Alaska history is full of fishing stories, from fireside salmon consumption 11,000 years ago to the largest commercial landings in 2016. How, where and what we catch is an ever-developing story embedded in our bones. The newest chapter is guided sportfishing, where we can share our love of fishing with people from around the world. Like Silicone Valley tech startups and civil rights fights, this chapter might threaten members of the existing story.
A recent My Turn article attempted to oppose the Charter Halibut Recreational Quota Entity (RQE) using some persuasive language. Like other arguments made by those afraid of change, it lacked meaningful content and was embellished to the point of disbelief. But, before explaining why, we need to correct a few misunderstandings some Alaskans have about Alaska fishing guides.
Guides love what they do. They are on or in the water because it is where they feel at home, and they want to share their joy with clients.
Guides care about fish. They take pains to use the best gear to release fish not meeting catch requirements, correctly identify all species, and educate clients. Every year, guides tell anglers from around the world our fishing story.
Guides help protect halibut and anglers in unexpected ways. Clients work with a licensed boat operator familiar with local waters, with safety procedures in place, reducing the chances of accidents. Clients learn how to safely reel in and release fish, reducing mortality rates. Guides make sure clients follow catch limits and report catch. Guides educate clients who reel in “trophy fish” about the benefits of leaving broodstock in the water.
Guides are invested. They have families, write long-term business plans, take out 30-year mortgages for their boats, run second-generation lodges, and in so many ways they contribute to their Alaska communities. The RQE is the result of 10 years of work by the Alaska charter fleet.
Guides and guided anglers need the RQE for consistency. Charter fishing currently has very restrictive management measures which change annually. It is like they run a restaurant which must take everyone’s favorite dish off the menu every year!
Now for the nitty-gritty on how the RQE is an effective, long-term way to create consistency.
Charter halibut management measures are based on how many pounds of fish there are in the commercial/charter halibut pool. All subsistence, unguided sport, and bycatch halibut are already set aside by the time we get here. This means that this pool of halibut does not affect what we catch to eat.
People sell shares of commercial catch from this pool on the public market. The RQE would buy some of these shares and move them over to the charter catch. This means that if there are fewer pounds of halibut in the pool, charter management measures might stay consistent. In the long run, it might improve them.
For example, from Skagway to Metlakatla, guided anglers can only catch one fish either under 43 inches or over 80 inches. Under near perfect conditions, with healthy halibut stock and purchases of one percent of the pool every year, it would take 10 years and upwards of $23 million dollars to change that one fish limit to under 49 inches or over 64 inches.
As you can see, we’re in this story for the long haul to give Alaska residents and visitors a slightly more predictable experience. The fleet is not asking for state money, like the $22.95 million received by the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, or a loan fund, like small boat commercial fishermen have. We have multiple other ideas for funding that do not rely on state giveaways. The fleet is also not suggesting anything which would increase fishing pressure. Interestingly, international and federal analysts have done 30 years of research on Pacific halibut. Their research shows no evidence that adult halibut are or were locally depleted, even as locals and unguided anglers began catching more fish.
Guided sportfishing attracts visitors from around the world. This is a sustainable way to bring money into our economy. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council votes this week to determine the fate of our story.
• Samantha Weinstein is an attorney and the executive director of the Southeast Alaska Guides Organization, a nonprofit dedicated to the sustainability of the guided fishing industry and fisheries resources.
