CITY OF HOMER Mayor Cushing

HOMER, ALASKA Yourkowski

Kranich

Ladd

RESOLUTION 02-06(S)

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKA SUPPORTING LOCAL INDEPENDENT FISHING FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES BY OPPOSING THE ALLOCATION OF ALASKA FISHERY RESOURCES TO PROCESSORS "THE TWO PIE SYSTEM" OR OTHER FISHERY RESOURCE ALLOCATION PROGRAMS THAT CREATE A CLOSED CLASS OF PROCESSORS.

Whereas, Decisions made by State and Federal Elected Officials and Resource Management regarding this issue will have some of the largest effects on this regions' economy for many years to come; and

Whereas, Commercial Fishing has been a major basis of the Homer area economy for the last 80 years; and

Whereas, This area's commercial fishing economy has survived major setbacks including fish stock changes and the fire loss and closing of the area's major processor, but the area has still managed to be the Nation's highest port in halibut landings, the last three years, as well as a significant port for other species; and

WHEREAS, This vitality is attributed to the resourcefulness and energy of area's independent commercial fisherman and the City of Homer's port structure that enhances these independent commercial fishing entities; and

WHEREAS, Any decisions made in these fisheries resources that allocates to processors is contrary to 80 successful years of an area and would have monumental effects on the area's economy; and

WHEREAS, This area's commercial fishing economy is similar to many other cities and areas of Alaska; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative to make decisions that don't contribute to the current threat of recession; and

WHEREAS, The City of Homer believes that the allocation of fishery resources to processors "the two pie system" will threaten the social and economic balance between independent fishermen and processors; and

WHEREAS, The City of Homer believes that any fishery resources allocation program that requires exemptions to the anti trust laws is bad for independent fishing families, coastal communities, and seafood consumers; and

WHEREAS, The City of Homer recognizes the National Research Council's recommendations concerning processor allocations contained in the 1999 report to congress entitled, "Sharing the Fish: Toward a National Policy On IFQs", p 205 "Recommendation:…" Nor did the committee find a compelling reason to establish a separate, complementary processor quote system (the "two-pie" system); and

Page Two

Resolution 02-06(S)

City of Homer

WHEREAS, The City of Homer believes that the allocation of Alaska fishery resources should include eligibility for coastal communities, independent fishermen, hired skippers, operators and crewmembers that live adjacent to the resource; and

WHEREAS, The City of Homer believes that strong conservation goals and measurable reductions in by-catch and fisheries waste be an integral part of any rationalization program; and

WHEREAS, The City of Homer supports the inclusion of an independent review process of new rationalization programs and a viable mechanism to adjust the system if the intent and/or goals of an implementation program are not being achieved; and

WHEREAS, The City of Homer believes that all Alaskan coastal communities have the right to participate in the public process concerning all Alaskan fishery resources issues.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of Homer strongly urges the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, State of Alaska and the United States Congress to support the conservation principles contained within this Resolution and support local independent fishing families and coastal communities by opposing the allocation of Alaskan fishery resources to processors "the two-pie system" or any other fishery resources allocation program that creates a closed class of processor.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Homer City Council this 28th day of January, 2002.

CITY OF HOMER

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ATTEST: JACK CUSHING, MAYOR

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MARY L. CALHOUN, CMC, CITY CLERK

Fiscal Note: NA