MEMORANDUM

TO: Pete Sprague, President

Members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly

FROM: Chris Moss, Assembly Member

DATE: November 6, 200

SUBJECT: Resolution 2003-122 , A Resolution Supporting A Gulf Of Alaska Groundfish Rationalization Plan That Unlocks The Value Of Kenai Peninsula Borough Renewable Fishery Resources, Ensures Competitive Processing Markets And Allows For Reasonable Growth For Kenai Peninsula Ports, And Promotes Conservation Of Fishery Resources

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council ("NPFMC") has the responsibility to manage all groundfish (cod, rockfish, flounder) in Alaskan waters more than three miles offshore. A proposal before the Council would rationalize groundfish in the Gulf of Alaska in a manner similar to the Halibut and Sablefish program. It will allocate fish to boats and fishermen for harvesting over a period of time that is determined by the owner of the fish shares. The major deviation from the Halibut and Sablefish program is that groundfish will be required to be delivered to processors in the area they have historically been sold. Most groundfish in the Gulf of Alaska have historically been delivered in Kodiak, and under the proposal will be required to be delivered to processors in that area. This will severely curtail the ability of local Kenai Peninsula borough processors to tap into new markets being developed for fresh fish. This resolution will notify the NPFMC that the development of new markets and deliveries of fish products to communities on the Kenai Peninsula should be allowed to expand. Expansion of this fishery to the Kenai Peninsula is vital to the economic health of Kenai Peninsula processors and fishermen.