The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has published a notice detailing the standard prices and fee percentage for cost recovery under the Central Gulf of Alaska (GOA) Rockfish Program. The program's cost recovery fees cover management and enforcement costs and are capped at 3% of the ex-vessel value of harvested rockfish. For 2020, despite the actual costs being 3.66%, the fee percentage has been set at 3.0%, the same as in 2019, due to legal restrictions. The decrease in fishery value from the previous year resulted in a higher fee percentage calculation before adjustments.
Simple Explanation
In the Central Gulf of Alaska, people who catch rockfish have to pay a fee that is 3% of what their fish are worth when sold. This helps cover costs like overseeing the fishing program, and even though the real expenses were a bit higher, they can't charge more than 3% because of the rules.