An industry group said yesterday that an individual fishing quota system in which 100 percent of quota shares are granted to fishermen would harm West Coast seafood processors.
Coastal Jobs voiced its support for a shared quota system because it would "provide incentive for harvesters to work with processors."
The Portland, Ore., group pointed to a recent Pacific Fishery Management Council report that said an IFQ system in which 100 percent of quota shares are granted to fishermen would offer "no incentive for harvesters to cooperate with processors."
In June, the council voted preliminarily to allocate 20 percent of quota shares to processors and 80 percent to fishermen. It will make a final decision at its Nov. 3 to 7 meeting in San Diego.
The decision "will have a far-reaching impact on preserving the economic viability of coastal communities and jobs," said Coastal Jobs. "A shared quota system would recognize that both processors and fishermen have invested heavily in coastal jobs and capital equipment, and it could protect current jobs in coastal communities, guarantee fair access to resources, stabilize prices for consumers and encourage environmental stewardship."
The West Coast seafood-processing industry supports more than 11,000 jobs and contributes more than $36.5 million in annual payroll, according to the group.
The West Coast Seafood Processors Association, Pacific Seafood Group, Trident Seafoods, Bornstein Seafoods, Hallmark Fisheries, American Fish & Seafood Co., National Restaurant Association and National Fisheries Institute are among the Coastal Jobs members.
