The Fishing Vessel Owners' Association, or FVOA, is a trade association that was formed in 1914 to represent the needs of halibut boat owners involved in longline fishing in the North Pacific. Until the 1940's, the halibut fishery was the only American bottom fish industry of major consequence on the West Coast and can easily claim to be the first American bottom fish industry on the West Coast. The fishery began in Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. between 1870 and 1874. Halibut was shipped fresh to San Francisco on steamers. It wasn't until the Northern Pacific Railway was completed in 1888 that the halibut fishery came into its own and markets were opened eastward to Chicago.
Today, the Association's members are longline fishermen. The principal species harvested are halibut, sablefish, pacific cod, rockfish and turbot. FVOA is proud of its history, both on international and domestic issues. It was one of the original organizations that helped consolidate Canadian and U.S. fishermen to form the International Pacific Halibut Commission in 1924 and was significantly involved in the original negotiations that formed the International Pacific Fisheries Commission between Japan, Canada and the U.S. in 1952.
In domestic activities, the Association was involved in the 12-Mile Bill, which was the forerunner of the 200-Mile Legislation. Our proudest moment came when Senator Magnuson asked FVOA to draft language for the 200-Mile Bill. The original draft was written in 1974 by the Association's Past Manager of 52 years, Harold E. Lokken. Since the passage of the 200-Mile Legislation, the Association has testified many times to Congress and has participated in fishery policies and regulatory decisions through the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, the Pacific Fishery Management Council, and the International Pacific Halibut Commission.
Today, FVOA represents its members before the Pacific Council and North Pacific Council. FVOA has sponsored federal legislation to make the cost of observer coverage more equitable for all participants in the fishery and continues to work on bycatch issues. The Association feels strongly that separating foreign harvesting control of our U.S. fishery resources from foreign market control has led to the Americanization of such species as herring, tanner and king crab, black cod and Pacific Cod.
For additional information on the Association, call our office at (206) 284-4720.
