Southeast Alaska Purse Seine Salmon Fishery Buyback Program

The Southeast Alaska purse seine salmon fishery is a commercial fishery in Alaska state waters and adjacent Federal waters.  It encompasses the commercial taking of salmon with purse seine gear, and participation is limited to fishermen designated by the Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission.  NMFS published proposed program regulations on May 23, 2011 (76 FR 29707), and final program regulations on October 6, 2011 (76 FR 61986), to implement the reduction program.

Subsequently, the Southeast Revitalization Association submitted a capacity reduction plan to NMFS.  NMFS approved the plan on February 24, 2012.  NMFS published a list of eligible voters on March 1, 2012 (77 FR 12568) to conduct a referendum to determine the industry’s willingness to repay a $13,133,030 fishing capacity reduction loan.  The voting period opened on March 30, 2012, and closed on April 30, 2012 (77 FR 19004).  NMFS received 269 timely and valid votes.  215 of the votes approved the fees.  This exceeded the majority of permit holders (190) required for industry fee system approval.  Consequently, the referendum was successful and permit holders approved the industry fee system.

NMFS published a reduction payment tender notice that lists the name of each of the sixty-four selected bidders and the permit number for each reduction permit on May 7, 2012 (77 FR 26744).  On or about June 6, 2012, we intend to tender reduction payment to the selected bidders.  The selected bidder must permanently stop all further fishing with each reduction permit the bidder has relinquished.  Post-reduction harvesters will begin paying 3% of Southeast Alaska Purse Seine Salmon (S01A) landings on           July 22, 2012.

Please see the links below for more information and visit Pay.gov to submit fee collection payments.

Reports

•  SE AK Purse Seine Salmon Fee Collection Report - 05/24/12 (PDF)

Letters

• Fee Collection System Letter - 07/16/12 (PDF)
• Processor Fee Collection Letter - 05/23/12 (PDF)
• Referendum Approval Letter  - 05/07/12 (PDF)
• Ballot Transmittal Letter - 03/30/12 (PDF)

Regulations & Notices

• Fee Collection System Notice - 07/16/12  (PDF)
• Reduction Payment Tender Notice - 05/07/12 (PDF)
• Voting Period FR Notice 03/29/12 (PDF)
• SE AK Purse Seine Eligible Voters Meeting Notice - 03/01/12 (PDF)
• SE AK Purse Seine Salmon Buyback Final Rule - 10/06/11 (PDF)
• AK Purse Seine Salmon EA/RIR/FRFA 09/15/11 (PDF)
• SE AK Purse Seine Salmon Buyback Proposed Rule - 05/23/11 (PDF)