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July 14, 2004 Table of Contents: 1. Labor Sec. Chao announces $4M extension of NEG for AK Salmon Fishermen 2. State recommends measures to avoid fishing fleet accidents from ammonia or Freon 3. Commercial fisheries leader Gordon Jensen, 85, dies 4. Chris Blackburn, Longtime Alaska Fisheries Activist, Dies in Kodiak 5. Two sides to Cook Inlet ruling on Emergency Order Authority of Commissioner 6. Crab fishermen react to boat buyout error -NMFS plan may fail in second vote 7. Governor signs fish bills in Ketchikan: 8. Eateries required to tell if fish is wild or farmed 9. EPA releases new regs for water quality at fish farms 10. Year of the king: Numbers, prices up 11. Sockeye flood Bristol Bay 12. Black cod farming alarms fishermen 13. Greenpeace and First Nations launch floating protest against B.C. fish farms 14. Fishing industry gets behind one of its own - Peterburg swimmer Derek Gibb 15. Lack of visas for Japanese roe technicians felt as harvest begins 16. Fishing industry conducts joint opilio crab research project with NMFS 17. Salmon giveaway draws tourists to Valdez 18. Mini GPS Fish Tags Contributing To Fisheries Management 19. Governor Murkowski builds connections in BC for AK Transportation needs 20. First Cod Fishery in the World Seeks Environmental Certification 21. Marine Conservation Alliance praises MSC Pollock sustainable determination 22. Bush Proposal would replace roadless rule 23. 600 Seafood workers needed throughout AK 24. A fisheries success story—the birth of the first Coast Guard Fisheries Training Center 25. AK Wild Salmon in school curriculums - Teachers guide posted 26. Cautious approach to COOL urged (& related stories) 27. Product-labeling legislation likely for food allergies - Critics say bill not perfect 28. ASMI teams with AK Marine Highway to promote AK Seafood to visitors 29. Would you like to serve on an ASMI Committee - deadline August 6 30. Taku Fishermen eye looming Tulsequah mine deadline 31. Fran Ulmer, Gunnar Knapp: Big Changes needed in Salmon Industry 32. Shrimpers Hail Finding of Dumped Shrimp (& related stories) 33. OR: Some wince at Groundfish Individual Fishing Quotas 34. Oregon Commercial Troll permits up for lottery 35. NC: Seafood Industry not for the faint of heart 36. BC Supreme Court upholds Native-only fishery 37. UK: Frozen Food Giant Bird's Eye Launches 'Natural' Campaign 38. Alaska Oil shipping firms may be honored for first spill-free year 39. 15 years later, PWS fishermen still waiting for Exxon Valdez settlement 40. EVOS Draft funding recommendations - call for comments by July 23 41. MMRC Pollock size study on Steller Sea Lion competition for food with fisheries 42. NPFMC Steller Sea Lion Committee Mitigation Committee meeting July 19-21, 43. NPFMC posts FMP Amendment 48 on BSAI & GAO Groundfish for comment 44. Federal Subsistence Board work session July 19, Anchorage 45. Subsistence halibut fishery - Proposed Rule and request for comments by Aug. 9 46. NMFS posts VMS changes for Pollock, PCod, and Atka mackerel boats 47. NMFS closes Pacific Ocean Perch in Central, Eastern Aleutians and Central GOA 48. NMFS: New web-based Interagency Fish Reporting System planned for Alaska 49. NMFS: Northern Fur Seal study funded 50. NOAA awards $2.8 million+ to AK DNR for coastal zone management 51. NOAA awards ADF&G $2.7M for Salmon Treaty activities 52. NOAA awards Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission $6M for salmon 53. NOAA calls for comments on Draft National Standard 1 Guidelines - by Aug 31 54. NOAA Financial Assistance for Community Based Habitat Restoration Projects 55. NOAA posts Groundfish, Crab, and Scallops LLP Proposed Information Collection 56. IPHC 2004 Halibut Landing report #6 57. IPHC calls for bait suppliers for 2004 IPHC Survey Vessels -Deadline July 16 58. IPHC & Seagrant Distribution of Seabirds on Alaskan Longline Fishing Grounds 59. ADF&G posts 2004 Preliminary Alaska Commercial Salmon Catches through 7/9 60. Deadline July 30 for USDA Value-Added Grants 61. BOF Salmon Restructuring Panel - Deadline for Nominations July 30 62. BOF updates 2004-2005 meeting schedule - cancels October BSAI Crab Meeting 63. BOF posts 2004/2005 proposal book 64. Salmon Market Bulletin and Price Report 65. Think now about absentee voting & registration for Aug 24 Primary 1. Labor Secretary Chao announces $4M extension of Nat'l Emergency Grant for AK Salmon Fishermen http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=146-06292004 Rep. Don Young Press release: http://www.house.gov/donyoung/press/p20040701_1.htm
Rejected for TAA and need money for schooling, employment, or relocation? - Give your local State job center a call and ask about the NEG (National Emergency Grant) program. http://www.jobs.state.ak.us/neg/index.html 2. State recommends measures to avoid fishing fleet accidents from ammonia or Freon gas leaks State officials are cautioning fishing fleet crews to observe safety procedures to prevent injuries from leaks of Freon or ammonia gas from onboard refrigeration systems. In recent weeks, refrigeration system leaks of ammonia or Freon have caused workplace accidents and the death of a crewmember aboard a fishing vessel. The safety measures were recommended by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game… Labor Commissioner Greg O’Claray cautioned, “Mariners know that if ammonia leaks from a refrigeration system it is toxic and potentially explosive. “But Freon leaks can also be dangerous. Freon is heavier than air as well as odorless and colorless. If it leaks, it can displace the air in a fish-hold, bilge or engine compartment and suffocate a crewmember working down there.” http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/news/2004/7-02-04nr.php 3. Commercial fisheries leader Gordon Jensen, 85, dies Gordon Jensen, a commercial fisheries leader and board chairman of one of Alaska's largest seafood processing companies, died Thursday in Petersburg. He was 85. Jensen fished commercially for half a century and was a stalwart member of the state fish board during the years after statehood, helping guide the salmon industry back from near total collapse. http://adn.com/alaska/story/5295006p-5232363c.html Governor Remembers Pioneer Alaskan: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1100 4. Chris Blackburn, Longtime Alaska Fisheries Activist, Dies in Kodiak Chris Blackburn, a longtime consultant for Kodiak's commercial fishing industry and a strong proponent of science-based fisheries management, died Tuesday in Kodiak of cancer. She was 61… http://www.urnerbarry.com/news/138518.htm 5. Two sides to Cook Inlet ruling on Emergency Order Authority of Commissioner State officials say judge's decision confirms current Fish and Game practices A Kenai Superior Court judge issued a temporary restraining order Friday saying the Alaska Board of Fisheries may not interpret regulations in such a way that they restrict the power of the commissioner of the Department of Fish and Game to open Cook Inlet commercial salmon fisheries by emergency order… But members of the Cook Inlet Fishermen's Fund…say certain fishery management plans … have curbed the commissioner's emergency order authority, which has led to the costly waste of fish resources. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5416414/ 6. Crab fishermen react to boat buyout error -NMFS plan may fail in second vote Crab vessel owners get another chance at the $100 million federally managed buyout after National Marine Fisheries Service managers corrected serious errors in the program and reopened it for a new vote. But until fishermen know what the new percentage will be, it’s anybody’s guess how the vote will turn out this time. http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/?pid=19&id=62 7. Governor signs fish bills in Ketchikan: …The fisheries bills relate to the dive fishery (HB341), salmon seine boat length (SB409), disclosure of the origin of salmon (SB282 - see story below), and taxes on directly marketed salmon (SB286). http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1091 For bills text go to Basis at http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/start.asp and enter bill numbers. & Gov signs Raindrops to Oceans bill on water quality (HB 524)
http://www.sitnews.us/0704news/070104/070104_ for HB524 legislation see: http://www.legis.state.ak.us/PDF/23/Bills/HB0524Z.PDF 8. Eateries required to tell if fish is wild or farmed By this fall, all Alaska restaurants will have to say on their menus whether the fish they serve is farmed or wild. Gov. Frank Murkowski signed a bill this week making the law mandatory for all restaurants. Sen. Kim Elton, D-Juneau, authored Senate Bill 282 earlier this year. http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/070704/loc_farmed.shtml &&& B.C. fish farmers cry foul over Salmon Task Force labeling rule Fish farmers in British Columbia say they're worried new regulations in the U.S. will cut into their business. http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2004/07/12/canada/Salmon_040712 &&& The New Brunswick Salmon Growers Association is dismissing new labelling restrictions for salmon in Alaskan restaurants…
http://nb.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=nb_ 9. EPA releases new regs for water quality at fish farms
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/b1ab9f485 10. Year of the king: Numbers, prices up Higher prices for Alaska salmon point to renewed interest in wild salmon… http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5333068/ 11. Sockeye flood Bristol Bay Bristol Bay gillnetters are having one of their best seasons in five years, but it still likely won't come close to the banner year that state biologists had predicted. Through Tuesday, fishermen had landed 17.5 million sockeye and were on track for a total of perhaps 25 million fish once the season wraps up in a few days. That would be the best catch since the 26.1 million in 1999 and far better than last year's 14.9 million. http://www.news-miner.com/Stories/0,1413,113~7244~2262299,00.html &&&&&&& Ocean Beauty first to market fresh Bristol Bay Sockeye in Japan as interest surges http://www.urnerbarry.com/news/138727.htm 12. Black cod farming alarms fishermen Gidon Minkoff of Sablefin Hatcheries Ltd. is preparing his first harvest of 30,000 young black cod, called sablefish outside of Alaska, for their journey to offshore net pens in the ocean this year. The only thing standing in Minkoff's way is a court petition by the Canadian Sablefish Association, a commercial fisherman's group, to temporarily halt the transfer of juvenile black cod to British Columbia fish farms until more scientific studies are completed. A Canadian federal judge will hear the petition Monday morning. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5416006/
BC Fishermen file injunction against DFO and hatchery in effort to protect wild sablefish http://www.cnw.ca/fr/releases/archive/July2004/05/c0221.html
Canadian Sablefish
Association press release:
http://www.alaskareport.com/news/2004/Canadian% 13. Greenpeace and First Nations launch floating protest against B.C. fish farms Greenpeace took the battle over fish farms to the open sea Saturday to protest aquaculture practices they say could lead to the extinction of B.C.'s wild salmon. A group of 40 boats cruised near a fish farm in the Broughton Archipelago, a series of islands off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island, and launched a floating banner that read "Keep it wild - no fish farms."
http://canadaeast.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200 Greenpeace helping fishermen - Hoonah fisherman Floyd Peterson writes http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/070804/let_letter2.shtml &&&&& Greenpeace Vessel Arctic Sunrise Arrives In Ketchikan
http://www.sitnews.us/0704news/071304/071304_ 14. Fishing industry gets behind one of its own - Peterburg swimmer Derek Gibb As a swimming commercial fisherman, Petersburg's Derek Gibb has been spending more time in the water training than he does in a boat pulling fish out of the ocean. But that hasn't stopped the Alaska salmon fleet from backing Gibb, who is in Long Beach, Calif., this week competing in the USA Swimming Olympic Trials. http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/070804/spo_fishing.shtml &&& Gibb falls short in bids for Athens Derek reached personal bests in two events but fell shortof making the team -he'll continue fishing, his studies and swimming at Auburn and hope for the 2008 Olympics
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/071304/spo_ 15. Lack of visas for Japanese roe technicians felt as harvest begins Alaskan roe harvesters depend on Japanese technicians to perform a time-honored art form. In March, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service closed applications for the worker visas used by Japanese roe technicians to come into the country. This left Alaska roe harvesters concerned about how they would process their harvest for one of their largest markets, Japan. Why do Alaska roe harvesters need these Japanese workers so much? Why can't we solve the problem by training Alaskans to process the roe?... SSRAA General Manager John Burke gived three good reasons…&&&& Raina Clark fills in for Laine Welch with a rundown of Alaska Salmon season in progress:
http://alaskajournal.com/stories/071204/fis_2004071 US-Russia Business Council survey report on Visa change harm to US Business The USRBC participated in a survey of companies to ascertain the extent to which U.S. visa policies are impacting businesses… http://www.usrbc.org/Members-Only/reports/2004/visasurvey.htm From the Executive Summary: "U.S. companies suffered $30.7 billion in financial impact between July 2002 and March 2004 due to delays/denials in the processing of business visas. This was comprised of revenue losses of $25.53 billion and indirect costs of $5.15 billion…" http://www.usrbc.org/Members-Only/reports/visa_survey_results.pdf 16. Fishing industry conducts joint opilio crab research project with NMFS The Bering Sea Fisheries Research Foundation chartered the fishing vessel Sea Wolf for 20 days, which has arrived at the fishing grounds with NMFS scientists on board. They will add to the existing NMFS crab trawl survey by making up to an additional 90 survey tows, weather and time permitting, in the standard survey area, as well as tows outside the standard survey area. The additional tows, if completed, represent a 41% increase from past surveys. The Foundation, which was formed this year by fishermen, processors and CDQ groups, is a non-profit organization to support research essential to the conservation and management of fishery resources in the Bering Sea. A long-term Memorandum of Agreement has been established with NMFS to work together in designing and funding research projects.
http://www.alaskareport.com/news/2004/Bering%20Sea 17. Salmon giveaway draws tourists to Valdez The great "coupon for a salmon" giveaway has spawned a small run of tourist into Valdez, just as it's organizers had hoped. Lines of tourist waited outside the Visitor's Center earlier this month when the salmon were finally ready to be given away. "They waited patiently," said Dave Cobb of Valdez Fisheries, who donated the headed and gutted salmon for the promotion. "No one got upset." http://www.valdezstar.net/story_two.html 18. Mini GPS Fish Tags Contributing To Fisheries Management
http://nationalfisherman.yellowbrix.com/pages/national 19. Governor Murkowski builds connections in BC for AK Transportation needs Governor Frank H. Murkowski told delegates at the 14th annual summit of the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region that improved road, rail and pipe connections would “unify and strengthen our region’s importance to the rest of the continent.”… http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1102 Alaska governor pitches $23.5 billion road, rail, pipeline links with Canada: http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2004/07/13/538572-cp.html 20. First Cod Fishery in the World Seeks Environmental Certification The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is pleased to announce that the Bering Sea/Aleutian Island Pacific cod freezer longline fishery has become the first cod fishery in the world to seek MSC certification as a sustainable and well-managed fishery. http://www.enn.com/direct/display-release.asp?objid=D1D1364B000000FDBEB3B584F74F201D 21. Marine Conservation Alliance praises MSC Pollock sustainable determination "It's encouraging to see strong independent corroboration of what we've known all along fishery management works in the North Pacific," Marine Conservation Alliance (MCA) Executive Director Ron Clarke said. http://www.sitnews.us/0704news/070804/070804_pollock.html 22. Bush Proposal would replace roadless rule The Bush administration proposed a new policy Monday leaving it up to governors to petition the federal government to block any road building in national forests. The proposal would replace the Clinton administration policy banning road building in a large swath of the nation's 58.6 million acres of roadless areas, roughly one-quarter of which is in Alaska. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman announced the proposed policy in Boise, Idaho. She also launched an 18-month interim rule that requires Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth to approve any new roads in previously protected areas.
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/071304/sta_ Transcript of Remarks by Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman at the announcement of the National Forests Proposed Roadless Rule with Governor Dirk Kempthorne and Senator Larry Craig - Boise, Idaho - July 12, 2004: http://www.usda.gov/Newsroom/0287.04.html House resources Press Release:
http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/Press/releases/2004 23. 600 Seafood workers needed throughout AK Western Alaska Fisheries needs 100 more workers and other canneries around the state are looking for 600 workers to fill seafood processing jobs… http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/?pid=19&id=37 24. A fisheries success story—the birth of the first Coast Guard Fisheries Training Center The existence of the North Pacific Regional Fisheries Training Center is a testament to the Coast Guard’s adaptability and commitment to serving the public and to the cooperation of a small group of men who saw a problem and decided to do something about it. The center, located on Kodiak Island , trains Coast Guard members to perform fisheries law enforcement boardings and provides a vital link between boarding teams and the fishing community…How Vince O'Shea, Oscar Dyson and Al Burch helped smooth rough seas between Coast Guard and AK fishermen… http://www.kinyradio.com/fishfactor.html 25. AK Wild Salmon in school curriculums - Teachers guide posted According to the Governor's office, ADF&G’s Alaska’s Wild Salmon publication, funded through the Southeast Sustainable Salmon Fund, will be required reading for all graduating high school students in the Anchorage School District…
http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/AquaticEd/adf 26. Cautious approach to COOL urged (& related stories) Whether Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) rules for agricultural products are mandatory or voluntary, producers, processors, and retailers “will all be affected by and will have to live from now on with whatever’s put in place — so it’s wise to proceed with caution,” says John Anderson, assistant Extension professor at Mississippi State University… Given that a voluntary labeling program is already in effect, why has there been so little participation by industry, Anderson asks. “The consumer just may not care. Or the consumer may want labels, but the market may be failing to function properly, which would be a strong reason for government to intervene.” http://deltafarmpress.com/news/040713-cool-label/ Dakota Resource Council's Trade Task Force chair Link Reinhiller speaks out on Voluntary COOL bill This bill is a waste of legislators' time and taxpayer dollars. Packers and grocers voluntarily can label food products now and have not done so. How is a bill going to change that when there is no incentive for them to label? The only one voluntary COOL will benefit is the food processors, who want to use inferior imported food and pass it off as U.S. product so they can pad their pocketbooks, not production agriculture.
http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforksherald/news/ Southern Shrimpers: Voluntary Food Labeling is Not COOL …Instead of scrapping the mandatory COOL law, Southern Shrimp Alliance President Eddie Gordon suggested actions to improve it. Reps. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., and Dennis Rehberg, R-Mont., have introduced the Country-of-Origin Labeling Amendment Act of 2003 (HR 3083), and Reps. Mary Bono, R-Calif., and Darlene Hooley, D-Ore., have introduced the Country-of-Origin Labeling Enhancement Act of 2004 (HR 3993). “These legislators have offered constructive solutions to address the concerns surrounding COOL, quite a contrast to the negative approach of killing the law before it is properly implemented,” Gordon said. “If USDA uses common sense in writing the implementation rules, COOL could be up and running by the September 2004 deadline for seafood.” http://www.shrimpalliance.com/Press%20Releases/6-21-04%20COOL.pdf Why country of origin labeling is important: JPN: 80% of Russian seafood imports said poached About 80 percent of shellfish imported from Russia to Japan is either poached or smuggled, according to a Hokkaido University professor concerned about depleting sea resources. His unofficial tally includes king crab, snow crab and horsehair crab-popular delicacies in Japan… http://www.asahi.com/english/business/TKY200407140138.html FDA: 1,144 cases of Chinese crab confiscated because of banned antibiotic http://www.nola.com/newsflash/louisiana/index.ssf?/base/news-10/108923725561820.xml Organized Crime infiltrates Australian seafood
http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,10130774 Every week we see stories like these, but very rarely about U.S. Seafood 27. Product-labeling legislation likely for food allergies - Critics say bill not perfect In a welcome development for millions of Americans who suffer from food allergies, the House of Representatives is expected to pass a bill this week that will require food makers to label, in plain English, eight of the most troublesome ingredients: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans. The eight account for roughly 90 percent of the nation's food allergies.
http://www.starbanner.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID Clearing up food labels
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/07/13/Opinion/Clearing Calif. importer recalls Taiwan seafood products for lack of egg content label A California importer is recalling thousands of packages of Taiwan-made seafood products because their ingredient labels don't list eggs, posing a serious risk to people allergic to eggs…
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apus_story.asp? 28. ASMI teams with AK Marine Highway to promote AK Seafood to visitors Seafood lovers traveling on Alaska's Marine Highway System will have more delectable dining choices than ever before during the "Great Catch…Perfect Match!" celebration of Alaska…http://www.alaskaseafood.org/aboutus/062304.htm &&& ASMI posts Video clips of Seafood Cooking & Grilling Tips. Simply click to follow the "Quick Tricks!" link. 29. Would you like to serve on an ASMI Committee - deadline August 6 Committees / Chairs: Whitefish: Joe Bundrant International: Kevin Adams Salmon: Duncan Fields Shellfish: Don Giles Halibut/Sablefish: Bruce Wallace Technical: Barry Collier The following are the requirements for voting membership on any ASMI committee: • Pay a processor assessment to ASMI, or • Have actively fished in Alaska during the past twelve months, or · Have a specific skill or attribute the board feels will be of benefit to the committee (this category includes retailers and foodservice operators who may be interested in serving on a committee) See http://www.alaskaseafood.org/aboutus/committee.htm for details. 30. Taku Fishermen eye looming Tulsequah mine deadline Worried Juneau-area gillnetters this week will sail out to the Taku River Inlet, fed by Southeast Alaska's biggest salmon spawning ground while upstream in Canada a proposed, multi-metal mine hurtles toward a crucial milestone in its approval process. The Canadian government provided 30 days for U.S. citizens and officials to review more than 1,000 pages of technical information recently provided by Vancouver, British Columbia-based Redfern Resources Ltd. about its Tulsequah Chief Mine project, located in the Taku River watershed. The clock runs out on Friday… http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/070404/sta_deadline.shtml Administration on wrong side of B.C. mine - Sissi Babich, Northern Keta Inc. http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/071304/let_letter1.shtml 31. Fran Ulmer, Gunnar Knapp: Big Changes needed in Salmon Industry …Over many decades, in pursuit of social goals of spreading the wealth of the salmon fishery among Alaskans, we have imposed a maze of regulations on our salmon fisheries that inadvertently add costs, lower quality, hamper marketing and stifle innovation. We could limit catches to protect our resources in other ways that also would allow for a more profitable industry. We must restructure our salmon management system if the Alaska salmon industry is to survive and prosper in an increasingly competitive global food industry… http://www.adn.com/opinion/story/5272710p-5209422c.html
The article refers to the Board of Fisheries Salmon Restructuring Panel - Deadline for Nominations is July 30 - http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/news/callfwkgrp.pdf 32. Shrimpers Hail Finding of Dumped Shrimp (& related stories) http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/07-06-2004/0002205386&EDATE= & more from the Southern Shrimp Alliance: http://www.shrimpalliance.com/ Shrimp tariff ruling late for fishermen
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apus_story. Unshelling the shrimp import duel Doug Johnson doesn't really have time to be happy about the federal proposal last week for tariffs on shrimp from China and Vietnam… "It makes me sad, really. I'd rather sell my shrimp to the processors, the way it was done for generations," Johnson said. "But everybody's gotta do what they gotta do to get by." … It's the classic David and Goliath situation," said Debbie Regan, Southern Shrimp Alliance spokeswoman. "They've got the big names and the big money." Good background reading on our friends at the Southern Shrimp Alliance and their efforts against farmed imports-
http://www.al.com/news/mobileregister/index.ssf?/ U.S. Proposes Tariffs on Shrimp Imports The Bush administration proposed tariffs on shrimp imports from China and Vietnam, finding that companies there were dumping frozen and canned warm-water shrimp products into the United States at artificially low prices…
http://nationalfisherman.yellowbrix.com/pages/national Chinese Vertically Integrated Shrimp Producers Get Virtually No Tariff http://www.urnerbarry.com/news/138790.htm TX: Shrimpers voice concern over imports - People gather to discuss industry woes
http://www.valleystar.com/localnews_more.ph && followup letter The piece Gilberto Salinas wrote on the gulf shrimp industry was well written and I’m glad you are covering this issue. It is not just an economic issue, but an environmental one as well…A better alternative would be for the industry to work for greater efficiency and conservation in catching shrimp, delivering a high quality product to be sold to chefs and grocers looking for natural, healthy, higher-value shrimp.
http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/opinions_comments.php? 33. OR: Some wince at Groundfish Individual Fishing Quotas
http://www.theworldlink.com/articles/2004/07/12/ 34. Oregon Commercial Troll permits up for lottery
http://www.newportnewstimes.com/articles/2004/07/ 35. NC: Seafood Industry not for the faint of heart With a very long list of regulations hanging over the heads of commercial fisherman, international competition growing and the ever-present fear of overfishing stocks, many of the locally-owned fishing companies find themselves in a catch-22 of how to financially stay afloat.
http://obsentinel.womacknewspapers.com/articles/2004/ 36. BC Supreme Court upholds Native-only fishery A native-only commercial fishery program has serious flaws but doesn't discriminate against non-native fishermen, the B.C. Supreme Court ruled yesterday…
http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/soundoff &&& Native fishery stays mired in legal battle
http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/ 37. UK: Frozen Food Giant Bird's Eye Launches 'Natural' Campaign … “The reason we went for the wild, Pacific salmon was because it is from a sustainable source and in research consumers said it was better.” http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3164445 38. Alaska Oil shipping firms may be honored for first spill-free year For the first time since oil began flowing down the transalaska pipeline in 1977, tankers carrying the crude to refineries in the continental United States went a full year without spilling any into the water, officials said on Monday. http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/story/0,4567,122429,00.html 39. 15 years later, PWS fishermen still waiting for Exxon Valdez settlement http://www.emagazine.com/view/?1871 40. EVOS Draft funding recommendations - call for comments by July 23
http://www.evostc.state.ak.us/admin/draft_work_plans 41. MMRC Pollock size study on Steller Sea Lion competition for food with fisheries …Overlap in the sizes of fish eaten by sea lions and those caught by fisheries indicates the potential for competition to occur. However, this finding does not mean that the two are necessarily competing if there are sufficient fish to go around for both fisheries and sea lions. Assessing competition is an area of ongoing research. http://www.marinemammal.org/2004/big.php 42. NPFMC Steller Sea Lion Committee Mitigation Committee meeting July 19-21, Seattle from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., July 20 and July 21, 2004, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Building 4, Room 2039, Seattle, WA.
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/ 43. NPFMC posts FMP Amendment 48 on BSAI & GAO Groundfish for comment - deadline Sept 13 The NPFMC has submitted Amendment 48 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) and Amendment 48 to the FMP for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) (Amendments 48/48)… Comments on Amendments 48/48 must be submitted by September 13, 2004.
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/ 44. Federal Subsistence Board work session July 19, Anchorage The Federal Subsistence Board will hold a work session and will meet in executive session on Monday, July 19, 2004 in the Office of Subsistence Management Conference Room at 3601 C Street, Suite 1030, Anchorage. The work session will begin at 1:30 p.m. At this session, the Board will review draft responses to the annual reports from the Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Councils. Work sessions are open to the public. However no public testimony is taken unless requested by the chair. http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/news04/r071304.html 45. Subsistence halibut fishery - Proposed Rule and request for comments by Aug. 9 NMFS proposes regulations to amend the subsistence fishery rules for Pacific halibut in waters off Alaska…http://www.regulations.gov/freddocs/04-15548.htm 46. NMFS posts VMS changes for Pollock, PCod, and Atka mackerel boats Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) are required to be operated on all vessels permitted for directed fisheries for pollock, Pacific cod, and Atka mackerel during those times when these fisheries are open. The only exemption is for vessels using jig gear. http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ole/Alaska/vmsfaq.html 47. NMFS closes Pacific Ocean Perch in Central, Eastern Aleutians and Central GOA http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/infobulletins/default.htm 48. NMFS: New web-based Interagency Fish Reporting System planned for Alaska Federal, state, and international fishery management agencies have come together to plan an electronic interagency commercial fishery reporting system in Alaska. NOAA’a National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries), the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the International Pacific Halibut Commission are intent on simplifying the recording of commercial fishery landing data, using the power of the internet to help collect and share data from fishermen and processors. http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/newsreleases/reporting071304.htm 49. NMFS: Northern Fur Seal study funded NOAA scientists from the Alaska Fisheries Science Center will be spending time in northern fur seal rookeries this year and next as they carry out a comparative study that may tell why the fur seal pup population has boomed on Bogoslof Island while declining on the Pribilof Islands of Alaska… http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/newsreleases/nfs071204.htm 50. NOAA awards $2.8 million+ to AK DNR for coastal zone management http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/releases2004/jul04/noaa04-r924.html 51. NOAA awards ADF&G $2.7M for Salmon Treaty activities http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/releases2004/jul04/noaa04-r915.html 52. NOAA awards Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission $6M for salmon http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/releases2004/jul04/noaa04-r917.html 53. NOAA calls for comments on Draft National Standard 1 Guidelines - by Aug 31 NOAA Fisheries has completed a preliminary study of the National Standard 1 (NS1) Guidelines and developed (1) draft codified text for NS1 and (2) a preliminary draft environmental assessment (EA). NOAA Fisheries is informally inviting comments on these draft documents through August 31, 2004. http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/domes_fish/index.htm#PR 54. NOAA Financial
Assistance for Community Based Habitat Restoration Projects -
Applications must be postmarked by September 15, 2004
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/restoration/projects_ 55. NOAA posts Groundfish, Crab, and Scallops LLP Proposed Information Collection; Written comments must be submitted on or before September 7, 2004.
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041 56. IPHC 2004 Halibut Landing report #6
http://www.iphc.washington.edu/halcom/newsrel/2004/ 57. IPHC calls for bait suppliers for 2004 IPHC Survey Vessels -Deadline July 16
http://www.iphc.washington.edu/halcom/newsrel/ 58. IPHC & Seagrant Distribution of Seabirds on Alaskan Longline Fishing Grounds: 2002 Data Report
http://www.iphc.washington.edu/halcom/pubs/birds/ 59. ADF&G posts 2004 Preliminary Alaska Commercial Salmon Catches through 7/9 http://csfish.adfg.state.ak.us/BlueSheets/BLUEWebReport.php 60. Deadline July 30 for USDA Value-Added Grants http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm 61. BOF Salmon Restructuring Panel - Deadline for Nominations July 30 http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/news/callfwkgrp.pdf 62. BOF updates 2004-2005 meeting schedule - cancels October BSAI Crab Meeting The Board of Fisheries has cancelled the October 8-9, 2004 regulatory session that was scheduled to address portions of state management changes for crab in the Bering Sea/Aleutians Islands area…
http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/fishinfo/news/ Current schedule: http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/fishinfo/meetinfo/fcal.php 63. BOF posts 2004/2005 proposal book The board received 451 proposals for this meeting cycle. A limited number of books will be printed and mailed to advisory committee members, local libraries around the state, and some department offices in late-July 2004.
http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/fishinfo/ 64. Salmon Market Bulletin and Price Report The most recent Salmon Market Bulletin and Salmon Price Report are posted on the ASMI website as a PDF file (updated Friday afternoons) http://www.alaskaseafood.org/fishingprocessing/bulletin.htm 65. Think now about absentee voting & registration for Aug 24 Primary Fishermen who will not be on dry land in their home port for the August 24 primary can vote absentee as soon as 30 days before the primary. Four ways to Vote Absentee: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/ltgov/elections/abinfo.htm & Absentee Ballot Application: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/ltgov/elections/abvotapp.htm . To vote in a party primary you must be registered with that party, non partisan, or undeclared. If you have moved and need to register, or would like to change your registration see Voter Registration Application and Instructions: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/ltgov/elections/regapp.htm
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