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or ether conflict with the issue under discussion. With this type of disclosure, Coun- 

 cil members should still vote on every issue. We urge you to reaffirm the Council 

 system. 



SUMMARY OF TESTIMONY 



The primary focus of this reauthorization process should be to prioritize conserva- 

 tion of the resource. Conservation elements of allocation decisions need to be consid- 

 ered on an equal or higher degree as the short-term economic benefits. Selective 

 gear which reduces bycatch ana wastage should receive a preference whenever pos- 

 sible. 



The massive dumping of groundfish which is legal to retain must be stopped. Over 

 470 million pounds of groundfish were dumped in the first seven months of 1993. 

 Over 63 million meals of Pacific cod were thrown away. The factory trawl vessels 

 are responsible for the majority of wastage in the groundfish fisheries. We do not 

 support the retention of prohibited species. The numbers of very small crab and hal- 

 ibut which are taken as bycatch need to be reduced prior to any allowable retention. 

 The wastage of groundfish which can be legally retained must be halted before steps 

 are taken to allow the retention of prohibited species. 



We are concerned that user fee or assessment provisions which may be under con- 

 sideration be strictly defined as to purpose and amount of funds which can be 

 raised. The money raised in a certain region must be designated to be spent in that 

 region. 



It would be a terrible mistake to limit the Council system and provide the Sec- 

 retary with more authority. The Council system actually needs to be strengthened. 

 The small boat fleet and small groups would have no chance to express their view- 

 points if they were required to present their case to Washington D.C. or another 

 centralized location. The make-up of the Council is diversified, and while there may 

 be some conflict, this is inherent in the system and should be expected. The Council 

 system works and while we may not always be happy with a certain vote or deci- 

 sion, we believe that our voice is heard and the opportunities to present viewpoints 

 before the Council are always present. 



Prepared Statement of Beth Stewart, Aleutians East Borough 



My name Is Beth Stewart. I am presenting comments on behalf of the Aleutians 

 East Borough regarding reauthorization of the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and 

 Management Act. 



I serve as the Director of the Natural Resources Department in the Aleutians 

 East Borough. I am also a member of the North Pacific Fishery Management Coun- 

 cil's Advisory Panel, and a member of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee 

 which advises the National Marine Fisheries Service on a variety of fishery manage- 

 ment issues. 



The Aleutians East Borough is located on the Alaska Peninsula and adjacent is- 

 lands. It includes the communities of Akutan, Cold Bay, False Pass, King Cove, Nel- 

 son Lagoon and Sand Point. Geographically, geologically, and anthropologically this 

 area is unique. The borough has borders along the Bering Sea and the Gulf of Alas- 

 ka, and is home to numerous volcanoes, active and dormant, thermal hot springs, 

 petrified redwood forests, bears, foxes, sea birds, and diverse fish and shellfish. 



Most important, however, Aleutians East is the home of the descendants of East- 

 ern Aleuts and the Scandinavian, Scot and other Northern Europeans who settled 

 in the region during the late 1800's and early 1900's. Akutan and Cold Bay are the 

 exception. Akutan's indigenous people are Western Aleuts, while Cold Bay is pri- 

 marily a non-native community created during World War II by the U.S. Govern- 

 ment. 



Although the Aleuts living within the region comprise many distinct tribal groups, 

 they share several characteristics and values and somewhat similar histories. 



Local control, a widely held, critical value, characterized Eastern Aleut inter- 

 actions with the Russian and U.S Governments. Efforts to form increasingly more 

 powerful local governmental units began before statehood. Self-sufficiency and inde- 

 pendence remain the driving forces behind local government. Creating the borough 

 in 1987 was clearly an expression of the fundamental desire for local control of gov- 

 ernment services. The borough's revenue base is a 2 percent raw fish tax. The FY- 

 92 budget was $12.5 million. Five of the borough's communities, King Cove, Sand 

 Point, False Pass, Nelson Lagoon and Akutan are totally dependent on commercial 

 fishing. 



The borough is responsible for the school system, community health grants, cap- 

 ital improvements and maintenance. The vast majority of the capital projects in the 



ni m ei 



