Pulling one out the archives for Stephen Taufen. “Ted Steven’s may be dead, but his virus is affecting every American!”
“Hesitating in the face of evil is equivalent to siding with the enemy” – Marion Pritchard
Senator Ted Stevens. THE Stevens in Magnuson Stevens Act. The much revered Senator from Alaska. The Icon to every quota holding participant in Alaska, and now New England, soon in California. The hero of Catch Shares. Consolidation.
About Stephen Taufen A public watchdog and advocate for fishermen and their coastal communities. Taufen is an “insider” who blew the whistle on the international profit laundering between global affiliates of North Pacific seafood companies, who use illicit accounting to deny the USA the proper taxes on seafood trade. The same practices are used to lower ex-vessel prices to the fleets, and to bleed monies from our regional economy. Worked 20 years in the Alaska seafood industry for processors in cost accounting, fleet management, operations.
Groundswell Fisheries Movement
Welcome to Groundswell’s Public Advocacy website for Alaskan Fisheries
Groundswell continues to encourage all fishermen and citizens to bear witness; don’t hesitate, educate; and please use all legal means possible to stop the illicit privatization of the public commonweal.
One final word of advise: Participate! Public input is what validates the council process, so make sure you participate – but in the right ways. However, you must ensure that the Councils actually address that public input, instead of simply backfill in crooked congressional riders or end-run legislation.
Because if bad things happen while you were absent from the process, you have no legal grounds to stand on. This is why even now, five years later, we are pressing the IG office to recognize that when Alaska Crab rationalization was done by the NPFMC, crewmen were present but were held back by vessel owners from testifying on the federal record to get crew IFQs. Later, crew were intimidated under threats of job loss not to testify at NPFMC meetings. Coercion – an illegal act – while crews were participating now forms the basis for a continuing legal right. Pay attention to AAFC’s advise to also show up at meetings and in court rooms, so that judges and decision makers know you have leadership and membership that opposes Catch Shares. You were there to haul George Washington and his troops across rivers to fight for freedom and liberty, fishermen – so be there today: as this Nation owes you still.
Thank you, Steve, BH