Testify on Agenda Item C-2 Halibut PSC Abundance-Based Management to the Council April 14th or 15th — depending on how fast the Council works through its agenda. REMEMBER--you must sign up to testify before testimony starts!
Sign up here: https://meetings.npfmc.org/Meeting/Details/1945?signup=1 (be sure to select agenda item c-2 from the drop down menu)
Points to hit in testimony:
Abundance based management of halibut bycatch IS conservation
Right now the directed halibut fisheries are the conservation buffer between bycatch and impacts to the halibut resource—directed fishery catch limits are reduced to protect the halibut stock from the impacts of bycatch. That is unjust—and only works until the directed fishery is gone, consumed by bycatch
The 2000 small scale fishing businesses that depend on the halibut fishery should not continue to lose halibut to the five Amendment 80 factory trawl companies
The Council has a responsibility to provide for the sustained participation of fishery dependent communities under the Magnuson Stevens Act and an enhanced responsibility to promote environmental and social justice under the new EO issued by the Biden Administration
The time is now to reduce halibut bycatch! Support Alternative 4 !
NOTE: Since ALFA comments were submitted, the Council’s Science and Statistical Committee has acknowledged significant problems with the Council’s operating model for this analysis (per our comments) and directed the staff to correct the analysis.