Collaboration

• Alaska’s fisheries management practices are characterized by collaboration among state, federal and international organizations
• The major fisheries (salmon, groundfish, halibut and crab) are managed by a group of several different agencies of the state or federal government, responsible for scientific research, regulatory enforcement, and policy/allocation
• In Alaska, the future of seafood stocks and the environment are more important than opportunities for commercial harvest
  • The state, federal and international processes ensure this by separating
    conservation authority from decisions regarding harvest levels
  • The conservation agencies are structured so that decisions are made by teams of scientists, without input or interference from harvesters or other stakeholders
  • After the conservation decisions are made, the Alaska Board of Fisheries and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council make allocation and management decision
• There is international cooperation as well – every year, Canadian and U.S. scientists from the International Pacific Halibut Commission set the Total Allowable Catch for the coming fishing season

Public Decision-Making

• Once the allocation process begins, comprehensive, vigorous public scrutiny and
  participation by harvesters, processors, and other stakeholders is welcomed
• The overall decision-making is quite transparent, and it strives to achieve timely,
  practicable solutions