A consulting firm recommended sweeping changes centered on improving transparency and increasing stakeholder participation after completing a performance review of the International Pacific Halibut Commission.

Concur Inc. submitted its review April 30, and conducted a webinar May 7 presenting its findings with 12 recommendations to bring one of the world’s oldest and most well-respected fisheries management bodies in line with the best practices of today.

Led by seafood, Alaskan exports enjoyed another record year in 2011 with a value of more than $5.2 billion, a $1 billion increase from 2010.

The previous record for Alaska exports was set in 2010 at $4.2 billion, just greater than $4 billion in exports in 2006 and 2007, and last year's numbers were a 57 percent increase versus $3.3 billion in exports in 2009.

Seafood topped the growth with a 35 percent increase in value during 2011 compared to 2010, and accounted for nearly half the state exports at $2.5 billion. All data are from the U.S. Census Bureau.

If halibut thrived on hard feelings, there would likely be a trophy fish for everyone by now.

With another round of deep cuts to the halibut harvest for the 2012 season that began March 17, and regulatory actions to manage trawl bycatch and the allocations between commercial and sport fishermen bogged down in controversy, there has been no shortage of finger-pointing among user groups over the last few months.

Last February, before the 2011 Upper Cook Inlet meeting of the Alaska Board of Fisheries in Anchorage, member Karl Johnstone requested and was granted a waiver of state rules prohibiting the payment of travel expenses within the community of residence.

Johnstone, who has a home off Potter Valley Road in Anchorage, asked then-board Executive Director Jim Marcotte to request the waiver because it was not “practical” for him to drive back and forth to his home during the two-week meeting.