Charters form region-

wide organization

Robert Monteith

February 21, 2008.

A new organization has formed to protect the interests of the charter boat industry in Southeast Alaska. The Southeast Alaska Guides Organization (SEAGO) debuted publicly after almost a year of organizational planning. Currently conducting a membership drive, the organization will be led by a board of 12, with two representatives from six Southeast areas. Representing Petersburg for the interim phase is Stan Malcom, a local charter boat captain who also serves as president of Petersburg Charter Boat Association.

“Our industry has needed an organization for a long time,” said Malcom of SEAGO’s formation, “an organization that represents all of Southeast Alaska and not just local areas. The industry is maturing now. We’re having less turnover and less start up businesses, so we’re able to identify people who are involved. The industry has become a major economic contributor to Southeast Alaska, and we felt it was time to organize in order to help us get better representation on the councils and boards, and to work with the other groups involved in the fisheries.”

According to their website, SEAGO hopes to represent the interests of a sport fishing industry that is responsible for generating over $1 billion in fishing-related spending in Alaska. To that end, they hope to educate Southeast Alaskans about their economic contribution to the region. They also hope to gain a stronger voice on fisheries management councils like the North Pacific Management Council (NPMC) at the end of March.

One issue that will soon confront charter boat owners is the catch limit total for guided fishing. A recent study conducted by the International Pacific Halibut Commission found fewer mature fish in the region than previously thought. The findings led the commission to recommend lowering the allowable harvested biomass for commercial fisheries. Several commercial fishing groups have called into question the two fish per customer catch limit on charter boats, which has remained unaffected.

Malcom stated that although the halibut issue was a concern for SEAGO, their organization was focusing on every aspect of the charter boat industry. “SEAGO is a long-term organization,” he said. “It didn’t form to handle any one specific issue. We want it to be around many years into the future, and want it to encompass all issues concerning our industry.”

Of the organization’s plans for the upcoming NPMC meeting in Anchorage, he said, “We will continue to go to those meetings and help come to a solution on the halibut issue, but we don’t have a specific agenda item to take to that meeting. We’ll follow the agenda of the council and participate in that.”