In fact, a handful already do.
But what's the policy on minors holding permits?
It's a question the Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission plans to address this year.
The agency, which issues permits for participating in dozens of Alaska fisheries, will conduct a review including a fleet survey and hearings, says Glenn Haight, commission chairman.
The goal isn't to keep kids off fishing vessels. Rather, it's to give the commission "a little more structure and process to follow when asked to allow a permit to go to a youngster," Haight said.
The commission's review could look at safety, economic advantage in fisheries, or other considerations.
State regulations already address the issue to some degree. For example, the Alaska Administrative Code at 20 AAC 05.1707 states "there is a rebuttable presumption" a person acquiring most types of permits is "unable to participate actively in the fishery" if under the age of 16.
But the commission can, and has, issued permits to minors under 16, Haight said. He reckons maybe 10 such minors currently hold permits.
10 comments:
Strickly BS....
I am 59 years old,and held my first salmon card at age 15. I guarantee i was actively participating!
If someone can hold a permit at 75 yrs, and be active, there should not be a reason to shut down the other end of the spectrum
I’d be interested to learn more on this… I’m assuming “minors” who hold permits are being used as a legal loophole?
If a permit held by a minor is involved in a fisheries violation… is it punishable?
All 4 of my kids have had Bristol Bay permits since they were 12. I would buy 1 for them then we fish dual. As they turned 16 - 17 they would go to another boat to learn more experiance and I would buy another. Middle daughter 12 wanted to go to the Bay. She sold it and bought I.F.Q's and went to nursing school.
I bought another for my young son 12 yrs old he fished dual with me for 6 yrs then sold it and bought a S.E. seine permit and Craig R.O.K. permit and some I.F.Q.'s for halibut. My youngest daughter and all her siblings have been fishing all their lives. When they were babies I would load them and the car on my boat and head north in May for longlining. My family would have never been able to have made a succesful life fishing if we couldnt of had permits in minors under 16 yrs old. I did not abuse child labor. My kids love being out on the water. What kid dosn't love looking over the rail to see whats coming in next? Big Halibut, sockeye, KING SALMON!!! Kids should be Allowed to fish and hold permits if they (want to) regaurdless of age.
One of the biggest issues to consider if kids hold permits is the presumed age of criminal responsibility.
I had a permit put into my name. Then we got caught fishing over the line, by no choice of my own and ultimately got a gross misdemeanor/criminal negligence on my name... Anonymous@9:54pm has a point here
I was also on my daddy's slave ship at 11 years old, 7:21. If you can't make it fishing with real crew, just ignore the Fair Labor Act of 1938.
I notice a couple processors are also having trouble with some slave labor in China reprocessing plants.
Sometimes it just don't pay to pass 8th grade.
My dad bought an extra seine permit when I was 13 when they were cheap, put it in my name. CFEC should concentrate on fixing their operational issues.
One person is not allowed to own multiple permits for a single fishery. All you people advocating for being able to buy a permit to stick in your kids name are simply cheating the system expecialy in fisheries like bristol bay with stacking.
Nice you were able to illegally lease yourself a permit by using your under age child but maybe just give them a trust fund next time.
Two out of our 3 kids chose to have a set net permit in their name at the age of 11 and 13.
They very actively worked at establishing themselves in the fishing industry. Many life lessons were gained by each of our kids into a good work ethic, and how to better manage good and poor seasons.
Each of our kids that chose fishing are currently now very involved in commercial fishing still today.
I h ave many references from other fishermen outside of our family that can affirm how directly involved these kids were self active at a young age and how this has given them a jump start in life.
How else could so many Bristol Bay setnetters stack permits (illegally) in order to create a profitable venture from a fishery that was created to be a temporary subsistence fishery.
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