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July 25, 2004 Table of Contents: 1. Senator Murkowski announces USDA TAA payment checks issued 2. BOF & ADF&G increase Cook Inlet sockeye opportunities 3. Senator Murkowski wins change for H-2B Visas for Roe Technicians 4. 2,587 Atlantic salmon escape from Vancouver Island fish farm 5. Adult Atlantic Salmon caught near Ketchikan 6. Senators Hollings, Stevens, Inouye & Gregg introduce legislation on Oceans Policy 7. U.S. Oceans Commission posts comments on Preliminary Ocean Report 8. 'Alaska seafood' ranks high on menus 9. Cook Inlet fish trade looks strong 10. Study finds red snapper mislabeled / NFI says mislabeling not common 11. Voluntary COOL bill moves in House Agricultural Committee, not likely on floor 12. AK Manufacturing Assn Salmon quality program boosts prices 13. Governor Murkowski Signs FY05 Budget 14. Governor Murkowski to Chair Nat'l Governor's Assn. Resource Committee 15. EPA seeks more answers on Taku Mine 16. State: Native groups control Chitina access 17. Biologist seeks secrets in sea lions' scat 18. Laine Welch Fish Radio topics 19. Congressmen request Legislative EIS on EEZ Aquaculture 20. Farming the Deep Blue -Offshore Aquaculture Conference - Ireland, Oct 6&7 21. BC Sablefish fishermen lose to farms 22. Celebrity Chief John Pisto shoots episode in Ketchikan… 23. OR: Governor Kulongoski challenges Columbia hydro dam spills 24. CA: Coho salmon populations decline despite human efforts 25. NW: Seafood processors seek win-win fisheries quota system 26. IPHC announces Bering Sea IPHC/USGS Electronic Tagging Project 27. IPHC releases 2004 Halibut Landing Report #7 28. NMFS posts final rule on Marine Mammal Zero Mortality Rate Goal 29. Request for comments on NOAA FY05 - FY10 Strategic Plan 30. NMFS prohibits directed fishing for deep-water species by trawl gear in Gulf of AK 31. NMFS closes northern rockfish in the GOA western regulatory area 32. NMFS prohibits retention of "other rockfish" in the GOA western regulatory area 33. NOAA reports Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Count Steady in 2004 34. AK Fisheries Science Center Scientists Study Deep Water Corals 35. NOAA Awards $2.8M to ADF&G, UAF, and PWS Science Center 36. NOAA reports record warmth in Alaska for June - 5.2 degrees f. above normal 37. NOAA study on Ocean CO2 distribution, impacts 38. USDA Secty. Veneman announces FSA County Committee elections process… 39. Deadline July 30 for BOF Salmon Restructuring Panel nominations 41. Deadline August 6 for new ASMI Committees 42. Salmon Market Bulletin and weekly Price Report
43. Think now about absentee voting Aug 24
Primary 1. Senator Murkowski announces USDA TAA payment checks issued to AK fishermen; some cases still pending Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has started issuing checks to Alaska salmon fishermen who qualified for Trade Adjustment Assistance aid because of the lower prices for salmon in 2002 caused by competition from pen-reared fish. The USDA Farm Service Agency has approved checks so far for 1,415 Alaska fishermen and still has 1,618 applications pending. So far, the government has approved $3.22 million in aid to Alaska salmon fishermen, about 100 fishermen gaining the yearly maximum payment of $10,000. The payments, so far, average $2,276. The payments come to 3 cents per pound for salmon harvested by qualified fishermen. Murkowski, who has been working to get the income regulations changed before the 2003 aid application period opens this fall, urged the 1,618 fishermen whose application for aid for 2002 is still pending review to turn in any additional documentation needed to support their claims by the Sept. 30, 2004 deadline. According to the USDA Farm Service Agency it is generally awaiting fishermen to turn in proof of their income for 2002 – the IRS Schedule C form – before completing processing of the applications. If the forms are not turned in by Sept. 30, the claims will automatically be denied. http://murkowski.senate.gov/pressapp/record.cfm?id=224254 Alaska residents 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. BOF & ADF&G increase Cook Inlet sockeye opportunities At the request of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the Alaska Board of Fisheries on Monday amended the fisheries management plans for the Kasilof and Kenai rivers by adopting emergency regulations that allow greater flexibility in managing the commercial fisheries currently harvesting the large sockeye returns on those rivers. Limitations on sport and personal-use fisheries also have been relaxed, though under provisions of the existing Kasilof Salmon Management Plan and the Kenai River Late-Run Sockeye Management Plan.
http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/072304/new_ ADF&G Press Release: http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/news/2004/7-22-04nr.php &&&& July 16 - Large escapement draws out controversy over management http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5453090/ 3. Senator Murkowski wins change for H-2B Visas for Roe Technicians After weeks of effort, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski won final passage of an amendment to grant temporary visas to roe technicians, a change that should allow the workers to quickly gain visas to process this summer’s salmon run. Murkowski said the amendment should be in time to assist this summer’s salmon season for Alaska fishermen and state salmon processors… Laine Welch/ADN Story: http://www.adn.com/business/story/5336130p-5274192c.html Sen. Murkowski Press release: http://murkowski.senate.gov/pressapp/record.cfm?id=224580 For Laine Welch Fish Radio Broadcast Monday July 26 on this topic - see http://www.vesselconnection.com/cgi-bin/fish_radio.pl 4. 2,587 Atlantic salmon escape from Vancouver Island fish farm Hundreds of Atlantic salmon escaped from a fish farm through holes in a net, resulting in renewed demands by Indians and environmentalists for a shutdown of the industry. Stolt Sea Farm officials confirmed that 2,587 fish escaped last weekend from the Sargeaunt Pass operation in the Broughton Archipelago off northern Vancouver Island. http://www.adn.com/business/story/5309918p-5247474c.html 5. Adult Atlantic Salmon caught near Ketchikan
http://www.sitnews.us/0704news/072404/072404_ 6. Senators Hollings, Stevens, Inouye & Gregg introduce legislation on Oceans Policy Senator Ernest “Fritz” Hollings with support from Senators Ted Stevens, Daniel Inouye and Judd Gregg, introduced new ocean legislation in Congress last week to to establish a national ocean policy, to set forth the missions of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to ensure effective interagency coordination, improve coordination of Ocean Science efforts… S.2647: National Ocean Policy and Leadership Act S.2648: Ocean Research Coordination and Advancement Act To see full info on these bills go to Thomas Register and enter bills numbers above: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas.html NH Senator Judd Gregg Press Release: http://gregg.senate.gov/press/press071604.htm Comment from U.S. Oceans Commission: http://oceancommission.gov/newsnotices/jul19_04.html Meanwhile, on the House side - CA Rep. Farr co-authors sweeping ocean bill
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2004/July/25/local 7. U.S. Oceans Commission posts comments on Preliminary Ocean Report Summary of Governor's and
Tribal Leaders comments:
http://oceancommission.gov/newsnotices/summary_ Full text of Governor's and Tribal Leaders Comments - listed by state, etc:
http://oceancommission.gov/documents/gov_ Summary of Public Comments:
http://oceancommission.gov/newsnotices/summary_ 8. 'Alaska seafood' ranks high on menus The Alaska brand got a big boost last week from The New York Times, which featured no fewer than three articles about wild salmon. One article, headlined "Where Salmon is Sold, Playing the Wild Card," discussed how supermarkets as well as restaurants are eyeing wild salmon with new interest… http://www.adn.com/business/story/5309913p-5247455c.html 9. Fish trade looks strong Cook Inlet fishers aren't about to net the kind of green they hauled in during the roaring 1980s, but state salmon forecasts suggest they should make a decent living this year, a Department of Fish and Game fisheries biologist said Tuesday.
http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/071404/new_ 10. Study finds red snapper mislabeled / NFI says mislabeling not common Genetic tests indicate that 77% of fish sold as red snapper nationwide are other species illegally mislabeled as the popular entree, according to a new study… Linda Candler of the National Fisheries Institute says the fish and seafood trade association doesn't believe mislabeling is common. "Frankly, the sample size was too small to be extrapolated to a national level." But Marko says the researchers suspect a national problem because they found the same widespread mislabeling in each state studied. Even with a 17% margin of error, at least 60% and as many as 94% of the fish were mislabeled, he notes. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2004-07-14-fish-labeling_x.htm 11. Voluntary COOL bill moves in House Agricultural Committee, not likely to pass The House Agriculture Committee today passed a bill to kill the mandatory country of origin labeling program specified in the 2002 farm bill for red meat, fresh fruits and vegetables, fish and peanuts. The mandatory COOL program was scrapped in favor of a voluntary program. Both Rehberg and Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., said if the bill comes up on the House floor it will lose… Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., said in a news release having a voluntary program is absurd. http://www.hpj.com/dtnnewstable.cfm?type=story&sid=12248
COOL Coalition Release: Support for Voluntary Effort Urged; Food Promotion Act Puts an End to Labeling Stalemate http://www.cattlenetwork.com/content.asp?contentid=2465 12. AK Manufacturing Assn Salmon quality program boosts prices A quality control plan developed by the Alaska Manufacturing Association aims to certify up to 4 million pounds of Alaska salmon this season for domestic markets, said program manager Steve Grabacki… The 10 participating seafood processors told program managers they paid 5 to 25 cents a pound more for quality controlled salmon, "and it's even better this year," Grabacki said…
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/071904/loc_ 13. Governor Murkowski Signs FY05 Budget Governor Frank H. Murkowski today announced the signing of the FY05 capital, operating and mental health budgets passed during the regular session by the Alaska State Legislature… http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1122 2005 Budget website: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/omb/ 14. Governor Murkowski to Chair Nat'l Governor's Assn. Resource Committee Key issues the committee will focus on include the Clean Air Act, clean and safe drinking water, ocean policy, electric industry restructuring, energy issues, and the Endangered Species Act… http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1128 15. EPA seeks more answers on Taku Mine The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is again asking Canada for cross-border review of a proposed British Columbia mine that some fear would harm U.S. fisheries in the Taku River watershed… http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5451556/ 16. State: Native groups control Chitina access After surveying its own survey, the state isn't planning to contest a blockade put up by a Native corporation in Chitina to prevent dip-netters from getting to the Copper River to scoop salmon out of the river… http://www.news-miner.com/Stories/0,1413,113~7244~2280098,00.html 17. Biologist seeks secrets in sea lions' scat Examination of diet could help explain recent crash…
http://ap.peninsulaclarion.com/pstories/state/ak/ 18. Laine Welch Fish Radio topics Mon, July 19: Black cod farms in BC win legal challenge Tues, July 20: USCG seeks members for safety advisory committee Weds July 21: Tony Knowles talks fish in Kodiak Thurs July 22: ASMI launches frozen seafoods promotion Fri July 23: Free pinks lure visitors to Valdez Mon: July 26: Visas approved for salmon roe techs http://www.vesselconnection.com/cgi-bin/fish_radio.pl Brought to you by Vessel Connection / Wireless matrix: http://vesselconnection.com 19. Congressmen request Legislative EIS on EEZ Aquaculture
http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/pubs/LetterNO 20. Farming the Deep Blue -Offshore Aquaculture Conference - Limerick, Ireland, Oct 6&7 … is the first conference to be devoted exclusively to a realistic assessment of Offshore Fish Farming. It will take place in Ireland in October 2004… http://www.eventznet.ie/ev/ac/bim/deepblue/ 21. BC Sablefish fishermen lose to farms Canadian fishermen lost their legal battle to halt the sale of hatchery-raised black cod to British Columbia fish farms last week…An Ottawa federal judge's decision allows Sablefin Hatcheries Ltd., on Saltspring Island, to sell about 30,000 juvenile black cod to Canadian fish farmers this year. http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/071404/sta_codfish.shtml 22. Celebrity Chief John Pisto shoots episode in Ketchikan… … this week to shoot an episode of his Goodlife Television Network show "Monterey's Cookin' Pisto Style." KRBD Radio Audio online: http://www.krbd.org/NewsReports/072304_pisto.html 23. OR: Governor Kulongoski challenges Columbia hydro dam spills The governor joins a lawsuit against increased flows to generate electricity that he says would harm salmon fisheries…
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/ 24. CA: Coho salmon populations decline despite human efforts Hatcheries fail to breed fish with instincts… "You take the water away from the fish and the fish have a hard time getting by… Domestic hatchery salmon don't behave right. They orient themselves toward the surface as juveniles instead of hiding safely at the bottom of the stream, they're oblivious to predators such as birds and large mammals overhead, they're always aggressive rather than being aggressive primarily when holding onto a territory like their wild counterparts, and they don't imprint on their home streams that well, so they often go astray… If these practices aren't perfected soon, we and our big brains will no longer know the sight of salmon in California. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/07/17/HOG197LA8U1.DTL 25. NW: Seafood processors seek win-win fisheries quota system The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) is moving towards some sort of Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) system, probably an Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) system - one that allows for transfer (sale, inherit or gifting) of quota shares… One of the questions the
PFMC will face as it grapples with the likely creation of an IFQ system will
be if and how to include processors among the entities that could receive
quotas. "We are not advocating for a processor share or a two-pie solution"
…
http://www.newportnewstimes.com/articles/2004/07/16 26. IPHC announces Bering Sea IPHC/USGS Electronic Tagging Project The International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) will be tagging halibut along the Aleutian Islands this summer, using Pop-up Satellite-transmitting Archival Tags (PSATs).
http://www.iphc.washington.edu/halcom/newsrel/2004 27. IPHC releases 2004 Halibut Landing Report #7
http://www.iphc.washington.edu/halcom/newsrel/2004 28. NMFS posts final rule on Marine Mammal Zero Mortality Rate Goal
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/ 29. Request for comments on NOAA FY05 - FY10 Strategic Plan Public comments must be received on or before 5 p.m., local time, August 27, 2004 Federal Register Notice:
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/ 30. NMFS prohibits directed fishing for deep-water species by trawl gear in Gulf of AK http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/infobulletins/goadwx3s.html 31. NMFS closes northern rockfish in the GOA western regulatory area http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/infobulletins/wgnorkby.html 32. NMFS prohibits retention of "other rockfish" in the GOA western regulatory area http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/infobulletins/wgotrkpsc.html 33. NOAA reports Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Count Steady in 2004 http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/newsreleases/beluga072104.htm 34. AK Fisheries Science Center Scientists Study Deep Water Corals …in first of its kind operation efforts underway to learn more about our earth's oceans http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/newsreleases/coral071604.htm 35. NOAA Awards $2.8M to ADF&G, UAF, and PWS Science Center NOAA press releases: $800K to ADF&G: http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/releases2004/jul04/noaa04-r942.html $900K to UAF: http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/releases2004/jul04/noaa04-r941.html $900K to PWS Science Center: http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/releases2004/jul04/noaa04-r940.html 36. NOAA reports record warmth in Alaska for June - 5.2 degrees f. above normal http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/releases2004/jul04/noaa04-073.html 37. NOAA study on Ocean CO2 distribution, impacts …Oceans have taken up about 118 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide from human sources (anthropogenic CO2) between 1800 and 1994. These findings, plus a companion paper on the impacts of anthropogenic CO2 on the chemistry of the oceans and the potential response of certain marine species to the changes in CO2 levels, will be published in the July 16 issue of the journal Science… http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/releases2004/jul04/noaa04-069.html 38. USDA Secty. Veneman announces FSA County Committee elections process… Alaska Fishermen may apply…Sept. 3, 2004, is the last day to file nomination forms… Nomination forms (FSA-669A) can be obtained from local FSA offices or USDA Service Centers or online at http://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/eforms/mainservlet . Details on FSA COC elections can be found on the Internet at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/pas/publications/elections . USDA Press Release: http://www.usda.gov/Newsroom/0292.04.html 39. Deadline July 30 for BOF Salmon Restructuring Panel nominations http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/news/callfwkgrp.pdf 41. Deadline August 6 for new ASMI Committees http://www.alaskaseafood.org/aboutus/committee.htm 42. Salmon Market Bulletin and weekly Price Report The most recent Salmon Market Bulletin and last weeks Salmon Price Report are posted on the ASMI website as a PDF file (updated Friday afternoons) http://www.alaskaseafood.org/fishingprocessing/bulletin.htm 43. Think now about absentee voting 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 .
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