Challenges to Tanner Crab Regulations

When the Kodiak Fish and Game Advisory Committee met last week, it wasn’t just to elect new members and talk about letters; they were also there to discuss and make recommendations to the Alaska Board of Fisheries on proposals effecting the crabbing fleet.

The first two on the agenda were proposals 366 and 367, written by Tary Middlesworth. One proposal aimed to repeal the superexclusive registration area as it pertained to the Kodiak Tanner crab fishery. In the second, he wanted to implement crab pot limits based on vessel size.
In Proposal 366, Middlesworth wrote Kodiak’s superexclusive area discriminates against fishermen who have earned the right to fish in other fisheries. He wanted to change the superexclusive to a nonexclusive fishery.

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game crabbing regulations, a vessel that has fished for Tanner crabs in a superexclusive area cannot fish elsewhere. On the other hand, a fisherman can fish in as many nonexclusive areas as the fisherman has permits for.