homer charter boat industry generates much in sales tax on all sales and purchases made; and

WHEREAS, the charter boat industry contributed more than 29 million dollars to the local

economy in the Cook Inlet region in 1997; and

WHEREAS, the decision could severely impact this small user group in lost business with no appreciable increase to any competing user group.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of Homer, Alaska stands in opposition to any action that may adversely impact the viability of the Homer charter boat industry.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Homer City Council this 24th day of January, 2000.

City of Homer

ATTEST: ______________________________

JACK CUSHING, MAYOR

_________________________________

Mary L. Calhoun, CMC/AAE, City Clerk

Fiscal Note: NA