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Terry Haines

Terry Haines is a Kodiak deckhand and representative for Fish Heads, an advocacy group dedicated to preserving the vitality of Alaska's fishing communities.


    

Of Codfishes and Kings: ADF&G Commissioner McKie Campbell Visits Kodiak

"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes-and ships-and sealing wax-
Of cabbages-and Kings-
And why the sea is boiling hot-
And whether pigs have wings."
The scene is from "Alice's Adventures Through the Looking Glass". It's what the Walrus says to the oysters just before he and the Carpenter slurped them down. The Walrus has already lured the oysters from their seabed for "a pleasant walk, a pleasant talk". He can say whatever he wants. The oysters have already made their fatal mistake. They trusted a predator.

To me, as the good citizens of Kodiak packed themselves into the High School auditorium for a Comfish seminar on March 17, 2006, they looked like neat rows of oysters.

The man they came to see, newly appointed Alaska Department of Fish and Game Commissioner McKie Campbell, struck a casual pose at the edge of the stage, the lights glinting from his snakeskin boots. Nicknamed "McK-Y" for his ability to lubricate mining into the state, Commissioner Campbell has lately turned his talents to driving home the state's policy on Gulf groundfish rationalization.

Commissioner Campbell starts out by explaining that the State of Alaska is about to toss out its management plan for Gulf of Alaska Groundfish and install one that looks like the federal scheme to privatize the resource and outlaw the free market. This is because both the state and the fed lay claim to jurisdiction out to three miles, and lawyers at the National Marine Fisheries Service have decided you can't have two sets of rules for the same fishery. The reasons for privatization? The industry is "overheated" he says, with "too much steel chasing too few fish." He says the pace of harvest must be slowed to allow for maximum value extraction. He says eliminating the "race for fish" will allow for better management of the resource. He says the state's position has been developed by approaching stakeholders and asking them what they want. Then he opens the question and answer session, which he sees as a casual "conversation" with Kodiak. "A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk, along the briny beach." He is the Walrus. Goo goo g'joob.

Local fisherman Lu Dochtermann sits directly in front of Mr. Campbell. His intense eyes set fire to the Commissioner's collar as he explains that the industry is not overcapitalized. As the owner of two boats fishing groundfish he tries to make the Commissioner understand American style free market capitalism. "The resource is healthy and well managed already," he says. "And if it makes financial sense for us to go fishing, we go." Because the number of participants is already constrained by the Limited License Program, there is no risk for a mad rush of entrants to the fishery. His question is the same one that would be echoed by all but two members of the audience. Why? Why is the state so eager to mimic a federal plan that is a twin of the disastrous crab rationalization scheme?

Darius Kasprzak, a cod jigger, points out that the fishery could be slowed simply, by means of trip limits. Steve Branson asks "If the privatization of our public resource was put to a popular vote, would it pass?" "Not if you word it like that." was the answer.

One after another, Kodiak residents asked "Why?" Why is their state following the federal Judas goat into the same slaughter pen that was crab ratz? Why the heavy hand that will take away the resource and the marketplace that Kodiak needs to survive? Don Roberts asks McK-Y if the state was prepared for "what happens to a community when you take away their means to live a moral and productive life?"

Depression, desperation, the breakdown of families, and criminal behavior are the result, he asserts.

Finally someone stands up to support rationalization. Julie Bonney is the Carpenter. She is the living embodiment of the Alaska Groundfish Databank. Her proposals on groundfish rationalization, submitted on behalf of her clients, (a group of boat owners and processors who expect to win big when the plan goes through) have been swallowed whole by the Council. Her main argument is a threat, one that has effectively brought fixed gear fishermen on board. She describes rationalization as a train leaving the station. Get on or get left behind. If I may paraphrase her:

'The time has come," the Carpenter said,
"To talk of many things:
Of trains and TACs and toolboxes-
Of why the free market stinks
And whether the industry is boiling hot
And why corporations like Trident need links."
Peter Allen, local fisherman then uses his question to ask members of the audience one by one if they had been consulted by the state as a stakeholder. Finally he asks the entire auditorium who among them was asked his opinion on rationalization. Only Julie Bonney's hand tentatively rises to half mast. She looks grateful that no one seems to notice.

In the end as Commissioner Campbell glances again at his snakeskin cowboy boots, he seems to be thinking about the horse he rode in on. As fisherman Chuck Thompson delivers a show stopping appeal to reason, "Why are we committed to this vehicle?" it is clear that Kodiak is not rife with radicals, but simply a community coming together as it tries to save itself. That's unfortunate for McK-Y. Radicals are easier to marginalize. Still, he knows that the oysters are ashore, and there is little chance for any one to stop the "train" now. That must give him some comfort.
"It seems a shame," the Walrus said,
"To play them such a trick,
After we brought them out so far
And made them trot so quick!"
And the Carpenter said nothing but
"The butter's spread too thick!"

"I weep for you," the Walrus said:
"I deeply sympathize."
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size
Holding his pocket- handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.

"O Oysters," said the Carpenter,
"You've had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?"
But answer there came none-
And this was scarcely odd because
They'd rationalized every one.
Posted 4/01