Celebrating 30 Years of Sustainable Fisheries December, 2006 Produced by NPFMC under NOAA Award # NA16FC1659 Message from the Chair: This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. The Magnuson-Stevens Senator Ted Stevens Act has been very successful at achieving its objectives off Alaska 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 Fisheries management in the North Pacific has come a long way since law in Washington, 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 bycatch and discards, 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 fish stocks 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 University of Washington 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 Seattle, 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.