Limited Access Programs in the Federal Fisheries off Alaska – An Overview

Abstract

Federally-managed fisheries off Alaska, in both the NE Pacific and in the Bering Sea, are fully developed. During the last several years, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council has recommend, and the Secretary of Commerce has approved, a variety of management regimes to limit access and to slow the "race for fish." Additionally, by approval of the American Fisheries Act in late 1998, the US Congress directly intervened in the Bering Sea pollock fishery, authorizing a combination of vessel buyback and cooperatives to rationalize the prosecution of the fishery.

This presentation will discuss the fisheries and the variety of programs that limit access to them, including the Groundfish and Crab License Limitation Program, the Pacific halibut and sablefish Individual Fishing Quota Program, the Scallop Moratorium and License Limitation Program, the Bering Sea Community Development Program, and a summary of changes under the American Fisheries Act. Additionally, some discussion of future trends will be presented. (Click here for presentation)

Source: Smith, P.J. 2000. “Limited access programs in federal fisheries off Alaska.” In: Proceedings of the Tenth Biennial Conference of the International Institute of Fisheries Economics & Trade: Macrobehavior and Macroresults, July 10-14, 2000, Corvallis, Oregon. Corvallis, OR: International Institute for Fisheries Economics and Trade (IIFET).

For more information, please contact: Phil.Smith@noaa.gov