The effort of Obama administration to protect Alaska oceans is seen when a team from the White House held the first public hearing of the Ocean Policy Task Force in Anchorage. It is told that President Obama formed the panel, which has 90 days to come up with recommendations on how the federal government should protect the nation’s oceans, coasts, and great lakes.
Dr. Jane Lubchenco with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, informed that they are here to listen to people who know the ocean well and who depend upon and care passionately about the ocean and its uses. Earl Kingik is from the Arctic coastal community of Point Hope. He said that he want to tell the people on that panel that I want our ocean to be protected.
It is said that Point Hope has never had to deal with commercial fisherman, but with sea ice retreating it soon might. Kingik opined that he don’t want commercial fishing to be approved like what the fishers association are trying to do. Whether it be commercial fishing or oil and gas development in Bristol Bay, many who came to testify before the task force want President Obama to protect the environment.
Commercial fisherman also hope this panel can change the way their business operates by changing how their permits are limited so investment companies can’t horde them. Salmon runs missed goals all over the state, something that troubled the team from Washington D.C., but they didn’t know how to fix it. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke banned all commercial fishing in the arctic until science can show what effects it will have on the ecosystem.
