Sixth, they want to enable the purchase or construction of fish 

 processing capabilities, either on shore or on vessels; 



Seventh, they want to create a financing mechanism for purchas- 

 ing limited entry permits, and provide low-interest loans for fisher- 

 men to purchase such permits, or fishing gear, or to upgrade their 

 boats; 



Eighth, they want to establish a scholarship fund for careers in 

 fisheries and fishery management, enabling community residents 

 to obtain advanced education or technical school training in fish- 

 eries-related areas; and 



Ninth, they want to develop a fleet of small catcher vessels de- 

 signed to operate in local longline or other fisheries. 



These are the objectives that native communities in Alaska have 

 established for their participation in the community development 

 quota program, and I am happy to report that, they are enjoying 

 considerable success with only a small allocation of one fishery re- 

 source, the 7 percent of pollock, and all of these objectives are now 

 well on their way to being realized. 



The amendment I would propose to the Magnuson Act would es- 

 tablish a Western Pacific counterpart to the Alaska community de- 

 velopment program. The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Manage- 

 ment Council would establish criteria for participation in the pro- 

 gram which might include consideration of: 



One, historical fishing practices in and dependence on the fishery 

 by communities petitioning to participate in the program; 



Two, the cultural and social framework relevant to the fishery 

 and the communities that wish to participate in the program; 



Three, economic barriers to access to the fishery by participating 

 communities, whether that access is for subsistence or commercial 

 purposes; and 



Four, a demonstration that the community has not previously de- 

 veloped harvesting or processing capabilities sufficient to support 

 substantial participation in the Western Pacific fisheries. 



The second concept that we will address this morning is an 

 amendment to the Magnuson Act that would provide authority for 

 community-based fishery demonstration projects. Under this 

 amendment, the Secretary of Commerce would make direct grants 

 to at least three, and as many as five, community-based fishery 

 demonstration projects. The purpose of providing this authority is 

 to support the involvement of communities of the Western Pacific 

 in the management, conservation, and economic enhancement of 

 traditional fisheries. Its purpose is also to protect the traditional 

 fishing practices of Western Pacific communities and to provide for 

 the planning, management, conservation, enhancement, orderly de- 

 velopment, and wise use of the resources upon which the meaning- 

 ful continuation of traditional fishing practices depends. 



A no less important purpose is to encourage communications and 

 authorize cooperative agreements between Federal, State, and 

 other relevant agencies that are responsible for multi-jurisdictional 

 fisheries resources planning and management, and Western Pacific 

 communities. 



Authority for the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management 

 Council to take into consideration indigenous, traditional fishing 



