HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 2020-8911
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KENAI
CITY OF KENAI
RESOLUTION NO. 2020-89
Sponsored by: Mayor Gabriel
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, OPPOSING ALTERNATIVE 4 PROPOSED
TO THE NORTH PACIFIC FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL THAT WOULD CLOSE ALL
FEDERAL WATERS IN COOK INLET TO COMMERCIAL SALMON FISHING.
WHEREAS, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council developed the Fishery Management
Plan for Salmon Fisheries in the EEZ off Alaska, (FMP) that manages salmon fisheries in the
United State Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ; 3 nautical miles to 200 nautical miles off shore of
Alaska); and,
WHEREAS, pursuant to a United States Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit ruling, after successful
litigation brought by Cook Inlet commercial fishermen and seafood processors, the North Pacific
Fishery Management Council must amend the FMP to bring it in line with the Ninth Circuit Court's
decision; and,
WHEREAS, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council is considering four alternative
amendments to the FMP:
Alternative 1 is status quo or no action, deferring management to the State of Alaska by
excluding the traditional net fishing area in the Cook Inlet EEZ from the FMP (the Ninth
Circuit Court ruling makes this alternative "untenable" according to the authors' of the
Public Review Draft Environmental Assessment/ Regulatory Impact Review for Proposed
Alternative XX to the Fishery Management Plan for the Salmon Fisheries in the EEZ Off
Alaska);
Alternative 2 would establish federal management of the commercial salmon fishery in
Cook Inlet with management of the commercial fishery delegated to the State of Alaska in
accordance with the Magnuson Stevens Act and other applicable federal law;
Alternative 3 would establish Federal management of the commercial salmon fishery in
Cook Inlet with the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and national Marine
Fisheries Service without delegation of management to the State of Alaska; and
Alternative 4 would effectively close all federal waters in Cook Inlet to commercial salmon
fishing; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council of Kenai has consistently advocated for science -based fisheries
management decisions; and,
WHEREAS, Alternative 4 proposed by the State of Alaska ADF&G Deputy Commissioner at the
North Pacific Fishery Management Council's October 12, 2020 meeting after closure of public
comment is not a science -based decision, but instead according to the United Cook Inlet Drift
association is a punitive decision for bringing the lawsuit and rather than constituting a
Resolution No. 2020-89
Page 2 of 3
management plan consistent with sound fishery management and applicable federal regulations
simply short circuits the Court's decision and intent of the Magnuson Stevens Act and FMP by
eliminating the fishery altogether; and,
WHEREAS, if Alternative 4 were adopted by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, it
would close the area of fishing where most the Cook Inlet Drift Fleet harvest occurs, effectively
eliminating the economic viability of the fishery and viability of local seafood processors; and,
WHEREAS, the loss of the drift gillnet fishery in Cook Inlet would cause severe job loss, loss of
capital investment in the fishery and support businesses, and could impact other fisheries if local
processing capacity is lost or reduced; and,
WHEREAS, a 2015 report published by the McDowell group titled "The Economic Impact of the
Seafood Industry in Southcentral Alaska" reported that the seafood industry in the reporting region
directly employs over 10,000 people seasonally and had an economic output of $1.2 billion; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes that the drift gillnet fleet, like other fisheries users, is a
critical component of the City, positively contributing to the City's local history, culture and
economy; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council opposes adoption by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council
of Alternative 4 which would effectively end the Cook Inlet Drift Net fishery and cause sever local
economic impact and other harm to the City.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA:
Section 1. That the City Council opposes the North Pacific Fishery Management Council
adopting Alternative 4, and that a copy of this Resolution along with other consistent written
comment from the Mayor or City manager be provided to the North Pacific Fishery Management
Council as public comment for consideration at its December meeting.
Section 2. That the City Council has not considered which of the remaining alternatives
should be adopted by the NPFMC.
Section 3. That this resolution takes effect immediately upon passage.
PASSED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, this 23'' day of November,
2020.
i
BRIAN GABF; Et ., MAYOR kBEOLLOY,'VICE MAYOR
PETTEY, COUNCIL€JE JIM GLENDENING, COUN EMBER
I /6
EMBER SEAT VACANT, COUNCIL MEMBER
Resolution No. 2020-89
Page 3 of 3
,/
NCIL MEMBER
Heinz, CMC, City Clern j ti t
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KENAI
City of Kenai 1 210 f-idalgo Ave, Kenai, AK 99611-7794 1907.283.7535 I www•kenai.city
MEMORANDUM
TO:
City Council Members
FROM:
Mayor Gabriel, Mayor
DATE:
November 18, 2020
SUBJECT:
Resolution no. 2020-89 - Opposition to Alternative 4 Closing Federal
Waters in Cook Inlet to Commercial Salmon Fishing
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) developed the Fishery Management
Plan for Salmon Fisheries in the EEZ off Alaska, (FMP) that manages salmon fisheries in the
United State Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ; 3 nautical miles to 200 nautical miles off shore of
Alaska)
Pursuant to a United States Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit ruling, after successful litigation brought
by Cook Inlet commercial fishermen and seafood processors, the NPFMC must amend the FMP
in the Cook Inlet to bring it in line with the Ninth Circuit Court's decision.
As a result of that decision by the courts, the NPFMC and stakeholders have spent 3 years trying
to work out the details for an FMP that complies with the federal law and the court order. The
NPFMC had been considering three alternative approaches to management of the EEZ in Cook
Inlet. At the last meeting of the NPFMC on October 12, 2020, however, the Deputy Commissioner
of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game introduced a 41' alternative for consideration by the
NPFMC that would close the EEZ in the Cook Inlet to all commercial salmon fishing.
According to the United Cook Inlet Drift Association, if approved, Alternative 4 would effectively
close the commercial salmon drift fishery in the Cook Inlet and force remaining processing plants
to close. The commercial salmon fishery, including the drift fishery, has been and continues to
be a vital component of our local economy. According to a 2015 McDowell Group report, the
seafood industry in Southcentral Alaska directly employs over 10,000 people seasonally and has
an annual economic output of $1.2 billion.
The NPFMC will take final action on the new FMP at their meeting that takes place in December
(Dec 4 and 7-11) of this year.
All of the user groups that rely on our annual salmon returns are important to the City of Kenai.
Any action by NPFMC that effectively eliminates one of those user groups should be opposed.
Your consideration is appreciated