NOAA Fisheries News Releases
NEWS RELEASE
September 16, 1999>
CONTACT:
Phil Smith
(907) 586-7344
FEDS ANNOUNCE LIMITED ACCESS FISHING LICENSES
Apply Now to Qualify for Your License
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has announced the opening of the application period for permanent licenses to be issued under the new North Pacific License Limitation Program (LLP). According to Steven Pennoyer, Administrator for the Alaska Region of NMFS, applications will be accepted by the agency from September 13 to December 17, 1999.
In making the announcement, Pennoyer stressed the importance of the dates. "This is a one time only application period," he said. "Any applications submitted after December 17 will be denied as untimely, and there will not be another opportunity to apply for a license."
Effective January 1, 2000, only persons who hold LLP licenses will be allowed to deploy vessels in the Federal groundfish fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) and Bering Sea and Aleutian Island (BSAI) areas, or the crab fisheries in the BSAI. Licenses will initially be issued only to persons who own the fishing histories of vessels that participated in the fisheries during specific participation periods. Once issued, most licenses will be transferable. The LLP has been designed by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council as the next step toward comprehensive rationalization of effort in the North Pacific groundfish and crab fisheries. "There may be refinements to the program in the future," said Pennoyer, "but only those who apply during this fall's application period will benefit from them."
"This is a limited entry program" Pennoyer explained, "and not everyone will be issued licenses initially. But it's clear that failure to apply for a license by December 17 will result in denial. Therefore, anyone who feels that they should be issued a license needs to apply for one before December 17."
Application materials are available from NMFS by contacting Restricted Access Management in Juneau at 1-800-304-4846 (select option number two) or from the NMFS Internet web site at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/ram/.