Last week came word that Jeff Kauffman, of Wasilla, had resigned from the International Pacific Halibut Commission and that the Obama administration had appointed Linda Behnken, of Sitka, to replace him.
So why would Kauffman resign?
Well, it seems he was involved in a halibut fishing violation.
The boat named in the case, the F/V Saint Peter, belongs to the Central Bering Sea Fishermen's Association, one of Alaska's community development quota companies.
In its most recent annual report, CBSFA lists Kauffman as a company executive with a salary of $126,951.
Federal enforcement officials initially assessed a civil penalty of $61,781 in the Saint Peter case, which settled for $49,000.
4D/4E benefits few from Saint Paul maybe 20-30 fishers. Some fish under the CDQ Umbrella but they live in the Mat-Su Valley and reap the CDQ benefits. Much halibut quota was diverted from Western Alaska to Aleutians and the Pribs only to benefit a few, who some live in Mat-su valley.
ReplyDeleteLooks like they got fined the value of the fish. I suspect they caught an extra 10,000 lbs to deliver to a IFQ holder waiting on the dock. 4A can be tough so I can see the temptation if your catching fish. On the other hand maybe its an oversight with their paperwork. One of the guys on the boat may have the fish, but hadn't received his cards yet. Either way its inexcusable.
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