09-09 Requesting NPFMC create a 50-mile buffer around Alaska coastline to protect subsistence resources

Published on November 10th, 2009

By ALEX DEMARBAN

Summary

Request that federal fishery managers create a 50-mile subsistence buffer zone along the Alaskan coast to protect coastal and near-shore communities from bottom-trawling.

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Full Text

RESOLUTION 09-09

REQUESTING THE NORTH PACIFIC FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL TO DESIGNATE A FIFTY-MILE BUFFER FROM THE OUTER MOST LAND MASS FOR THE PROTECTION OF SUBSISTENCE RESOURCES IN COASTAL AND NEAR SHORE COMMUNITIES FROM BOTTOM FISH TRAWLING

WHEREAS: Practicing a customary and traditional subsistence way of life is a basic fundamental human right for Alaska Natives; and

WHEREAS: Many of our villages derive their subsistence food sources from the sea in close proximity to our communities; and

WHEREAS: The entire destructive bottom trawler fishery has historically fished in close proximity to our coastal communities interfering the essential food sources for halibut, seals, walrus, whales and other important and essential subsistence food sources; and

WHEREAS: Eye witnesses, based on personal interviews, have seen ocean vegetation including sea lettuce, sea weed, and other forms of bottom sea life which are essential to the marine ecosystem disrupted in the wake of trawlers operating off the coastal communities; and

WHEREAS: Trawlers, in addition to the effects of global warming, may create irreparable harm to the food chain in the Bering Sea eco-system which will likely be detrimental to subsistence food sources; and

WHEREAS: Buffer zones are important for the protection of ecosystems important to our subsistence food resources; and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the delegates to the 2009 Annual Convention of the Alaska Federation of Native, Inc., that AFN request the North Pacific Fishery Management Council; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and National Marine Fisheries Service designate a fifty mile subsistence buffer zone off the furthest land mass along the entire coast of Alaska while providing maximum protection for Community Development Quota Programs (CDQ) already in existence.

SUBMITTED BY: ASSOCIATION OF VILLAGE COUNCIL PRESIDENTS

COMMITTEE ACTION: DO PASS

CONVENTION ACTION: AMENDED AND PASSED