The Wrangell Advisory Committee (AC) to the Board of Fish reviewed shellfish proposals for the coming 2017-18 year last week, focusing primarily on several shrimp and crab measures.
Made up of various sport, commercial and subsistence users, locally-formed advisory committees each year put together proposals for changes to fish and game management policies, and have the opportunity to review and weigh in on proposals from other committees. Their comments are then considered by the two boards when the different proposal sets are considered each year.
For the upcoming year the Board of Fish is due to review proposals for shellfish and finfish policies in Southeast and Yakutat between January 11 and 23, meeting in Sitka. Comments on those policies are due ahead of the meeting, by December 28 at the latest.
Considering shellfish last Thursday, Wrangell’s committee was unanimously in favor of Proposal 54, which would reduce the maximum number of Dungeness crab pots per vessel used in the commercial harvest from 300 pots to 240.
On the Wrangell AC, fisherman Brennon Eagle thought the move to reduce pots has been overdue. In light of predation and other strains upon local populations, it was his opinion there is too much gear already on the ground. Even with the 20-percent reduction in pots Eagle suspected the same amount of crab as before would still be caught by Alaskan crabbers.
And as permits are issued on a percentage basis, all permit holders would be affected proportionately. The committee agreed, voting 14-0 in support of the proposal. Proposal 55 it objected to, having the opposite effect from the preceding measure. That proposal would see the number of allowable Dungeness pots increase to 400.
Committee members were unanimously opposed to Proposal 56, which would close waters at 12-mile Arm to commercial fishing for Dungeness crab. The Hollis Community Council proposed the measure because it felt the increase in predation by sea otters had left the crab population in a reduced state. It argued the limited closure would allow a sustainable biomass for personal-use fishermen, which would supplement the island’s economy.
On the Wrangell committee, Otto Florschutz voiced his objection to the measure on the basis it would create a private or selective district.
“If there’s enough for sportfish to harvest, there’s enough for everybody to harvest,” agreed Chris Guggenbickler, the committee’s recently re-elected chair.
A proposal for opening an exploratory red king crab commercial fishery was likewise opposed by the group. Proposal 63 would allow the harvest in selected areas during years when estimated thresholds for legal males fell below the 200,000-pound minimum. Given the stock’s fragility in Southeast, Guggenbickler thought exploratory harvests did not make much sense.
“It’s pretty few and far between,” he said. “I don’t think it’s that viable a thing in Southeast.”
Not included in the upcoming proposal packet but still to be considered, Proposal 235 would repeal the Southeast Alaska management plan for Dungeness crab, adopting instead fixed-length summer and fall seasons. Put forward by the Alaska Board of Fisheries, the proposal notes the current plan is based on harvest levels observed during the late 1990s, and posits that increased predation and other changes to the population in the years since warrants a change of approach. The Southeast fishery is the only in the state so managed, and having a fixed season would put it in line with other areas.
To give Wrangell AC members additional time to review the proposal and consider its possible impacts, Guggenbickler proposed revisiting the proposal at their next meeting, set for November 21 at the Fire Hall at 7 p.m.
Moving to the topic of shrimp, Wrangell’s AC approved an amended version of Proposal 76, which would establish imposing a minimum mesh size requirement for sport pots in Southeast Alaska. The first of their two amendments would expand that to include subsistence and personal-use fishermen.
“The escapement of small shrimp is something that has been proven to be beneficial for the resource,” commented Eagle, who proposed the change. The proposal echoes this, suggesting the move would reverse a declining trend in shrimp stocks, which has led to several closures to areas in the region.
The other amendment put forward by the committee would limit personal use, which admittedly was an issue not addressed by the original proposal.
“I think it’s something that needs to be on there,” said Guggenbickler.
After some discussion the committee concluded use could reasonably be limited to one five-gallon bucket of shrimp per licensed person, per day. Utility buckets are ubiquitous among area boats, and enforcement of the catch would be easier than verifying the number of pots people are using. The group did not expect the amendment to gain any traction with the Board of Fish, but its inclusion would perhaps start a broader debate.
“It’s just getting it on the table and opening discussion,” Guggenbickler said.
Reader Comments(0)