<Table of Contents> <Previous Section> <Next Section>
The Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission (CFEC) is an exempt, independent, quasi-judicial agency responsible for promoting the conservation and sustained yield management of Alaska's fisheries resources and the economic health and stability of commercial fishing in Alaska by regulating entry into commercial fisheries.
To meet these responsibilities, the Commission is organized into four sections (Adjudications, Research, Licensing, and Data Processing; see, chart: "Organization by Agency Function") and engages in the following activities mandated by law (AS 16.43):
In 1992, the Commission and its staff continued to meet its responsibilities despite the declining budget, which forced employee layoffs and position cuts, and voluntary leave-without-pay contributed by existing employees.
Hearing officers in the Adjudications Section completed 205 administrative hearings this year, and issued 172 decisions, which is an all-time high for one year. Also, CFEC Commissioners adjudicated a total of 115 cases during 1992. In addition to conducting hearings and issuing decisions on appeals of emergency transfer requests, Commission paralegals classified applications for limited permits in the Togiak herring spawn on kelp fishery and interim-use permits in the Southeastern Dungeness crab fishery.
The Licensing Section again issued more than 50,000 permits and licenses and collected more than $6 million in revenue to the state. Additionally, the licensing staff processed 1,860 requests for transfers of permits, and responded to an ever increasing number of information requests from the public regarding a variety of fisheries licensing questions.
The Research Section continued many projects including analyses of fisheries issues, monitoring trends in Alaska's fisheries, providing data needed by other agencies and the public, evaluating the need for access controls in particular fisheries, and developing an optimum number recommendation in the Southeastern Alaska roe herring purse seine fishery. Research also completed analyses and reports requested by the Legislature, the Office of the Governor, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G).
The Data Processing Section continued to improve upon the computer support that allows the Commission to perform its functions efficiently. Commission programmers have networked new computer resources which will help contain costs and provide needed computing capacity in the face of reduced allocations. Additionally, the Data Processing Section provides important information to the public and to other government agencies in the form of both automated and special request programming jobs.
The following parts of this report provide a more thorough outline of some of the year's important events by operating section. The appendix provides summary data on Alaska's limited fisheries and permits. Questions or comments about the contents of this report are welcome.
*NOTE: The above organization chart presents a general view of the Commission's primary functions. It by no means lists all activities undertaken to meet the Commission's statutory responsibilites as set forth in AS 16.43.