MOVE, that MAFAC adopt the following recommendations to
the Assistant Administrator concerning standards for IQs
which should be developed by NMFS as part of its legislative
proposals for reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
1. The current moratorium on IQ's should be lifted; provided
that national policy regarding the development of such programs
be included in the Act.
2. Maintain the current limitations (Sec. 303(d)(3)) on
IQ's that stipulate they are not a property right, not compensable
and may be revoked.
3. National lQ policy amendments to the Act should include
the following:
- lQ programs should be developed regionally by management
councils and other appropriate jurisdictions.
- Fees are not mandatory but should be encouraged in fisheries
where feasible. Fee levels should attempt to recover the
administrative and management cost of the IQ progrant,
should be dedicated for the fishery from which they were
collected and retained in the region.
- Transferability among and within fisheries is allowed
but the level and frequency should be determined by the
councils for each fishery.
- Lintits on consolidation to avoid undue concentration
and ihtpacts on other fisheries. Such limits should be
established by the councils to reflect the nature of the
fishery and region.
- Clear and measurable objectives. Each program shall be
subject to mandatory periodic reviews to evaluate whether
the objectives of the IQ program are being met.
- Measures regulating fish processing, including processing
quotas, may be considered as part of any IQ program.
- No foreign ownership or control of IQs.
- IQ programs shall include an appeals process for initial
allocations and qualifications.
4. Issues that should be addressed by the regional fishery
management councils include:
- Identify candidate fisheries
- Initial qualification and allocation processes
- Clearly identifiable objectives of each IQ program
- Rules for transferability
- Mandatory review time frame for each IQ program
- Ensure fair and balanced treatment between the harvesting
and processing sector Measures regulating fish processing,
including processing quotas, shall be considered as part
of any IQ program.
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