The Department had proposed to disallow income derived from “for hire” fishing activity in determining whether a holder of the special striped bass commercial harvest permit qualified for re-issuance of a full-share permit.  The language of the regulations governing issuance of this permit states that only income from the, “…direct participation in the harvest (of fish, mollusks, etc.)”, can be used to qualify (or re-qualify) for the permit.  The Department interpreted this language to include only income from the traditional commercial harvest of fish, not income derived from “for hire” fisheries.  Mr. Colvin informed the Council that, notwithstanding this interpretation, and based on comments received on its proposal and a closer review of the kind of income documentation typically available from fishermen, the Department had decided to change their assessment of the re-qualification criteria.  The tax information that will be provided by holders of the striped bass permit will not distinguish between income resulting from “for hire” fishing activities and income from the traditional commercial harvest and sale of fish.  Thus, in the re-qualification process, both types of income will count against the 50% of earned income from fishing criterion.  Mr. Colvin indicated that it is likely that the only people who will not re-qualify for full shares are permit-holders whose percentage of income from fishing slips below 50; they will drop into the partial-share category.

Councilor McBride suggested that a letter to holders of the special striped bass commercial harvest permit outlining this change in the Department’s re-qualification proposal would be appropriate.  Mr. Colvin agreed and said it would be done.

 

Page last modified Thursday, March 17, 2005 by George E. Carroll