Who We Are

Introduction

ALFA History

Founded in 1978, the Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association (ALFA) has successfully represented longline fishermen in securing sustainable access to healthy halibut, sablefish and rockfish stocks.

ALFA spearheaded efforts to eliminate foreign fishing on sablefish and rockfish stocks during the 70s, supported an aggressive rebuilding schedule for depleted sablefish stocks during the 80s, and lead the battle to eliminate trawling from Southeast Alaska waters during the 90s. During the 90s ALFA also supported implementation of an Individual Quota system for North Pacific halibut and sablefish stocks, successfully campaigning for measures to protect the independent, community based fleet critical to the economic health of Alaska's coastal communities and, ultimately, the resource on which it depends.

ALFA was instrumental in forming the Halibut Coalition in 1998, an umbrella organization uniting longline fishermen, processors and consumers in protecting longline access to halibut stocks. ALFA continues to actively promote resource and industry health, supporting sustainable fishing quotas and historic access to carefully managed stocks. Current initiatives include launch of a bycatch reduction/information sharing network and development of a Sustainable Fisheries Trust for Alaska.

Mission Statement

Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association (ALFA) is a non-profit association of independent commercial longline vessel owners and crewmembers who are committed to continuing the sustainable harvest of sablefish, halibut, and groundfish, while supporting healthy marine ecosystems and strong coastal communities through resource stewardship and participation in federal, state, and local forums.

Board Members

Steve Fish, F/V Kariel, President
Jeff Farvour, Vice-president, deckhand representative
Terry Perensovich, Secretary, skiff representative
Phil Wyman, Treasurer, F/V Archangel
Dick Curran, F/V Cherokee
Walt Pasternak, F/V Christi-Rob
Norm Pillen, F/V Sherri Marie
Richie Davis, F/V West Bank
Frank Balovich, F/V Carol D

Executive Director
Linda Behnken, F/V Woodstock
Address Box 1229 Sitka, Alaska 99835
Physical Address: Room 23 Sage Building/Sitka Sound Science Center, 801 Lincoln Street, Sitka

Who We Are

Membership

ALFA is a non-profit organization that depends largely on membership contributions. Member dues provide support for participation in local, state, and federal fisheries forums, support of the ALFA office, newsletters, action alerts, and the website. This support allows us to research issues of critical importance to the Alaskan longline fleet and work proactively for healthy resources and fisheries.

Please consider joining us today! If you are already a member, please consider an additional contribution as well. Your support is critical to providing an effective voice for independent longline fishermen in Coastal Alaska!

Membership levels:

Voting:

Deckhand: $100
Basic: $250
Supporting: $600
Highliner: $1000 or more

Nonvoting:

Business: $250
Friend: $100 or more
Dues are on a calendar year basis.

ALFA Membership Brochure PDF file (652kb)

Hats for Sale!
ALFA hats are now available: they are dark green or dark brown (waxed) and cost $20/member, $25/non-member. Advertise your support of ALFA by wearing a hat!

Note: You will need a free PDF reader application to view or print these PDF files. Windows users will need to download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader application from http://www.adobe.com/reader. Mac OS X users may use the built in Preview.app to view or print PDFs, or you may also download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader for Mac OS X.

Who We Are

Deckhands

Jeff Farvour is the deckhand representative on the ALFA Board. Please feel free to contact Jeff if you have any questions or concerns specific to deckhands. His cell phone is 907-738-0898.  Deckhand members are a very important part of ALFA and we need your active involvement, you are the future!

Deepsea Fishermen’s Union: http://www.dsfu.org/

Set Line Agreement
Known as the Set Line Agreement, the pact between the Fishing Vessel Owners’ Association and the Union clearly defines the simple and straightforward partnership of owner, skipper, and crew.

The settlement procedure has remained essentially the same over the years. No crew share is guaranteed but is based completely on incentive. First, boat-share is taken from the gross stock, then expenses (such as ice, fuel, bait and groceries), and finally, the crew divides the remainder. For over 80 years, the Union has practiced profit-sharing, an idea that larger, national unions are now utilizing as well.

The Union follows the tradition of a tradesmen’s guild. Anyone who fishes for the first time is paid only what the whole crew, skipper included, thinks that person has earned. Trip by trip, a vote is taken. Only after receiving a full share is a fisherman considered a bona fide Union member, a "peer" in the organization.

The copy of the agreement provided on this site is for informational purposes only.

Who We Are

Halibut Coalition

The Halibut Coalition is a non-profit (501c6) organization whose mission is to: To protect the sustainability of the Pacific halibut resource, ensure fair and equitable allocation of the halibut resource among all sectors, and promote rational management of the halibut fishery. 

Member organizations include:

Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association -- Cordova District Fishermen United -- Deep Sea Fishermen's Union -- Fishing Vessel Owners Association -- Halibut Association of North America -- Kachemak Bay Fisheries Association -- North Pacific Fisheries Association -- Petersburg Vessel Owners Association -- Seafood Producers Cooperative -- Southeast Alaska Fishermen's Alliance -- United Cook Inlet Drift Association -- United Fishermen's Marketing Association -- United Southeast Alaska Gillnetters Association

For more information please see their website www.halibutcoalition.org

Background Information

A condensed summary of the halibut charter issue with some management background on halibut:  HC Summary to LT Governor Parnell 10Nov2008 (PDF file, 183kb)

A timeline that spans the history of halibut charter management actions:  Time line from EA.RIR.IRFA Appendix 1UPDATED (PDF file, 27kb)

Press Releases

December 22, 2008: NOAA Proposes Rule to Reduce Charter Halibut Catch (PDF file, 62kb)

November 25, 2008: International Pacific Halibut Commission Staff Preliminary Catch Limit Recommendations: 2009

Who We Are

Classified Ads

Wanted: DEck hand job

I would like to know how I can go about applying as a deck hand or what ever needed to work on a ship. I spoke to a friend of mine and he said that in this line of work it would be seasonal and its good money and hard work. I am willing to work hard and learn. I am drug and alcohol free. will you please send me some info. My name is jason and my cell is 1-805-957-8588. thank you.

Wanted: Looking for experienced longline captains

We are looking for a captain with longline experience. We intend converting two of our vessels to lingliner and need an experience captain to supervise and work with the vessel.

Contact:
Isaac Yawson
Tel. 00 232 77 740102

Wanted

Wanted: 14-20' skiff, nothing fancy
Please call 747-0695

For Sale

12' Achilles inflatable, excellent condition, never used in salt water $800
Furuno Color Sounder, FCU-561 $100
Call 738-0633

Seeking employment on a Tender this summer

I have 4 summers of experience fishing in Alaska---2 in Bristol bay (Deck hand on a drift netter) -2 as a set Netter (1- in the Cook inlet, -1- in Sand Point.
--very responsible
--Drug and alcohol free
--Hard worker

Dave Terpstra (resume)

Who We Are

Newsletters

March 2010 (PDF file, 498kb)

December 2009 (PDF file, 708kb)

Summer 2009 (PDF file, 1.01 mb)

Spring 2008 (PDF file, 608 KB)

June 2008 (PDF file, 2,035 KB)

November 2008 (PDF file, 1,053 KB)

Note: You will need a free PDF reader application to view or print these PDF files. Windows users will need to download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader application from http://www.adobe.com/reader. Mac OS X users may use the built in Preview.app to view or print PDFs, or you may also download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader for Mac OS X.

Who We Are

Links

STATE OF ALASKA

State of Alaska http://www.state.ak.us/
Alaska Department of Fish & Game http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/
ADF&G Region 1 Commercial Fisheries News Releases: http://documents.cf1.adfg.state.ak.us/TopicContents.po#Groundfish
Board of Fisheries: http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us
DCED http://www.dced.state.ak.us/oed/home.htm
Alaska State Legislature http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/home.htm
Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission http://www.cfec.state.ak.us/
Alaska DEC http://www.dec.state.ak.us/
Alaska Div. of Investments http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/investments/index.cfml
ASMI http://www.alaskaseafood.org
Alaska State Chamber of Commerce http://www.alaskachamber.com/content/

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

NOAA(EL NINO) http://www.noaa.gov/
US Fish & Wildlife http://www.fws.gov/
Sea Grant http://www.uaf.edu/seagrant/index.html
homeland security http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/index.jsp
IFQ reports NOAH (Halibut Black cod) http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/ram/ifqreports.htm#harvest
Halibut Charter NMFS: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/halibut/charters.htm
North Pacific Management Council http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/
National Weather Service http://pafc.arh.noaa.gov/marfcst.php?fcst=FZAK52PAJK#PKZ043
National Vessel Documentation Center http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/vdoc/nvdc.htm
Restricted Access Management Office (RAM)    http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/ram/default.htm
http://alaska.usgs.gov/science/water/index.php
USCG http://www.uscg.mil/d17/
USGS http://alaska.usgs.gov/science/water/index.php

SEAFOOD RELATED LINKS

Fish Expo http://www.pacificmarineexpo.com/
The Fishermen’s News http://www.fishermensnews.com/
Alaska Fisherman’s Journal http://www.nationalfisherman.com/
National Fisherman http://www.nationalfisherman.com/

FISHING ORGANIZATIONS

United Fisherman of Alaska http://www.alaska.net/~usag/ufa/   or http://www.ufa-fish.org/
SEAFA www.seafa.org
Deepsea Fishermen’s Association  http://www.dsfu.org/
Fishing Vessel Owner’s Association http://www.fvoa.org

USEFUL LINKS

International Pacific Halibut Commission: www.iphc.washington.edu
Dockstreet Brokers: http://www.dockstreetbrokers.com/crab.php
Alaska Quota and Permits: http://www.alaskabroker.com/pages/blackcod.html
Permitmaster http://www.permitmaster.com/
CFAB http://www.cfabalaska.com/

CANADIAN

Farms http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/fisheries/newspecies_main.htm
Statistics http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/fish_stats/statistics.htm

Who We Are

Photo Credits

Photos submitted are by Jake Strubbe, Tina and Lee Krause, Norm Pillen, Tory O'Connell, Dan Falvey, Mim McConnell

Who We Are

Press

Sitka invests in local fishermen; Web site connects applicants with crew jobs

by Laine Welch, Alaska Journal of Commerce

http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/043010/fis_6_003.shtml

Linda Behnken, Executive Director, Honored with National Highliner Award

Read the cover story in the December 2009 edition of National Fisherman (1,103kb PDF file)