Fishery Management and the Protection of Alaska Marine Life
If you want to go state by state and see what the priorities of its founders were, you can tell a lot by the constitution.
In the case of Alaska, you will see an emphasis on the fishing industry.
Surrounded by waters known for their pristine quality and abundant sea life, founders of Alaska knew that the future would be indelibly tied to the fishing trade.
For this reason, you can see different methods of protection in place for Alaska's marine habitat which make the state unique among all its counterparts in the union.
Marine Protected Areas: The protection of Alaska's marine habitat clearly required a network of commerce-free spots around state waters.
This fact led to the creation of Marine Protected Areas (called MPA's in shorthand), zones which are in place to continue the development of the eco-structure and guarantee that the sea life remains abundant.
After all, if there is a serious downgrade in the state's marine biodiversity, will there be much of a future in the cards for Alaska? Even fishing industry magnates cannot argue with the success of these practices.
Limits on Total Allowable Catch: In the areas open to the fishing vessels which come out in full force every season, there are still a number of standards to be followed.
The biggest of them all may be the Total Allowable Catch figures.
This floating number is put in play every season after careful evaluations have been made of the local habitat.
While the state has few peers around the world in terms of regulations in place, Alaska's marine habitat gets even further protection with the state's right to adjust its TAC figures mid-season.
In today's volatile environment, the right to revise the TAC numbers spells even greater regulations.
Observers on Board: Many people wonder how Alaska can possibly enforce these regulations which have been in place to maintain its marine habitats.
One way is the use of independent observers on board fishing vessels around state waters.
If National Marine Fisheries observers are sent, they must be permitted to board the vessel and have jurisdiction over a boat's practices.
Countless violations have been nipped in the bud in this manner, putting another feather in the cap of state regulators.
In the case of Alaska, you will see an emphasis on the fishing industry.
Surrounded by waters known for their pristine quality and abundant sea life, founders of Alaska knew that the future would be indelibly tied to the fishing trade.
For this reason, you can see different methods of protection in place for Alaska's marine habitat which make the state unique among all its counterparts in the union.
Marine Protected Areas: The protection of Alaska's marine habitat clearly required a network of commerce-free spots around state waters.
This fact led to the creation of Marine Protected Areas (called MPA's in shorthand), zones which are in place to continue the development of the eco-structure and guarantee that the sea life remains abundant.
After all, if there is a serious downgrade in the state's marine biodiversity, will there be much of a future in the cards for Alaska? Even fishing industry magnates cannot argue with the success of these practices.
Limits on Total Allowable Catch: In the areas open to the fishing vessels which come out in full force every season, there are still a number of standards to be followed.
The biggest of them all may be the Total Allowable Catch figures.
This floating number is put in play every season after careful evaluations have been made of the local habitat.
While the state has few peers around the world in terms of regulations in place, Alaska's marine habitat gets even further protection with the state's right to adjust its TAC figures mid-season.
In today's volatile environment, the right to revise the TAC numbers spells even greater regulations.
Observers on Board: Many people wonder how Alaska can possibly enforce these regulations which have been in place to maintain its marine habitats.
One way is the use of independent observers on board fishing vessels around state waters.
If National Marine Fisheries observers are sent, they must be permitted to board the vessel and have jurisdiction over a boat's practices.
Countless violations have been nipped in the bud in this manner, putting another feather in the cap of state regulators.
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