There’s one thing the five candidates for the state’s highest office agree on: They do not support groundfish rationalization.

But they found less in common on other issues that surfaced during their Thursday debate at ComFish, a highlight of the trade show being held in Kodiak.

And one person in the audience who declined to give his name, said during the break, “They all want to work within the process, but it’s the process that’s all screwed up.”

“Rationalization has not proven rational,” said state Rep. Ethan Berkowitz, Democratic House leader.

“We have to learn from our mistakes,” said Andrew Halcro, a former Anchorage legislator running as an Independent.

Sarah Palin, Republican from Wasilla, emphasized Alaskans have lost jobs due to the rationalization process.

John Binkley, Republican from Fairbanks, said rationalization has many negative connotations, but all Alaskans should have the opportunity to share in one of its primary resources, its fisheries.

Eric Croft, an Anchorage legislator since 1996 and a Democrat, said boat crewmen need more representation in the political process.

The debate was the first gathering of the candidates during an election year. It marked the fifth time since 1990 Kodiak has hosted the Candidates Fisheries Debate.

While Gov. Frank Murkowski has not announced for re-election, in all likelihood one of the candidates at Thursday night’s debate will be in the race.

With two Republicans and two Democrats in addition to one Independent, voters will not know how the race will take shape until Aug. 22 when voters pick from among the five during the primary elections.

Then Alaska voters will select its next governor in the November 2006 general election.

Other issues that surfaced during the ComFish debate ranged from how committed the next governor will be to Alaska fisheries in terms of salmon prices and marketing, positions on shore-based processing, processing quota shares which all said they were against, fishery market transportation and refrigeration.

Debaters also discussed how far should government be involved in local resources, ethics and conflict of interest issues on fishery board appointments, tension between commercial and sport halibut fishing, balancing resources such as the Pebble Mine development and fishery development, offshore aquaculture, hatchery management and fish farming.

Panelists selected to ask questions were Jason Moore, KTUU Channel 2 News; Roger Fitzgerald, National Fisherman Magazine; Deanna Cooper, Kodiak Daily Mirror writer; and Gene Lorenson, Kodiak High School Marine Science & Technology program.

The moderator was Mark Buckley of Kodiak.

On quota shares, the candidates maintained that quotas are anti-competitive. “It’s like this generation’s fish traps,” Croft said.

“I don’t think processors qualify for quota shares,” Halcro said to a clapping audience which was estimated to be about 300 persons.

On the other hand, candidates also recognized processors are seeking a return on investments.

“They deserve a return, but we have not yet picked the right method,” Croft said.

“The key is to make a level playing field,” Binkley said.

Berkowitz cited the need for more Alaska control of resources.

“We need to see more processors who are Alaskans,” Berkowitz said. “How long are we going to remain a colony?”

Palin, whose family commercially fish in Bristol Bay, said, “We need to facilitate a partnership between fishermen and processors. But we also need to prevent the buying and selling of influence.”

The question of ethics and appointments to such entities as the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the state Board of Fisheries, and Murkowski’s moving Habitat from Fish and Game to Natural Resources, seemed to bring accord among candidates who favored keeping Habitat in Fish and Game.

“The move was a knee-jerk response,” said Halcro.

“We have to protect our habitat while growing fisheries,” he said.

Croft asked Berkowitz if conflict of interest policies should be changed on the Board of Fisheries.

“Conflict of interest extends beyond the Board of Fisheries. We need to restore an ethical and competent system across the board in all government,” Berkowitz said.

On the question of mining interests versus fishery interests the candidates singled out the current debate in the Legislature over development of Pebble Mine located in the Bristol Bay Mining District.

“The mine could have a large potential impact on fisheries. It’s a true test of Alaska’s ability to balance its resources,” Halcro said in answer to the question posed by Palin.

“Alaskans need to think of resource development not just on the slope,” he said.

The candidates cited a shortage of budget dollars for fisheries as a lack of commitment on the part of the state.

“Alaska continues to spend less while the market grows. A $500,000 appropriation seems so small,” Berkowitz said. “The best thing about Alaskans is they think big. We need to put more money into marketing.”

With privatization, candidates were asked how Alaska can make the fishery industry viable.

“Consolidation rubs me the wrong way. The market wealth cannot be concentrated in a small number of hands,” Halcro said.

“We have to have crew shares that allow people to make a living,” he said.

“A capitalist society should not have to depend upon who you know, but upon one’s own hard work and dreams,” Berkowitz said.

On management of hatcheries, Palin told the audience that her decisions will be based on facts and what the science shows from hatchery management. “My decisions are not going to be based on politics and cronyism,” she said.

She also said she is opposed to farm fishing “or anything that could contaminate the fisheries.”

“I am opposed to any non-indigenous species,” said Berkowitz on offshore aquaculture. He said they pose a danger to wild stocks.

Concluding the debate, candidates and audience seemed to have benefited from the exchanges with one fisherman stating, “We are still in a wait-and-see position.”

However, Berkowitz said, “For too long, politicians have acted like a processed fish. They get headed and gutted. We need to become leaders, taking a stand, dream big and dare to fail.”

“Fishermen should not have to become politicians,” Palin said.

“This is a vital election in Alaska’s history. Our communities are losing resources. There are Outside interests who want these,” Croft said.