AK HJR34

Alaska Legislature urges U.S. Congress and federal fisheries managers to reform the federal Prohibited Species Donation program (also called Bycatch to Food Banks program) to reduce waste of edible salmon and halibut bycatch from Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska groundfish trawl fisheries.

Program established in the 1990s and formally implemented in 1996 has become difficult for vessels to use due to economic and operational constraints, including processing, transportation, and compliance costs that vessels cannot offset since they receive no compensation, quota credit, or regulatory relief.

Many vessels now discard prohibited species at sea rather than retaining them for donation, wasting valuable fisheries resources that could address Alaska food security challenges.

Resolution requests targeted adjustments to increase voluntary vessel participation while preserving existing prohibitions on sale or quota credits and avoiding incentives that could increase bycatch rates or create secondary markets for prohibited species.

Copies directed to Alaska's congressional delegation (Senators Murkowski and Sullivan, Representative Begich), relevant congressional committee chairs, Secretary of Commerce, NOAA Administrator, and North Pacific Fishery Management Council Chair.