Quickly submit your thoughts on the following to dfg.com.caresact@alaska.gov
The CARES ACT funding plan draft will put our freezer trollers in the same category with processors, which has now been increased 5%, from 27% to 32%. While ATA is thankful to the increment in proposed processor allocation, we now realize that EVERY freezer processor will compete for funding against the processors under the newer draft. Also, pot shrimp fishermen and geoduck divers qualify as processors, if they make more than $30 k in those fisheries.
So the main thrust in CARES ACT version I and 2 both is a diversion to the charter from freezer trollers and probably a disproportionate amount of southeast Alaska fishermen in general, since trollers are the largest group of processing vessels by number. Our freezer boats will have to share in sector allocations with big processors, who will get 6 or 7 “shares” while freezer trollers will probably get 2 “shares.”
One more problem, non-resident trollers will have to have a AK business license in order to qualify to compete. This is also being applied to the charters but as you know, it is longstanding that fishermen purchase licenses from CFEC, in lieu of business licenses from Commerce.
Please make contact with any freezer trollers you know asap. The link for commenting is: dfg.com.caresact@alaska.gov;
Amy Daugherty
Executive Director
Alaska Trollers Association
130 Seward Street #205
Juneau, AK 99801
(907) 957-8004
