WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, today commended
the National Ocean Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for cooperating with the
state of Alaska on resolving a dispute over state water boundaries.
NOAA acting under authority of the U.S. Baseline Committee,
redefined the baseline and various offshore lines that determine state and
federal waters off of Alaska. Some of Alaska’s state water cod fisheries
were to take place in these areas and would have been seriously disrupted by
the changes. The State of Alaska asked NOAA to support the State’s
regulatory definition of state waters for purposes of fisheries management and
enforcement. Recently, NOAA agreed to not enforce the new baselines while
the State fisheries are being prosecuted until boundaries are finalized.
“I commend NOAA for accommodating the request of the State
of Alaska and allowing the existing state water regulations to apply,”
Murkowski said. “The technical changes to the baseline caused fishermen to lose
a significant amount of crucial state water fishing grounds and a high degree
of confusion.”
The Committee on the Delimitation of the Coastline of the
United States, now referred to as the “Baseline Committee,” was established in
1970 as a committee of the Law of the Sea Task Force, which was established by
Presidential authority as a committee of the National Security Council.
The Committee’s primary purpose is to portray the government’s international
position with respect to federal maritime jurisdiction.
As a result of the changes to the baseline, Alaska
Department of Natural Resources has requested to present its views to the
Baseline Committee at an upcoming meeting. In the past, the Committee has
worked with Alaska and taken its views into account in its deliberations.
The Committee is similarly open to input that the State of Alaska may wish to
provide the Committee for its consideration, and intends to work with State of
Alaska officials in determining the most appropriate way to facilitate that
input.
“I am pleased that we have a solution to this issue for the
current fishing season and I look forward to long term resolution between the
State of Alaska, NOAA and the baseline committee,” Murkowski said.
Attached is a letter from NOAA Assistant Administrator for
Fisheries Eric Schwaab, to Alaska Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Cora
Campbell.
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