 by Andy Rauwolf for the Ketchikan Area Herring Action Group April 19, 2004
Alaska Board of Fisheries turned a deaf ear to all of us during their 2003 fin fish BOF meeting. It was obvious that this deal had been cut before the meeting began because local residents were told in advance that if they were there to talk about herring, they were wasting their time. They were concerned because their own observations conflicted with ADF&G's overly optimistic forecasts. The fish were small and the numbers were not there. This decision by the BOF cost the state thousands of dollars and the industry tens of thousands of dollars. ADF&G continues to portray themselves as conservative managers of the herring stocks as well as make efforts to convince the public that the stocks are in relatively good condition. However, all sac roe harvest areas were either shut down or downgraded this season. West Behm Canal, prior to this year, was touted as the second largest stock in Southeast. If this is true, there are serious problems with the herring stocks. The fourteenth law passed by the First Legislature outlawed sac roe fisheries. The law was quietly repealed years later just prior to the sac roe fisheries. The wisdom of the first legislatures is worth mentioning. Ketchikan Area Herring Action
Group
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