Catch Share Plan for Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Pilot (2007)

The Central Gulf of Alaska (Central GOA) rockfish fisheries historically have been rapid pulse fisheries occurring over a few weeks in July.  Central GOA rockfish fisheries are targeted by an inshore fleet primarily based out of Kodiak, Alaska, and an offshore (catcher/processor) fleet.  The rapid pace of the fishery limited the ability for harvesters and processors to improve product quality, limit bycatch, and coordinate processing activities to reduce conflicts with salmon processing that peaks in mid-summer.  During the mid-2000’s, harvesters and processors worked with the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) to develop a catch share program, the Rockfish Program, that allocated exclusive harvest privileges based on historic participation in the fishery.  Congress provided specific legislative authority that allowed inshore harvesters to form fishery cooperatives and receive an exclusive annual harvest privilege only when a fishery cooperative was formed in association with a specific processor who had historically received a portion of the catch.  This linkage between inshore harvesters and processors was intended to address concerns raised by processors that an exclusive harvest privilege received only by harvesters would disadvantage their operations and negotiating leverage.  Congress also limited the Rockfish Program with the required inshore processor association requirement to five year period.  The Rockfish Program was implemented in 2007 and is scheduled to expire at the end of 2011.  During this time, the inshore and offshore fleets substantially reduced bycatch of several non-target species, and inshore cooperatives coordinated with processors to avoid conflicts with salmon fisheries.  Based on these results, the Council adopted a revised Rockfish Program in June 2010 that would extend the Rockfish Program beyond 2011.  The Council maintained the cooperative nature of the exclusive catch allocation, but without the requirement that an inshore cooperative be formed in association with a specific processor.  The Council recommended limitations on inshore deliveries to address processor equity concerns.  These delivery limitations do not require specific legislative authority.  Comparing the design of the initial and revised Rockfish Program illustrates the suite of design elements available to address the interests of harvesters and processors when providing an exclusive harvest privilege.