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American Factory 

 Trawler Association 

 * 



RESPONSES TO SUBC0^4MITTEE ' S QUESTIONS 



Issue #1: What effect did the 1993 whiting allocation have on the 

 catcher vessel fleet and shoreside processors? 



Conunent: Catcher vessels from the Northwest and California deliver 

 whiting for processing to factory trawlers, motherships, and 

 shoreside facilities. The Pacific Fishery Management Council's 

 (the Council's) analysis reports that about two dozen catcher 

 vessels deliver to at-sea markets. The Oregon Department of Fish 

 and Wildlife reports that last year, 15 catcher vessels delivered 

 96 percent of the whiting landed at Oregon shoreside plants. 



AFTA has no figures on catcher vessel participation in the 

 1993 fishery, but at least two motherships participated in the 

 fishery and some factory trawlers contracted with catcher vessels, 

 as well. As stated in our testimony, however, stability for 

 catcher vessels and catcher/processors is best assured by adopting 

 a market-driven transferable quota system. 



Shoreside processors will process 30 percent of the 1993 

 quota; last year, shoreside processors handled 28 percent of the 

 catch. Both the shoreside and at-sea sectors will equally share 

 the burden as harvest levels are reduced from 208,000 m.t. in 1992 

 to 142,000 in 1993. If shoreside processors can--for the first 

 time fully use their allocation--at-sea processors will harvest 

 approximately 98,000 m.t. of whiting this year. This is half the 

 amount taken in 1991 and about two-thirds of the 1992 at-sea 

 production. 



Issue #2: What economic benefits does Oregon derive from at-sea 

 processing operations? 



Comment: Over 600 Oregonians are employed onboard motherships and 

 factory trawlers engaged in Pacific Ocean groundfish fisheries. 

 The latest figures compiled by AFTA indicate that Oregonians earn 

 about $16.3 million annually working as officers and crew aboard 

 at-sea processors. 



Each crewmember's salary is based upon a percentage of the 

 vessel's production. Pacific whiting production comprises 

 approximately 15 percent of the annual revenue earned by the 

 vessels participating in the fishery. 



4039 2 1 St Avenue West • Suite 400 • Seattle, Washington 981 99 

 Telephone: 206-285-5139 • Fox: 206-285-1841 



