Small boat harvesters of Pacific cod in Area O near Dutch Harbor have received an increase in their allocation and fishing area from the Alaska Board of Fisheries.
The board voted 6-1 during its Pacific cod meeting in Anchorage on Oct. 19 to boost the allocation from 6.4 percent of the overall Bering Sea cod harvest to 8 percent, with an additional 1 percent added each year until the allocation reaches 15 percent.
Todd Hoppe, president of Under Sixty Cod Harvesters, an organization formed earlier in 2018, applauded the decision, saying the open-access state water fishing opportunity is important to community-based fishermen, and for young fishermen coming up in the industry.
The move sparked opposition from some others engaged in cod fishing in the North Pacific, since the board’s decision will reduce their allocation of cod, much of which is processed at sea.
Supporters of the proposal urged the board to exercise the state’s constitutional mandate to develop state water resources and to prioritize fisheries using low impact gear. They also cited the 85 percent Alaskan resident participation in the under 60 foot fleet as a means for delivering high value from the resource back to Alaska.
