The Kodiak City Council had agreed to oppose the extension of the Rockfish Pilot Program from two to five years. They understand the difference between a demonstration and cementing a footing that would be precedent setting for Gulf of Alaska groundfish rationalization.

The city was initially opposed to the RPP when first introduced as a rider in Ted Stevens’ appropriations bill (Omnibus 2004). The city has agreed to follow the lead of the California Department of Fish and Game in opposition to processor quota (PQs) and will write the U.S. Congress that we’re against a two-pie system for processors to control the price-making mechanism that has already been handed to crab processors.

All those investors (boat owners) that want free allocations in perpetuity are not thinking of what is in the best interest of our communities. I am speaking up about what is legally and morally right to protect the coastal communities of the entire U.S. and to give future generations assurance that they might go out and catch fish as those in the past have had a chance to do.

Let’s start with reference to the national standards (NS) of the Magnuson-Stevens Sustainable Fisheries Act. The RPP would never have passed Congressional hearings because it does not adhere to NS No. 5 and No. 9.

NS No. 5 states: Conservation and management measures shall, where practicable, consider efficiency in the utilization of the resources; except that no such measure shall have economic allocation as its sole purpose.

The RPP gives allocations as its sole purpose, preventing any other future or present fishers the ability to harvest more than 5 percent of the total allowable catch (TAC).

NS No. 9 states: Conservation and management measures shall, to the extent practicable, (A) minimize bycatch and (B) to the extent bycatch cannot be avoided, minimize the mortality of such bycatch.

In the RPP, the trawlers in the GOA will be allowed to retain their excessive incidental bycatch history of high value species as supplementary allocations through mere wordsmithing, as the term “bycatch” became “secondary species.” Previously, some of the bycatch could not be retained for profit, and certainly not fished like a target species.

I’m not surprised that Mr. Geiser is not aware of the existing fisheries law that protect communities and every citizen. Also, I can’t remember a three-week halibut opening, old-style derby, because those days (the 1970s) you were lucky to catch a fish or two to a skate of gear.

The price of rockfish has gone up as the demands from Europe and other parts of the world increase. If your fleet starts to make better profits from rockfish, does that mean the rest of the gear groups should be cut off from the chance to harvest it in the future? My answer is no, you are trying to steal from future generations, while you have already made profits from your past catch.

If RPP was to be implemented and many investors sold their allocations to a single vessel, this benefits one crew instead of multiple crews spending money in town, especially if they reside outside of Alaska.

I was surprised to discover that the State of Alaska wants early adoption of rationalization in the salmon fishery. This is a federal management change. But if you take limited entry into consideration it works well, as the state permit holder has the privilege to go fishing (that means put your boots on and go to work, not absentee ownership collecting huge lease fees). Proponents are asking for ownership of fish and bycatch before it’s even harvested.

The city and borough should also be writing a letter asking Congress to stop the reauthorization of the MSA as there are so many sections in the bill that will help destroy fishing communities, and only give favor to small groups of fishermen.

I spoke with the directors of the Alaska Groundfish Data Bank (AGDB) and Alaska Draggers Association (ADA) in late August about the En Bloc Amendment to extend the RPP from two to five years. Both assured me they knew nothing of this amendment. Unsurprising was Joe Sullivan’s fish report to the City Council Oct. 3, 2006: that AGDB and ADA had Brad Gilman help them get the RPP extension from two to five years put into the U.S. House Resources En Bloc Amendments of the MSA reauthorization.

I know one thing: You can’t pay for truth.

Shawn C. Dochtermann is the vice president of the Alaska Jig Association and member of the Crewman’s Association, Alaska Marine Conservation Council and Alaska Independent Fishermen’s Marketing Association. He is a 28-year Kodiak resident fisherman.