Celebrating 30 Years of Sustainable December, 2006

Produced by NPFMC under NOAA Award # NA16FC1659 Message from the Chair:

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Magnuson-Stevens Conservation and Management Act and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. The Magnuson-Stevens Senator Act has been very successful at achieving its objectives off through the efforts A member of the Senate for 37 of the North Pacific Fishery Management years, Ted Stevens is Alaska’s Council, NOAA Fisheries, and fishing industry senior Senator. Stevens’ tenure in participants. The success of the management the Senate makes him the fourth- program is due to many, many people who most senior member among his have contributed a substantial portion of their colleagues, and first among Republicans. Stevens most recently lives to the stewardship of our resources and management of our fisheries. This booklet commemorates these people and the contributions they have holds the positions of Senate President Pro Tempore and made over the past 30 years. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which has oversight of the Departments of Senator Ted Stevens, in particular, deserves special recognition for his Commerce and Transportation. Stevens is the co-author of the tireless efforts to improve the management of our Nation’s fisheries. It governing law for managing fisheries in the United States, the was 30 years ago that Senator Stevens and others worked to extend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, nation’s ocean boundaries out to 200 miles, and develop a management which was renamed in his honor in 1996. system that allows decisions to be made at the regional level, with the affected public having a say in those decisions. We greatly appreciate his Ted Stevens was a highly decorated pilot in World War II, supporting ongoing efforts to support the Council process that creates a strong fishing the Flying Tigers of the 14th Air Force. Following the war he industry in the North Pacific. graduated from UCLA and Harvard Law School, and practiced in the North Pacific has come a long way since  law in , D.C. In the early 1950s he moved to Alaska, at  the passage of the Magnuson-Stevens Act in 1976. In the early years, the time a territory of the U.S. He practiced law in Fairbanks, and the Council established the foundations of a science based conservation subsequently was appointed U.S. Attorney in Fairbanks. program. The foreign fleet was rapidly replaced by a domestic vessels harvesting groundfish due to policies set forth in the Act and implemented After working in Washington DC for several years as a legislative through the Council process. This program was so successful that by the counsel and as Solicitor (chief counsel) of the Department of the late 1980s the management focus shifted to monitoring and controlling Interior, Stevens returned to Alaska to practice law in Anchorage. the burgeoning domestic fisheries. By the mid 1990s, the Council was In 1964 he was elected to the Alaska House of Representatives. focusing on and , fish habitat, seabirds, and Steller In his second term in Alaska’s legislature he became the House sea lions. Even today, many of these issues require continued attention. Majority Leader. Following the death of Senator E.L. Bob Bartlett In more recent years, the Council has worked to stabilize the fisheries in December of 1968, Governor Walter Hickel appointed Stevens to through dedicated access programs and develop an ecosystem-based management approach. fill the vacancy. Under Alaska law, Stevens sought election in 1970, and has won re-election every time since. The fact that are abundant and productive, and the fisheries remain very profitable, is a testament to the success of the program. I am Known as a “Work Horse” of the Senate, Stevens tries to find time proud of our process, and there is much to celebrate. Although challenges for his hobbies: tennis, reading, and his favorite pastime - reeling in lay ahead, I believe the future is bright for fisheries off Alaska. his catch while fishing. The 71-pound Kenai Peninsula King Salmon he caught is displayed in his Washington, D.C. office.

When tough issues arise in the Senate, Ted’s motto has always Stephanie D. Madsen been, “Do what’s best for Alaska.” And he has. First Council Chairman Second Council Chairman Third Council Chairman Fourth Council Chairman Fifth Council Chairman Sixth Council Chairman Elmer E. Rasmuson Harold E. Lokken Clement V. Tillion James O. Campbell John G. Peterson Don W. Collinsworth October 1976 - September 1977 October 1977 - September 1978 October 1978 - August 1983 October 1983 - August 1988 September 1988 - August 1989 September 1989 - December 1990

Clem Tillion moved to Alaska after Elmer E. Rasmuson was the first Harold Lokken served as chairman Jim Campbell came up to Alaska from John Peterson graduated from the Don Collinsworth was originally an chairman of the North Pacific Council. of the North Pacific Council from World War II and immediately got Gig Harbor on Puget Sound. Jim was economist with the Alaska Department involved in commercial fishing. He School of He was born in Yakutat, Alaska. After October 1977-September 1978. He president of the largest lumber firm in Fisheries in 1940. He investigated of Fish and Game. He was head graduating from Harvard University in also was the director of the Pacific served as a Republican in the State Alaska, Spenard Builders Supply. He of ADF&Gs Extended Jurisdiction legislature for 18 years, with seven shark resources in South America, 1930, Rasmuson returned to Alaska, Fisheries Foundation and served as also served as chairman of the Alaska Mexico, and the US West Coast for section, which was set up to handle and eventually became president of a commissioner of the Pacific States terms in the State House and two Railroad Corporation after the railroad expansion of U.S. authority in the 200 terms in the State Senate. Clem the California Packing Corporation. the National Bank of Alaska, the first Marine Fisheries Commission, the was purchased by the State from the He worked for many years in the mile zone. Don worked closely with statewide banking system in Alaska. International North Pacific Fisheries served as a North Pacific Council federal government. Although he was the Council and as a liaison with the member for many years (1976- seafood industry, and was president Active in public affairs, Rasmuson was Commission, and the International not in the fishing business, he was of the National Fisheries Institute U.S. State Department. He eventually mayor of Anchorage, chairman of the Pacific Halibut Commission. Harold 1983; 1991-1997), and was Council associated with it for years. Jim was served as Commissioner of ADF&G chairman for five years (1978-1983). and the Pacific Seafood Processors Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, was manager of the Fishing Vessel first appointed to the Council in 1978, Association. He was also president under Governor Sheffield. Don served member of the University of Alaska Owner’s Association for over 20 Clem also served on international and served as chairman from October as Chairman of the Council from boards as a commissioner on the and CEO of Ocean Beauty Seafoods Board of Regents, and commissioner years. Active in fishery public policy, 1983 until August 1988. in , and later worked as a September 1989 to December 1990. and chairman on the International Mr. Lokken helped author the bill International North Pacific Fisheries Commission and commissioner of the seafood consultant. John was a North Pacific Fisheries Commission. that would establish the then 12 mile Mr. Campbell once noted that Council member from 1984 to 1990 Don understood the importance of Elmer provided the financial backing limit and worked to get it extended North Pacific Fur Seal Commission. “Unlike private business, our job policy, and once offered the following   He has described as “a crafty, crusty and served as Council chairman from for developing domestic fisheries even to the current 200 mile limit. Clem in fisheries management is further 1988 through 1989. advice, “Policy is a plan or course prior to passage of the Magnuon- Tillion described Harold as one of the fisherman” by former Alaska Governor complicated because once we’ve of action as pursued by government Stevens Act. Mr. Rasmuson finest gentlemen he ever knew, and Walter Hickel, who put Clem back on made a decision, and perhaps even organization or individual. But why are the Council as the governor’s Special John looked at fisheries from the was firmly at the helm as Council honorable to the core. before we do, we have to go out and business perspective. In 1984, he policies important to us? Why are they chairman, and he steered the Council Assistant for Fisheries. Jim Branson sell the idea. Unlike private business, important to fisheries management? once introduced him saying, “if you argued at a fishery management on the course for sustainable fisheries At a conference on extended we cannot just make a decision and conference that, “There should Well, polices can save time and 1976 - 2006 with the concept that you harvested jurisdiction, held in 1977, Harold don’t know Clem, you haven’t been in force it until it works. We have to sell make us more efficient in dictating the Alaska Fisheries business, ever.” be stability in regulations. How in only the available surplus of fish as noted that “Regional Fishery ourselves and our plan of action. the world can you put together a a course of action when dealing determined by the SSC. Management Council members are Unless we are prepared to defend business plan, if the rules under with repetitive issues. Policy can new, and many find themselves In the early 1970s he helped establish and sell our programs, they may promote consistency in dealing with a the salmon limited entry program for the which you operate are going to be Elmer once said to a conference of in the position of having to make never be implemented.” changed? A year and a half or two constituency. We must deal in a very fishermen and managers in 1984, judgments based upon arguments State of Alaska, a highly controversial Chairmen’s Gallery years is too long to put any change consistent way with our public.” “Establishment of the council system by proponents and opponents and novel program for the time, which limited the number of fishermen who in regulations in place. The system is the first time in the history of the alike, where previously they were seems very democratic, everybody U.S. that the federal government ever on only one side of an issue with could participate in the fishery. In the 80s and 90s, Clem worked to develop has a shot at it, everybody has to gave management authority to a lay no responsibility for the verdict. As approve it and that’s highly desirable. group on a regional level. The first forces of all persuasions work within the Halibut/Sablefish program and other limited entry programs for Federal But somewhere, I think, somehow time! Now I will remind you of what the system, history is being made. that can be done more efficiently.” happened before that time. Do you The rewards will be monumental. fisheries with the North Pacific Council. want to lose what we have gained? Let us hope that the forces of reason Throughout his career in fisheries I don’t think you do. All right, make it prevail.” management, Clem has always work. The way to get it working is to maintained that the number one goal be involved.” should be to turn out a quality product to the consumer at a reasonable price.

1976 President Ford signs Fishery First Council meeting October SSC Chartered November First Council meeting October AP Chartered December 1, FMPs considered for groundfish , gillnet Japan, Korea, Poland, and USSR Domestic groundfish catch was about Conservation and Management 5-8 in Juneau; 24th, meets December 1, elects 5-8 in Juneau; Elmer Ras- meets December 2-5, elects herring, king and Tanner crab, shrimp, fished off Alaska in 1976 catching 2,000 mt, mainly sablefish Act on April 13 Elmer Rasmuson elected Lee Alverson Chairman muson elected Chairman Jack Cotant Chairman Dungeness crab, and troll salmon 1.5 to 1.6 million mt Chairman The first Council meeting in Juneau, Alaska, October, 1976 Development of a World Class Fisheries Management Program

Fish have been commercially harvested off Alaska since 1864, when the first Seventh Council Chairman Eighth Council Chairman Ninth Council Chairman schooner and its compliment of dory fishermen sailed north to Bristol Bay to catch Richard B. Lauber David Benton Stephaine Madsen cod with handlines and setlines. Only 10 years after the U.S. purchase of Alaska March 1991 - August 2000 September 2000 - August 2003 October 2003 - Present from Russia in 1867, the salmon fishery became established with the opening of a cannery in Klawok. The salmon fishery quickly expanded in subsequent years with additional canneries built along the Alaska coast. Other domestic fisheries in these early years targeted Pacific cod, sablefish, and halibut using handlines and setlines. By the early 1930s, the Japanese had initiated trawl fisheries for crab, flounders, and pollock in the Bering Sea, but further development of the agreements included catch limits for fishery was suspended with the beginning of World War II. some species, namely pollock and flatfish in the Bering Sea and Pacific Major commercial fisheries for groundfish and crab developed in the late 1950s Ocean perch and sablefish in the Gulf with the resumption of fishing by the Japanese and a developing Soviet distant of Alaska. Thereafter, catch limits were water fleet. The trawl fleets first focused on yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea, included in all bilateral agreements in with very large catches (totaling 1.62 million mt) made in the 1959-1962 period. effect through the implementation of Pacific ocean perch and other rockfish were intensively harvested in the Aleutian the Magnuson Fishery Conservation Islands area and Gulf of Alaska from 1963-1968 (totaling 1.56 million mt). Over and Management Act (renamed the Before becoming involved in David Benton joined the Council Stephanie Madsen joined the Council 240 Japanese and Soviet trawl vessels and motherships were operating in these during his tenure as Deputy Magnuson-Stevens Act in 1996). fisheries management, Richard in October 2001 after serving 8 years fisheries by 1963. In addition to the trawl fleet, approximately 60 Japanese Lauber was a district court judge Commissioner for the Alaska on the Advisory Panel. Stephanie longline vessels targeted sablefish, rockfish, Greenland turbot, and halibut during Passage of the Magnuson-Stevens Act in Southeast Alaska. Rick, as he Department of Fish and Game became the first woman to Chair the is more affectionately known, was in 1995. He came to Alaska from North Pacific Council in 2003, and the early 1960s. By the end of the 1960s, the foreign trawl fleets shifted their in 1976 marked a new era in fisheries one of the original members of the California in the mid-1970s and currently also serves as Vice-Chair focus to catching and processing pollock as catches of Pacific ocean perch and management. This Act established the Council family, beginning as an worked for the environmental group of the North Pacific Research Board. yellowfin sole decreased. 200 nm Fishery Conservation Zone AP member in 1976, through his Friends of the Earth on marine issues. She is a member of the Pacific (later called the Exclusive Economic appointment to the Council in 1990. From there, Dave worked for various States Marine Fisheries Commission, The foreign fisheries were virtually unregulated through 1965, and thereafter Zone), and set up the regional council He was elected chairman in 1991 fishing groups, local governments, the University of Alaska Fairbanks only minimally regulated until the mid-1970s . During this time period, separate system to allow fishery management  and served in that capacity until and Alaska Native organizations School of Fisheries Advisory Board, agreements were made between the US and foreign nations with fleets fishing decisions to be made at the more  September 2000. Rick was VP of throughout Alaska. In 1987, he went has served on NOAA’s External off Alaska (Japan, U.S.S.R, South Korea, Taiwan). The bilateral agreements local level. The North Pacific Fishery to work for ADF&G where he became the Pacific Seafood Processors Ecosystem Task Team, and was established closure areas intended to minimize gear conflicts and address Management Council, which was (and the state’s international fisheries Association. In addition, Lauber named to the Alaska Climate Impact allocation issues between the different foreign fleets, as well as to protect growing negotiator, working on behalf of the remains) responsible for developing served as a senior advisor to the Assessment Commission recently domestic fisheries for crab, shrimp, and halibut. By the early 1970s, about 1,700 management plans for fisheries off U.S. State Department, helping state on virtually every fisheries treaty created by the State legislature. vessels were fishing the high seas off Alaska. For the first time in 1973, bilateral Alaska, quickly convened and prepared establish the North Pacific in the North Pacific. Dave retired from Stephanie has been Vice-President Anadromous Fish Commission and ADFG in 2000, and was appointed of Pacific Seafood Processors preliminary fishery management plans. the Central Bering Sea Treaty. to the Council where he served as Association since 1999. These preliminary plans allowed foreign Chair. He also served on the North fishing within 200 nm, but under much Lauber was known for encouraging Pacific Research Board, and is Ms. Madsen is known for doing more restrictive measures designed to thoughtful Council debate and public currently the Executive Director of the her homework and her ability to arrest the suspected decline of some input. In 1995, when hearings were Alliance. communicate and guide the Council stocks. During this same period, held on reauthorizing the Magnuson through difficult situations. During an the North Pacific ecosystem was Stevens Act, Lauber testified, “The Benton once noted “The regional interview for Alaska Wildlife News in undergoing an atmospheric driven council process has been a big North Pacific Council has addressed 2005, Stephanie expressed, “I’m also regime shift. Ocean circulation patterns some very controversial issues success in fostering Alaska’s a real process person and defender fisheries. The underlying reason for were drastically altered after 1976, such as bycatch, allocations, and of the Council system. I believe that causing changes in ocean conservation. We take great pride this success is that, in Alaska, the if you are true to the process, you and temperature and resulting in in the abundance of fisheries off council listens to what the scientists will achieve the greatest results. The Alaska. We attribute this sustained tell them about sustainability. That’s process they [Senators Magnuson different levels of ocean productivity and abundance to five basic principles why the Alaska model is often and Stevens] outlined works. It’s diversity. Many species (such as king that exemplify precautionary cited by groups such as the U.S. a very transparent public process crab and shrimp) faired poorly under management: peer-reviewed Commissi