10 | Alaska Seafood Cooperative
co-ops to keep by-catch rates low, im-
prove the retention of groundfish, reduce
halibut and crab catch, and fish cleanly
and efficiently.
Anderson says there were challenges
that formerly arose in the interplay be-
tween target species, groundfish bycatch
and prohibited species catch (PSC) limits.
“Prior to Amendment 80, the government
assigned halibut and crab PSC amounts to
target fisheries, which also had limits. The
race was inefficient, and fisheries were
mostly closed because of reaching PSC
limits. Fisheries rarely achieved target
limits and also threw away 50-60 percent
of their target species. Under Amendment
80, we’re more efficient at avoiding PSC,
and since 2008, we haven’t been shut
down due to PSC limits. Rather, we either
ran out of time or target quota.”
As Manager of the cooperative, Ander-
son does not participate in the day to day
operations of each member company, but
helps direct communications and over-
sight to ensure that each remains compli-
ant with regulations. As a multi-species
fishery, the Alaska Seafood Cooperative
has become internationally respected as a
supplier of the varieties of sole and floun-
der, as well as
Atka mackerel, Pacific cod, Pacific
Ocean Perch and more. AKSC members
