Alaskan way to fight overfishing

Alaska has applied a rigorous science-based system that balances the interests of both industry and conservation.

After warning that fish stocks would be collapsed in the next twenty years in USA if the fishing continues randomly Alaska, largest producer of fishes in USA, adopt new initiative. As a result, we have no overfished stocks, and we've protected the marine habitat. If we can do it, surely others can as well. Experts said that Alaska’s model of self-policing – which involves setting strict quotas and sticking to them, as well as including all stakeholders at the decision making table.

According to a study published recently in the journal Science suggested that a fishery can be saved by giving those who harvest the sea a guaranteed share of its bounty, rather than having them compete to see who can extract the most the fastest. In addition, the researchers found that when a fishery that had relied on traditional methods – such as seasonal limits or overall catch restrictions – was converted to using catch shares, the change did not just slow the fishery's decline; it stopped it.

The figures show that in Alaska where more than half the nation's seafood is landed as per all the management plans and as a result none of our groundfish stocks are considered overfished. It is said that al Alaska’s major salmon, halibut, and pollock fisheries are certified as sustainable and operate under a quota share system or other form of access limitation. Catch limits are set by scientists, harvests are closely monitored, and quotas adhered to. Wide swaths of undersea areas have been set aside to protect needed habitat.

Fishery managers in Alaska incorporate broader ecosystem concerns into their plans such as protection for forage fish. All of these actions have been supported by the majority of Alaska's seafood industry.

Source: csmonitor.com"

WorldFishingToday d. 10-11-2008