Comment from Dave Herrington

This is not a sharing plan. This is the commercial fishing industry paying lobbyists to get legislation stacked in their favor at the national and state level. We went through this in the early 90's in Prince William Sound. Compare the economic benefits to the State of Alaska when you compare a sport caught halibut, charter or private boat, to a commercial caught fish. Tourists and Alaskans both spend money on gas, hotels, resturants or groceries, camping and fishing gear, and charter services, boat rentals, etc. Don't forget to factor in fishing licenses, boat and trailer registration fees, and all the costs associated with operating a charter business. So what is one 40 lb halibut worth to the economy of the state? A 40 lb longlined halibut is worth what the going market price is. Hopefully that longliner is a resident of Alaska who at least purchases his goods and services here throughout the year. If not most of that money is headed outside with all the crab boats. That one halibut is worth more to me as a resident than the few dollars in revenue that the state receives from a commercial fisherman that might or might not live here. This whole manipulated plan goes directly against the Alaska Constitution which states that the resources of the state belong to the people.