Fishing Capacity Reduction Program for the Southeast Alaska Purse Seine Salmon Fishery

Resumen

The National Marine Fisheries Service published regulations implementing a fishing capacity reduction program in the Southeast Alaska purse seine salmon fishery. The program authorizes NMFS to make payments to permit holders who voluntarily relinquish their fishing permits. The Southeast Revitalization Association (SRA) conducted a bid selection process accepting sixty-four bids to remove Southeast Alaska purse seine salmon permits. It then submitted a reduction plan to NMFS to implement the program. NMFS conducted a referendum which approved the reduction loan repayment fees of $13,133,030 which post-reduction harvesters will repay over a 40-year period removing 64 permits. Accordingly, NMFS is preparing to tender reduction payments to the accepted bidders.