Kodiak City Council member Jack Maker will attend the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) meeting in Anchorage this week to express the city council’s opposition to an amendment package that would create a limited entry program for the Pacific cod fixed gear fishery.

NPFMC will decide whether or not to add Pacific cod endorsements to western and central Gulf of Alaska fixed gear (pot and longline gear types) License Limitation Program (LLP) licenses.

If the measure is adopted, cod endorsements would hinge on fishery participation during qualifying years.

The rationale for action by NPFMC is the prospect of a growing fleet that would further intensify competition in the cod fishery, resulting in the erosion of catch shares of long-term participants.

Opponents of the measure claim it will create a barrier to those wanting to enter or re-enter the fishery, lead to consolidation of the fishing fleet and concentration of LLP ownership in fewer hands, cut the number of crew jobs, and cause a decline in demand for support goods and services in coastal communities.

State House Rep. Alan Austerman of Kodiak will also testify Wednesday before the NPFMC in opposition to the proposed plan.

Austerman drafted House Joint Resolution 21 that requests NPFMC cease consideration of the amendment package. The House unanimously approved the resolution last week, and it is now working its way through the Senate.

House Speaker Mike Chenault sent the House resolution to the NPFMC for inclusion in the council’s packets.

This marks the first time the Kodiak City Council has sent a representative to the NPFMC meetings.

“We understand the diverse range of employment in Kodiak fisheries. There may be a few who have differing opinions. But we’re obligated to look out for our economy and what’s good for our community as a whole,” Maker said.

Commercial fishing fuels not only the local economy, but also is a major contributor to city and borough coffers in the form of raw fish and severance taxes.

“Rep. Austerman has voiced the concerns of the community well. He’s cleared the path. It would be a bad signal for the council to ignore the collective voices of local communities and the State of Alaska,” Maker said.

Mirror writer Harry Dodge can be reached at hdodge@kodiakdailymirror.com.