Harbor District Meeting: Nov. 20, 2013

Agenda Item 6: Commercial Activity Permits for non-lessee fish buyers

The following questions were asked at the Nov. 20, 2013 Harbor District meeting regarding the Commercial Activity Permits For Non-Lessee Fish Buyers policy approved by the board of Harbor Commissioners in 2012.  

How this relates to current business at the harbor in real terms:

1. How are these "buyers" defined? Do fishermen who are berth holders count? Are they exempt as suggested by memo from Commissioner Hollsinger? Are these companies with multiple trucks? Single people with a private vehicle? Anyone with a Fish & Game book? Is there a threshold for volume? A permit if you buy one time? 100 lbs or more? only semis full?
2. How are buyers identified? Assuming that a definition is determined, how are buyers identified? How is a truck owned by Three Captains or Morning Star and a truck owned by a non-lessee buyer differentiated? What about unmarked vehicles?  Is this for private vehicles? Semi trucks? When one buyer has multiple trucks how is that handled? What about fish walking off of the pier on a hand truck or driving off on a fork lift etc? Does that count?
3. How will fees be assessed? Assuming buyers can be identified (which is a big leap) how will the quantity/volume purchased be reported and verified? How will the buyers pay fees? Who will calculate the fees due? Is there a minimum volume? Are "buyers" supposed to pay for purchasing 100 lbs? Stop by the office and pay $1.00? Will they receive a bill in the mail? Is it the leaseholder at the end of Johnson Pier's job to invoice their non-lessee partners?
4. How will this be enforced? Assuming buyers can be identified and volume can be verified (which is hard to fathom) how will this be enforced? Is there a penalty if the three leaseholders allow people to buy fish without a permit? Is there going to be additional harbor staff hired to inspect and enforce? Is there going to be a gate at the end of the pier, video camera at each hoist? Is every vehicle leaving the pier going to be inspected? What happens if someone is unaware of the system? What if someone knows about the system, but doesn't have 30 days notice to get a permit? Will harbor staff impound the truck full of fish? 
5. Will this hurt commercial fishermen and small buyers?  Who will pay for the enforcement? The fishermen? Will the District start enforcement with "non-lessee" buyers with large scale businesses that have partnered officially or unofficially with existing leaseholders, and installed equipment on Johnson Pier? When CAP permits be required for non-lessee fish buyers?  When will non-lessee fish buyers be required to pay fees include in the policy approved by Harbor Commissioners in 2012?