156 



their fish. The more markets that are available, the bettor offthe catcher boats wilt 

 he, thua increasing the distribution of benefits to coaf!tal communitien. 



From 1979-1990, the Pacific whiting fishery was stable, showing growth each 

 ye^ar and iUniishing much-nccdcd income to the coastal comnnmitics of the 

 Nortliwcst and their jfishemien in tlie traditional catcher boat fleet With tlie anival 

 of the factory trawlers in 1990, alt that changed. They brought in far more 

 h^esting ability than was needed - the catcher boats alone could harvest the full 

 qMota. Because of tliis* the stdison. was shortened and the traditional catcher vefsel 

 w^s preoi^ipted from his historical position in the fishery. 



Tlje entry of factory trawlers also prompted inaeased investment in shorcside 

 prpccssing facilities, resulting in ovcroapitali/ation in that sector as well Hie 

 bn'ttle for allocation became one of shoreside processor against factory trawler, and 

 th^ Council began allocating to the common denominator • processing. Catch 

 histories fell by the wayside and the loser was the traditional catcher vessel. The 

 bclats that delivered to at-sea processors were further losers because they were 

 foj-ccd into an Olympic-style fishery. Because of this, the catch of v^itlng by 

 catcher vessels delivering to the floating processor component has boon reduced 

 frim 93% in 1990 to 10% in 1993. and from a S-month fishery in 1991 to 3 weeks 

 in^l993. This is the result of an allocation that artificially divides the catcher boat 

 fl<iet based solely on the location of their markets. 



S dividing the bulk of the harvest instead between catcher boats and fectory 

 wlcrs, tlus injustice is avoided. In addition, each processing sector will be 

 assured of at least a minimum amount offish, with the possibility of receiving 

 mi»ch more if thoy are competitive. 



In. closing I would like to say that I am a long4entt player in this fishery. If you 

 109k at the history of our coastal fiithcries, it's the small fishing businesses like mine 

 thjvt stay for the long haul. We ride the highs and lows because we enjoy what 

 we're doing. We're usually the pioneers in new fisheries and new gear techiiology. 

 We're not a.sking fbr anything more than the ability to maintain a place in a fishety 

 thjit we pioneered. Please help ub by bring equity and rationality to our flsheiy and 

 gliding the managers - \^4lether they be the Council or tlie Department of 

 C9mmerce, to provide equitably for all the interests In the fishery. Thank you. 



