C-4 (c) Custom processing exemptions – Motion
June 2007
1
North Pacific Fishery Management Council
June 11, 2007
C-4 (c) Crab custom processing exemptions to processing use caps
The Council adopts the following purpose and needs statement:
In remote areas and small TAC fisheries, the extended fishing seasons under rationalization may cause
processing activity to be extended over a longer period of time. This temporal extension of processing
activity, together with the lower throughput levels, limits the ability of processors to achieve
production efficiencies. Allowing concentration of processing in fewer facilities, by exempting custom
processing at a plant from the use cap of the plant owners, could increase processing efficiency. This
efficiency increase could improve competition in processing. In some cases, exemption of custom
processing at a facility from use caps of the owner could provide for contingencies in the event of a
facility breakdown, assist in allowing full harvest of the TAC, and contribute to community
sustainability.
In remote areas (e.g. the western region) with small TAC fisheries for crab species (e.g. WAI golden
king crab) and extended fishing seasons, the goals of sustaining communities in the region and
allowing the full harvest of the TAC could be better achieved by exempting custom processing beyond
the processing use cap by processors.
Two of the objectives of the proposed action are to protect the economic base of remote communities
dependent on crab processing, and to allow for the efficient prosecution of quota held by fishermen.
The Council adopts the following elements and options:
Fisheries and Regions:
Custom processing will be exempt from use caps in the following regions and fisheries:
The North region of the Bering Sea C. opilio fishery (analyzed here for regulation change from MSA
reauthorization – not optional)
Option 1)
the Western Aleutian Islands golden king crab fishery,
Suboption: West region only