September 9, 2013 — Unalaska doesn't want to close the door on new Pacific cod fisheries.
The town’s Fish and Game Advisory Committee met Saturday. They voted 5-2 to reject a proposed moratorium on new Pacific cod fisheries in state waters until the state comes up with a new long-term management plan for the resource.
The moratorium would also prevent the state from expanding current Pacific cod fisheries for the time being.
Managing Pacific cod is complicated — especially since the federal government put restrictions on the Pacific cod fishery to protect an endangered stock of Steller sea lions in 2011.
Dustin Dickerson has been fishing near Unalaska since the late 80s. He’s new to the advisory board, but he opposed the ban on new cod fisheries with the rest of the majority.
Dickerson said he’s concerned that it would hurt smaller-scale fishermen.
"If, for instance, in the future somebody came along and wanted to open up a state waters fishery for boats 42 feet and under, I’d like to leave the door open for opportunities for true small boat fisherman," Dickerson said.