NOAA Fisheries News Releases
NEWS RELEASE
May 15, 2003
Sheela McLean
(907) 586-7032
NOAA Fisheries issues first subsistence halibut registration certificate
Dr. Jim Balsiger, Administrator of NOAA Fisheries in Alaska, presented the first federal subsistence halibut registration certificate to Tribal Leader Harold Martin during a brief ceremony at the Juneau Federal Building May 15.
"This new program allows us to formally recognize non-commercial, long-term customary and traditional halibut fishing that feeds families and rural communities in Alaska," said Dr. Balsiger. "We analyzed subsistence halibut fishing in depth and realized that it was a long-standing and valid use of the resource. We changed halibut fishing regulations to better accommodate age-old Alaskan custom."
"Halibut was not recognized as a subsistence resource by the federal government or the state" said Harold Martin. "We've always been dependent on halibut...It's always been part of our lives."
"Subsistence is a way of life we are born into,"he added. "We have a great tradition of sharing."
Many tribal, state and federal goverment dignitaries attended the meeting.
Before May 15, halibut fishing was legal only under sport fishing or commercial halibut fishing regulations. There were no provisions for subsistence halibut fishing and NOAA Fisheries had no method of tracking how much halibut was used for subsistence.
Now qualified applicants need only register, have their registration certificate in hand and follow the subsistence halibut rules while fishing in order to legally catch 20 halibut per day. (There is no daily retention limit in the northern Bering Sea's Pacific halibut fishery regulatory areas 4C, 4D and 4E)
Subsistence halibut fishing is open to members of eligible Alaska Native tribes and residents of eligible rural communities.
A detailed list of eligible rural communities and Alaska Native tribes can be viewed in the regulations at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/frules/fr18145.pdf.
Qualified subsistence halibut fishermen can put out up to 30 hooks and can fish with longline, handline, rod and reel, spear, jib or hand troll gear. Subsistence halibut fishing is allowed in all waters in and off Alaska except for non-subsistence marine waters around Ketchikan, Juneau, Anchorage/Mat-Su/Kenai, and Valdez.
Registration forms are available from the NOAA Fisheries, from most tribes and from other government and cooperating agencies. Forms are also available on the internet at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/ram/subsistence/halibut.htm Hard-copy registration forms may be sent to:
NMFS/RAM
P.O. Box 21668
Juneau, AK 99802
For subsistence halibut program information:
Go to http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/ram/subsistence/halibut.htm on the internet;
Call 800-304-4846 (option #2);
E-mail RAM.Alaska@noaa.gov
For subsistence halibut regulation enforcement information:
Call 800-304-4846 (option #) or call 907-586-7225 or the local NOAA Fisheries Office.
NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) is part of the Department of Commerce and is dedicated to protecting and preserving our nation's living marine resources through scientific research, management, enforcement, and the conservation of marine mammals and other protected marine species and their habitat. To learn more about NOAA Fisheries in Alaska, please visit our website at www.fakr.noaa.gov.