Board of Fisheries Cuts Trollers Chinook Allocation by 3%
ATA consistently supported the historical 80/20 allocation throughout the meeting, and we are grateful for the communities, Advisory Committees, Territorial Sportsmen, and CCTHITA for standing with us in advocating for trollers to maintain our historical quota.
Heading into the vote, we were confident in securing four supportive board members. However, Marit Carlson Van-Dort and Mike Wood negotiated a 3% reduction for trollers to create a “buffer” for the sport fishery, as the Division of Sport Fish indicated they needed this adjustment to ensure they could meet their 20% allocation without coming under each year. Unfortunately, the final language that passed only stipulated the new 77/23 split without explicitly addressing the buffer, which raises concerns about future allocations.
The board provided guidance that the 3% allocation is meant to be a buffer so that the resident sport fishery can continue uninterrupted after reaching the 20% original sport allocation, at which point, presumably, the non-resident fishery would be halted – “I think, from my perspective, this is equitable, and I trust the department to manage this to the 20%, and make sure that the residents get that (additional) fish” – Board Member Mike Wood.
We are wary that without clear regulatory guidelines to prevent the nonresident fishery from exceeding its allocation, there is a chance that the department will manage the combined sport allocation up to the 23% cap, allowing for further closures in the resident sport fishery.
There is also the continued risk of future adjustments further shifting quota away from trollers. Proposals such as RC 99 and RC 84, which aimed to slow the overexpansion of the nonresident fishery and support early-season conservation efforts, were not incorporated into the final decision.
Moving forward, we remain committed to advocating for fair policies that protect the troll fishery and the livelihoods it sustains. Thank you for your continued membership and support.
