Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Final judgment entered in epic Carlson case; thousands of fishermen could soon see refunds

The state of Alaska is on the brink of refunding millions of dollars in the Carlson case, an epic class action concerning overcharges to nonresidents for commercial fishing licenses and permits.

On Monday, a state Superior Court judge entered this final judgment ordering a payout of more than $33.5 million.

The state Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission has prepared this list of fishermen to receive refunds. As you can see, some of the payments will be substantial, even exceeding $50,000.

The CFEC is expected to publish a public notice soon with more details.

My understanding is that refunds could be mailed at the end of October.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

The State of Alaska can't afford to mess up like this anymore! Too costly!

Anonymous said...

Its the only state in the country that can afford to mess up like this. That being said it will hike the prices for locals and out of state residents alike to pay for it. Nobody wins in the end. Congrats to the few who get the 50k.

Anonymous said...

I can't wait to spend my $$$ out of state!

Anonymous said...

Hike the fees then...Carlson V.

"For an entry permit or an interim-use permit issued for calendar year 2002 and following years, the annual base fee may not be less than $10 or more than $300. The annual base fee must reasonably reflect the different rates of economic return for different fisheries. The fee for a nonresident entry permit or a nonresident interim-use permit shall be higher than the annual base fee by an amount, established by the commission by regulation, that is as close as is practicable to the maximum allowed by law. The amount of the fee for a nonresident entry permit or a nonresident interim-use permit may reflect [various costs associated with fisheries management]..."

Anonymous said...

Bottom line........a non-resident should pay for the right to fish our waters and take the monies out of state. A slap in the face to us residents once again, thanks government.

Anonymous said...

Since "your waters" are actually part of the U.S., any U.S. citizen should pay the same price as a resident. The state of Alaska doesn't receive any federal funding (tax payer's money)? Of course they do, more than their fair share, per capita! Then there's the thousands of dollars spent in the community wheather it's a commercial fisherman, someone just on vacation or a sports fisherman. Since even a cockroach hotel room runs over $200 a night, food cost double or triple the amount it does in most places as well as gear etc. I'd say by the time they are done spending their cash in Alaska they have been raped enough!

Anonymous said...

Hey, if you dont like our prices and you don't like our fees, don't fish our waters. It's as simple as that. It costs money to live here, and we live here because it's our life, our livelihood, our choice.

Out of state fisherman reap the catch yet they run and live in the lower 48. Of couse you should pay higher fees. If you don't like the fees, don't fish here.

Anonymous said...

Well put..........

Anonymous said...

What do gentlemen mean mean by strict construction?


Commerce, undoubtedly, is traffic, but it is something more - it is intercourse. It describes the commercial intercourse between nations, and parts of nations, in all its branches, and is regulated by prescribing rules for carrying on that intercourse. The mind can scarcely conceive a system for regulating commerce between nations which shall exclude all laws concerning navigation, which shall be silent on the admission of the vessels of the one nation into the ports of the other, and be confined to prescribing rules for the conduct of individuals in the actual employment of buying and selling or of barter. If commerce does not include navigation, the government of the Union has no direct power over that subject, and can make no law prescribing what shall constitute American vessels, or requiring that they shall be navigated by American seamen.

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=24&page=transcript

Anonymous said...

Hooray for those that choose to live in Alaska that's great. It’s a beautiful state. For those living outside Alaska, it's our choice. Accept the fact we are still going to live elsewhere and fish Alaska. I see Alaska vessels in California, Oregon and Washington and it makes no difference. We are all just fishermen trying to run a profitable business. Complaining about outside vessels in Alaska is like complaining about the lack of daylight in the winter. It happens every year. As for Carlson, the court proved it was illegal to charge outsiders a higher fee. We are simply receiving a refund with interest. It's not a windfall. For those that think it is you should invest a few hundred bucks each year in an interest bearing account. After 20 years you can cash in and feel like you won a lottery.

Anonymous said...

Outside fisherman still pay a higher renewal fee for thier liscense. Just not three times as much anymore. This money is simply money that was already paif to the state of Alaska , but was deemed exessive

Anonymous said...

Alaska residents shouldn't be able to sell to or buy from those f'ing outsiders, ANYTHING! They should also NEVER be allowed to leave such a friendly and appreciative state. That would teach those f'ing outsiders.