Glacier Bay Commercial Fishing Update
by Stephen Wells

A bill introduced by Alaska Senator Frank Murkowski has thrown a monkeywrench into National Park Service plans to proceed with its proposed rule to legalize commercial fishing in Glacier Bay National Park. The bill, S. 1064, calls for opening Glacier Bay to commercial and subsistence fishing and subsistence hunting and gathering. The bill is similar to legislation introduced by Murkowski in the past and is designed as a threat to the NPS should they do anything less than permit commercial fishing in the park.

The threat was enough to cause the NPS to delay the public process on their proposed rule and the release of the already long-overdue Environmental Assessment (EA) on commercial fishing in the park. Meanwhile the NPS plans to reconvene a working group of "stakeholders," including the Alliance, commercial fisherman, the state, and the NPS to work towards an acceptable compromise.

Such a compromise has remained elusive despite seven years of on and off again negotiations. The divergent interests of the commercial fishing industry and park advocates simply do not lend themselves to much common ground. Making matters worse, any current negotiations would take place under the gun of Murkowski's fishing friendly bill.

Ultimately, the fate of Glacier Bay will wind up in the hands of the bureaucrats in the NPS and the politicians in Congress. Bringing enough public pressure to bear may be the deciding factor in the balance. The NPS, with its weak proposed regulations to allow commercial fishing in the park has abdicated its role as the preservation agency, a role Americans clearly support. It will be up to public pressure to convince the NPS, and Congress, to place protection of the park over the profit motivation of the commercial fishing industry.

The first stage in the current battle is the proposed rule from the NPS. The NPS proposes to allow fishing in the waters outside Glacier Bay proper, and initiate a 15 year phase out of commercial fishing inside the bay. In addition, the NPS has been ordered, as a result of the Alliance's lawsuit, to end fishing in the park's designated Wilderness waters immediately. Despite the order, the NPS proposes to allow commercial crab fishing in Wilderness waters around the Beardslee Islands inside the bay for the next five to seven years as part of a Amulti-agency research project."

The Alliance maintains that:

• Commercial resource extraction, including fishing, is inappropriate in any National Park. Our National Parks are supposed to be preserved "unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." (NPS Organic Act) The commercial extraction of critical species in its marine ecosystem can hardly be compatible with preserving Glacier Bay "unimpaired."
• Commercial fishing boats add to vessel traffic congestion in Glacier Bay which threatens endangered humpback whales. Commercial fishing nets, traps, and other equipment are also a threat to whales and other marine mammals.
• The NPS has not proven that fishing does not harm "park values," including wilderness, scenery, wildlife, habitat, and visitor experience.
• The NPS should abide by the court's decision and end commercial fishing in Wilderness waters immediately. Commercial fishing for crab as part of a research project should not be excepted. Research in a national park should not involve private profit at the expense of park resources.
• The phase-out of fishing inside Glacier Bay itself is far too long. It would be foolhardy to believe that any phase-out could survive 15 years of politics. The Alliance suggests a maximum three year phase-out only for those fishers who can demonstrate a long history of fishing there.
• Alliance members were alerted by mail and e-mail and we have received many copies of your comments. Thanks to all of you who sent comments. Since then, as a result of S. 1064, the comment deadline has been extended until May 15. So if you haven't yet sent comments, there is still a chance. This has been a long and critical battle for the Alliance to protect Glacier Bay and its wildlife from the combined effects of overuse by cruiseships and commercial fishing. We will keep you posted of the outcome and any additional opportunities to comment.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Please take the time to tell the NPS how you feel about commercial fishing in Glacier Bay. Your comments will make a big difference. Comments must be postmarked no later than May 15. If you have already sent comments, thank you. The Alliance will keep you up to date. Send your comments to:

James M. Brady, Superintendent
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve
PO Box 140
Gustavus, AK 99826
E-mail: glba_administration@nps.gov

The referenced proposed regulations can be found at: http://www.nps.gov/glba/fedreg.htm