UFA Update

September 14, 2004

Make plans now to vote Absentee:

Absentee Voting Information: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/ltgov/elections/abinfo.htm

Voter Registration Information: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/ltgov/elections/regapp.htm

Division of Elections Home page: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/ltgov/elections/homepage.html


Table of Contents:

1. LAST CALL FOR 2002 TAA –deadline Sept 30 for 1,000 "pending" applications.

2. UAF MAP Seafood Processor Business Development Class, Kenai, Sept 27- Oct 15

3. Senate Committee hears S.2066 on Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization

4. Governor Calls for Action Against Fish Farms

5. Comment Period extended on Mixing Zones - to Nov 1.

6. Senator Gary Stevens, Seldovia weigh in against clam farming

7. Sea Grant Study Improves Potential for California Halibut Aquaculture

8. Refunds to nonresident commercial fishermen questioned

9. U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy to submit final report Sept. 20

10. Fish group blasts Pew findings

11. Alaska gets due attention in GOP national platform

12. Juneau Empire Letter - Stick up for fisheries (Taku - Tulsequah)

13. Can we identify escaped salmon by means of their DNA?

14. BC Scientist uses computer tags to track Pacific coast salmon

15. Spilled fuel in Scammon Bay, no harm to nearby residents

16. Bristol Bay King Crab quota less than expected

17. King crab migration route helped play into stocks' demise

18. Board of Fisheries should not fear heated debate (CI meeting location)

19. Warmth interferes with fisheries

20. Record highs make 2004 a summer to remember

21. Glacier Bay Gustavus hydropower plan debated

22. Power: Alaska's new export - Lew Williams in Juneau Empire

23. Ketchikan Borough defers cold storage request

24. America's Second Harvest Recognizes Ocean Beauty at National Conference

25. Seafood leads as Alaska’s International Exports Strengthen by $137 Million

26. Costco Trident Salmon burgers could spell hope for Alaska fishermen

27. Salmon Pet treats catch on nationwide

28. New U.S.-China air cargo flights to Anchorage

29. Alaska Airlines to trim workforce – 151 AK jobs.

30. New company to explore in Bristol Bay

31. Kentucky filmmaker in Kodiak to document fishing industry

32. Twenty foot Great White Shark chomps halibut off Yakutat

33. Rare Right Whales tracked by satellite

34. Kenai River project designed to catch information on cohos

35. Votes are in on Anchorage Salmon Run Wild sculptures

36. New U.S. salmon plan would keep dams intact

37. Fishermen look to Senate to get NOAA off the hook

38. Warming a Hot Topic on Arctic Trip

39. Korea tax on Chilean salmon headed to zero

40. Mixed success for Korean buyers in 1st Alaska season

41. Controversial Australian fish farm bid sinks

42. Environmental groups oppose MSC sustainable pollock certification

43. National Fisheries Conservation Center posts Consensus Conference Statement

44. Aquaculture conference: Farming the Deep Blue Limerick, Ireland -October 6 & 7

45. Marine Mammal Research Consortium Steller Watch

46. UAA and AFDF propose Seafood Supply Chain study

47. Microwaves improve processed food quality

48. FDA Announces Qualified Health Claims for Omega-3 Fatty Acids

49. Laine Welch's Fish Radio Topics at vesselconnection.com

50. COOL Workshop for Seafood processors, Sept 15 in Seattle:

51. NOAA BSAI King and Tanner Crab Plan amendments- comment by Nov. 1.

52. Gulf Council to prepare DSIES on Offshore Aquaculture - Comment by Oct. 4

53. NPFMC Meeting in Sitka, Oct 4-12…and September committee meetings

54. NOAA Public Scoping Notice on Columbia R. Hatcheries EIS -Comment by Dec 2.

55. Notice of Availability of Marine Mammals Final Stock Assessment Reports

56. Federal Subsistence RACs fall meeting schedule & Reg. Change form

57. IPHC - RFP for Bait for Year 2005 Survey Vessels - Deadline Oct 1

58. Fishlines - SeaGrant newsletter for September

59. DCED posts Community Quota Loan Application Packets

60. CFEC proposed changes and public meeting Sept 23- Comments due Sept 15.

61. Comment period reopened on Oceana deep sea coral protection petition -to Oct 15

62. NOAA extends comment period on West Coast salmonids ESA listings to Oct 20.

63. MPA Federal Advisory Committee meeting -Hawaii, Sept 21-23

64. NPRB September meetings in Seattle

65. ASMI 2003 Annual Report Online

66. ASMI Board Appoints Committee Members

67. Working Waterfront magazine highlights Alaska Wild Salmon


1. LAST CALL FOR 2002 TAA –deadline Sept 30 for 1,000 "pending" applications.

Over 1,000 salmon fishermen have until September 30 to get in their applications for the first round of TAA benefits based on the year 2002….

According to Chad Padgett, state director of the Farm Service Agency that administers the TAA program, most of the pending applications are simply missing information like IRS returns or other required paperwork.

See Laine Welch's Fish factor at http://www.kinyradio.com/fishfactor.html - scroll down to story.

(If this story has timed out - the gist of it is if you applied for USDA TAA and have not received word if you were accepted or declined, call the FSA office immediately at 866-872-3320 )

Alaska Farm Service Agency: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/AK/


2. UAF MAP Seafood Processor Business Development Class, Kenai, Sept 27- Oct 15

This three-week class provides commercial fishermen with the training they need to process and market seafood. Offered by the Prince William Sound Community College, the Marine Advisory Program, UAF and the UAA Small Business Development Center

http://www.uaf.edu/MAP/workshops/processor-business/index.html


3. Senate Committee hears S.2066 on Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization

Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries, and Coast Guard hearing scheduled for Tuesday, September 14, at 8:30 a.m. in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building. Members will hear testimony examining the Fishery Conservation and Management Amendments Act of 2004 (S. 2066), a bill to reauthorize the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act…http://commerce.senate.gov/hearings/witnesslis
t.cfm?id=1306

For text of legislation, visit http://thomas.loc.gov/ and enter S2066.


4. Governor Calls for Action Against Fish Farms

Governor Frank H. Murkowski is asking the U.S. Department of Commerce for a five-year moratorium on new finfish farming and for other concessions before considering any changes to encourage aquaculture in federal waters.

"In Alaska, coastal communities have traditionally lived off the bountiful fish resources of our sea and marine finfish farming threatens that livelihood as well as consumer confidence in wild Alaska salmon," Murkowski said.

http://www.alaskareport.com/news/2004/Governor%20
Calls%20for%20Action%20Against%20Fish%20Farms.htm

Homer News on EEZ Fish Farms, MAFAC…

http://www.homernews.com/stories/090204/seawatch_
090204sea001001.shtml 


5. Comment Period extended on Mixing Zones - to Nov 1.

…The proposed change would allow mixing zones "in certain fish spawning areas where there will be no effect on the capability of an area to support fish spawning, rearing or incubation," according to the agency's revised public notice on the rule change…

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/091404/
sta_mixingzone.shtml

For DEC website on the proposed changes see:

http://www.state.ak.us/dec/water/wqsar/
trireview/mixingzones.htm


6. Senator Gary Stevens, Seldovia weigh in against clam farming

State Sen. Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, will not support the state's proposal to lift the ban on on-bottom aquatic farming in the Kachemak Bay and Fox River Flats critical habitat areas.

In a press release Monday, Stevens said that while he sees the need to expand economic opportunities in the region, he urges the Department of Fish and Game to listen to the public.

http://www.homernews.com/stories/090204/news_
090204new008001.shtml


7. Sea Grant Study Improves Potential for California Halibut Aquaculture

Using a new tank design and better nutrition, California Sea Grant researchers Raul Piedrahita and Doug Conklin have developed a superior way to rear halibut larvae that increases larval survival rates from less than five percent to 50 percent. Their nonpolluting, energy efficient culture system for halibut could eventually be operated away from the coast, where real estate is more affordable. Their prototype is also revitalizing interest in the potential for stocking coastal waters with hatched halibut.

http://www.seagrantnews.org/news/20040908_halibut.html


8. Refunds to nonresident commercial fishermen questioned

State prosecutors are likely to challenge a judge's order to refund with interest thousands of out-of-state commercial fishermen who paid three times more for their annual permits than Alaska fishermen.

The ruling by Superior Court Judge Peter Michalski of Anchorage orders the state to pay plaintiffs in a 20-year-old class-action lawsuit the difference plus interest for what they should have been charged based on a complex formula designed by the courts.

http://www.news-miner.com/Stories/0,1413,113~7244~2387605,00.html

Alaska judge says state overcharged non-resident fishermen for permits…

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/189613_nonres
ident06.html


9. U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy to submit final report Sept. 20

As mandated by the Oceans Act of 2000, the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy will submit its Final Report, An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century, to the President and Congress on Monday, September 20, 2004…

Commission Chairman Admiral James D. Watkins will testify before Senate Commerce Committee on Sept. 21..

http://oceancommission.gov/newsnotices/sep10_04.html


10. Fish group blasts Pew findings

OCEANS: Knowles attacked again for his participation.

For the third time in two weeks, former Gov. Tony Knowles was attacked for his role on the Pew Oceans Commission, this time by commercial fishing representatives in what they said was a nonpartisan conference Friday in Anchorage.

http://www.adn.com/alaska/story/5535774p-5470871c.html


11. Alaska gets due attention in GOP national platform

Republicans adopted their national platform last week, and the 92-page document includes several items of interest to Alaska and its residents. The Alaska items, many of them long-expected, should do the state well when they come to fruition.

Heading the list, of course, is the opening of a fraction of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration…

The platform also raises issues of concern to Alaska Natives…

http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/090804/
ope_090804ope002001.shtml


12. Juneau Empire Letter - Stick up for fisheries (Taku - Tulsequah)

I am shocked that Gov. Murkowski is supporting British Columbia's plan to reopen the Tulsequah Chief mine and construct a 100-mile access road through the heart of the watershed. The closed mine has been polluting the Taku with poisonous acid mine drainage for nearly 50 years and B.C. has done nothing to stop it…

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/091404/let_letter2.shtml


13. Can we identify escaped salmon by means of their DNA?

 Escaped salmon are a problem for the fish-farming industry. Is it possible to identify the fish-farm from which salmon have escaped by testing a sample of their DNA? Scientists at the Institute of Marine Research in Bergen have been looking into the prospects of doing so…

http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/life_sciences/report-33024.html


14. BC Scientist uses computer tags to track Pacific coast salmon

Where salmon swim once they've hatched—their exact path up the Pacific Northwest coastline to Alaska—is a question that's long puzzled scientists working to better manage North American fishing stocks. Now David Welch, a British Columbia, Canada-based marine biologist, is using tiny computers and data retrieval technology to reveal the fish's secret migratory lives…

http://www.idg.com.sg/pcio.nsf/unidlookup/3406B917AD27A
1BC48256F07002694A7?OpenDocument


15. Spilled fuel in Scammon Bay, no harm to nearby residents

A gasoline pump inadvertently left running overnight in the Bering Sea coastal community of Scammon Bay last week dumped an estimated 1,000 gallons of fuel, forming a potentially explosive pool less than 150 yards from homes…

http://www.adn.com/alaska/story/5547450p-5482383c.html


16. Bristol Bay King Crab quota less than expected

The Bristol Bay red king crab quota has decreased slightly from last year, coming as a surprise to some who had heard the buzz about a 20 million pound-plus quota. This year's Guideline Harvest Level (GHL) is 15.4 million pounds, with 14.2 million pounds slated for general harvest and 1.2 million going to Community Development Quota. Last year's GHL was 15.7 million pounds, although the total catch came in at 14.4 million pounds…

http://www.homernews.com/stories/090904/
seawatch_090904sea001001.shtml


17. King crab migration route helped play into stocks' demise

A fisheries scientist who has spent hundreds of hours researching beneath the sea says trawling was not the lone culprit in the collapse of Bristol Bay red king crab stocks in the 1980s.

It was a combination of increased commercial fishing and bottom trawling, and a once successful reproductive strategy that is now simply a migration of the most prolific female king crab into the most heavily trawled region of the eastern Bering Sea, said Braxton Dew… http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/090704/
loc_20040907013.shtml


18. Board of Fisheries should not fear heated debate (CI meeting location)

The Alaska Board of Fisheries needs to change its policy of meeting only in the state's largest cities and reconsider its decision to hold its January meeting on upper Cook Inlet issues in Anchorage, not Soldotna…

Unfortunately, the Kenai River Sportfishing Association inflamed the conflicts by throwing a red herring to the board and calling it a concern for security…

The irony is no one, including KRSA, seems very concerned about the security of thousands of anglers who come to Soldotna to fish every summer. No one seems overly worried about the security of the rich, famous and powerful who descend on the Kenai River every July at the behest of the Kenai River Sportfishing Association to take part in the group's Kenai River Classic. How does KRSA guarantee the safety and security of its Classic participants? Maybe they could offer the Board of Fisheries a few pointers…

http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/08
904/ope_082904ope002001.shtml


19. Warmth interferes with fisheries

'BIZARRE STUFF': Salmon have returned to different streams.

Southeast Alaska's unusually warm and dry summer delayed and diverted salmon returning to spawn, as pinks swam up unfamiliar streams and chums and cohos ran later than usual. http://www.adn.com/business/story/5547436p-5482363c.html


20. Record highs make 2004 a summer to remember

"It's the kind of summer where you see bizarre stuff and you wonder what possibly could have happened," said John Burke, general manager of Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association in Ketchikan…

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/091304/
loc_recordhighs.shtml


21. Glacier Bay Gustavus hydropower plan debated

Indian association joins environmentalists to block electricity project for Gustavus

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/090504/
sta_hydropower.shtml

&

Empire Letter: Environmental reasons for Gustavus hydro plant

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/091004/let_letter2.shtml


22. Power: Alaska's new export - Lew Williams in Juneau Empire

History tells us that after its boom, an industry settles down to give Ketchikan a stable diverse economy. We still have mineral exploration, fishing, small-scale timber, construction and government.

So what's next? Power. Clean hydroelectric power to use and to sell.

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/090504/opi_power.shtml


23. Ketchikan Borough defers cold storage request

The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly on Tuesday postponed action on a request from the Ketchikan Regional Cold Storage Association Board for eight acres of land at Ward Cove.

The nonprofit board asked the borough for the land as a $1.295 million match for a federal Economic Development Administration grant for the project.

The Assembly postponed action on the request until more definitive plans are available, asking the board to provide a business plan and a method for financing the project.

The state has given the cold storage project a $1.435 million preliminary financial commitment, and has released $400,000 for planning.

http://www.ketchikandailynews.com/news1.shtml (scroll down for story)


24. America's Second Harvest Recognizes Ocean Beauty at National Conference

Ocean Beauty Seafoods is being honored for their commitment to increasing the availability of seafood to alleviate hunger. On September 12th, Ocean Beauty will be receiving a special Hungers Hope Award at America's Second Harvest's National Conference in Baltimore. The company has led the seafood industry in helping to alter the balance of quality food and nutrition for hungry Americans…

http://seattle.dbusinessnews.com/shownews.php?
newsid=838&type_news=latest


25. Seafood leads as Alaska’s International Exports Strengthen by $137 Million

Through the first half of 2004 international exports from Alaska grew $137

million or 12% for a total of $1.3 billion in trade…

Seafood sales accounted for a majority of the trade, increasing 20% to $806 million,

compared to $670 million at this time last year…

Margy Johnson, the Director of International Trade for the Governor’s office said, “The

seafood industry has been buoyed by the Governor’s $50 million fish revitalization

strategy, which includes direct aid to communities and individual fisherman, funding for

economic development projects throughout coastal Alaska, and an aggressive salmon

marketing campaign.” … http://www.dced.state.ak.us/pub/Exports_Strengthen.pdf


26. Costco Trident Salmon burgers could spell hope for Alaska fishermen

"It's a very consistent selling item for us," said Deb Cain, vice president and general merchandise manager for Costco's Northwest region. "In the Northwest right now, it's doing great. We are very happy with the sales."

Food demonstrators handing out salmon burger samples at Costco in Anchorage Sept. 1 reported that customers said they were very good, but they had better be Alaska fish.

http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/091304/
loc_20040913018.shtml


27. Salmon Pet treats catch on nationwide

Pet treats made from Alaska salmon are making big inroads into some major markets.

Since 1997, a small Anchorage business called Arctic Paws has been turning out Yummy Chummies -- pet treats for dogs and cats. Owner Brett Gibson said the company buys roughly 400,000 pounds of salmon, up from 8,000 a few years ago…

http://adn.com/business/story/v-pda/5535766p-5470855c.html


28. New U.S.-China air cargo flights to Anchorage

Additional weekly cargo flights between the United States and China are expected, bringing with them more than $5 million in annual revenues to the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Gov. Frank Murkowski said Wednesday…

http://www.alaskareport.com/news/2004/New%20U.S.-China%20air%20cargo%20flights%20to%20Anchorage.htm


29. Alaska Airlines to trim workforce – 151 AK jobs.

Alaska Airlines, Alaska's fifth-largest private employer, plans to cut 750 rank-and-file jobs during the next several months, 151 in its namesake state, the company said Thursday. The change comes three weeks after the airline said it would cut 150 managers.

http://adn.com/front/story/v-pda/5531468p-5466615c.html


30. New company to explore in Bristol Bay

The founders of the company, called Bristol Shores, are a handful of Dillingham elders who want to help the bay's ailing salmon economy and to contribute to local, state and maybe even global needs for natural gas, said George Shade, one of the founders…

http://www.adn.com/alaska/story/5544671p-5479437c.html


31. Kentucky filmmaker in Kodiak to document fishing industry

Filmmaker Aaron Marrs and his crew of two were in town recently to work on a documentary about the commercial fishing industry. Their goal is to record the lives of fishermen whose occupation is considered by many to be the most dangerous job in the world, Marrs said. http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/?pid=19&id=382


32. Twenty foot Great White Shark chomps halibut off Yakutat

"One of the guys on board hooked onto a halibut and was fighting it," Sappington said. "He got it part way to the surface, then it took off in a direction. It was obvious it wasn't going on its own power."

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/091204/
sta_greatwhite.shtml


33. Rare Right Whales tracked by satellite

Scientists have been tracking two North Pacific right whales across the southeastern Bering Sea by satellite for the past month, gathering unprecedented details about where some of the world's rarest cetaceans feed.

http://www.adn.com/alaska/story/5547453p-5482384c.html


34. Kenai River project designed to catch information on cohos

A project currently being conducted by the department, however, is slowly giving biologists a picture of the overall health of the Kenai's last salmon run of the season.

"What we're trying to do is estimate how many Kenai River cohos are returning each year," said Rob Massengill, project leader for Fish and Game's silver salmon research project.

Massengill said that before the 5-year-old project began, there was essentially no information about how many silvers came back to the Kenai each year.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5932808/


35. Votes are in on Anchorage Salmon Run Wild sculptures

Wildly decorated salmon sculptures have been decorating downtown Anchorage this summer. Online vote tallies of viewers favorites have been posted at:

http://www.anchorage.net/salmon/index.
cfm?fuseaction=salmon.results

Salmon Run Wild main page: http://www.anchorage.net/salmon/


36. New U.S. salmon plan would keep dams intact

By spending $6 billion over 10 years to help young salmon safely pass fish-killing hydroelectric dams, the government can comply with Endangered Species Act protections for the fish on the Snake and Columbia rivers, federal fisheries managers said of their new plan yesterday.

The plan, produced under the order of a federal judge in Portland, seeks to dispel any further moves to punch through four dams on the Snake River to allow the river to flow more naturally. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/190215_salmon10.html


37. Fishermen look to Senate to get NOAA off the hook

Environmentalists and fishermen are keeping an eye on Washington this month as the U.S. Senate decides how much to restore of a half-billion dollars cut by the House in June from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration budget…

…the cuts come after a presidential commission recommended in April that NOAA's $3.7 billion budget be doubled and that more than $12 billion be appropriated in the first three years of implementing its suggested changes. The commission further recommended spending $3.2 billion each year afterward to maintain the additional research and other goals spelled out in the report.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5962809/


38. Warming a Hot Topic on Arctic Trip

Scientists are worried about a dramatic loss of the ice cover in the last quarter century and suspect changing climate and atmospheric pressure as well as warm ocean currents moving further north are to blame…

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2004/09/14/013.html


39. Korea tax on Chilean salmon headed to zero

Alaska isn't the only salmon producer that has noticed South Korea's seafood shortage; and just as fish packers here are breaking into the market a new hurdle has been set across their path. A bilateral trade agreement signed last year between South Korea and Chile will eliminate all import tariffs between the two countries by 2009…

http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/090704/
loc_20040907017.shtml


40. Mixed success for Korean buyers in 1st Alaska season

Two major South Korean food companies, working separately to introduce Alaska salmon to their huge domestic seafood market have found mixed success as their first fresh-fish-buying season here draws to a close.

One company could get less than half of the 500 metric tons it wanted. The other's plans to reopen the shuttered Port Graham village cannery and ship finished product in Alaska are on hold until next year.

http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/083004/
loc_20040830005.shtml


41. Controversial Australian fish farm bid sinks

Premier Peter Beattie told Parliament today the Sun Aqua Sea Cage project had been evaluated by the Coordinator General and rejected, despite the fact it promised the development of a new industry and jobs.

"Experience in other parts of the world has shown the folly of allowing major developments which can have an adverse impact on the environment," Mr Beattie said.

http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/
story_page/0,5936,10625918^3102,00.html


42. Environmental groups oppose MSC sustainable pollock certification

Earth Island Institute's International Marine Mammal Project joined with other environmental organizations, including Greenpeace International and the National Environmental Trust, in renouncing certification by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) of the Alaskan pollock fishery as "sustainable"…

http://www.enn.com/direct/display-release.asp?objid=D1D1364B000000FEDF0808948DF7A00C


43. National Fisheries Conservation Center posts Consensus Conference Statement

The 20-page NFCC Consensus Statement on Integrating Marine Reserve Science and Fisheries Management responds to six questions about integration of marine reserve science and fishery management…

http://nfcc-fisheries.org/consensus/index.php


44. Aquaculture conference: Farming the Deep Blue Limerick, Ireland -October 6 & 7 Details available at http://www.eventznet.ie/ev/ac/bim/deepblue/Custom.aspx .


45. Marine Mammal Research Consortium Steller Watch

Two seasoned biologists are set to live for one year amongst 600 Steller sea lions on a mall remote island in Alaska.  Project "Steller Watch" is underway…

http://www.marinemammal.org/


46. UAA and AFDF propose Seafood Supply Chain study

an examination of the critical links in handling and shipping Alaska’s seafood…

http://www.swamc.org/SeafoodSupplyChainStudy.pdf

Details about this and other pertinent stories are online in Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference (SWAMC) Sept. Newsletter - http://www.swamc.org/newsletter/09-2004.pdf

See page 8 for story on promising new microwave technology for pouched seafood…


47. Microwaves improve processed food quality

The microwave sterilization project commenced in 2000 under the federal government's Dual Use Science and Technology program... Since then, Ocean Beauty Seafoods Inc. and Mars Inc. have joined the effort to raise the quality of processed Alaska salmon and other traditionally-processed products…

http://www.rdecom.army.mil/rdemagazine/200404/part_
nsc_microwave.html


48. FDA Announces Qualified Health Claims for Omega-3 Fatty Acids

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced the availability of a qualified health claim for reduced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) on conventional foods that contain eiscosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) omega-3 fatty acids… http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2004/NEW01115.html


49. Laine Welch's Fish Radio Topics at vesselconnection.com

Laine Welch's radio Fish Radio can be heard online through the Vessel Connection website - at http://www.vesselconnection.com/cgi-bin/fish_radio.pl

This weeks topics include:

TUESDAY 09/14/04   Jellyfish favorite food: small shrimp and crab

MONDAY 09/06/04   Red king crab catch down slightly; Mixing zone comments extended

FRIDAY 09/10/04   USDA cash payouts: Sept. 30 is deadline for TAA apps

THURSDAY 09/09/04   Villages starting to apply for shares of halibut and black cod

WEDNESDAY 09/08/04   Fish are what they eat; affects health benefits to humans

TUESDAY 09/07/04   Yummy chummy pet treats make big inroads to big markets


50. COOL Workshop for Seafood processors, Sept 15 in Seattle:

A workshop to help seafood producers cope with the new COOL regs is scheduled for Sept. 15 in Seattle. Details available @ http://www.northwestfisheries.org or call 1-206-789-6197


51. NOAA BSAI King and Tanner Crab Plan amendments- comment by Nov. 1.

…Voluntary Three-pie Cooperative Program; Allocation of Bering Sea and Aleutian

Islands King and Tanner Crab Fishery Resources…

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun2004
1800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/04-19971.htm


52. Gulf Council to prepare DSIES on Offshore Aquaculture - Comment by Oct. 4

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) and NMFS intend to prepare a draft supplemental environmental impact statement (DSEIS) in support of a proposed Generic Amendment for Offshore Aquaculture. The DSEIS will evaluate alternatives for

regulating aquaculture activities in the Gulf of Mexico. The purpose of this notice of intent is to solicit public comments on the range of alternatives and scope of issues to be addressed in the DSEIS…Comment by October 4

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/
edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/04-20055.htm


53. NPFMC Meeting in Sitka, Oct 4-12…and September committee meetings

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun2004
1800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/E4-2162.htm

Updated agenda 9/8: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/Agendas/Agenda1004.pdf

NPFMC home page: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/

Draft FMPs for October meeting:

BSAI Groundfish Draft FMP: http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/abl/MarFish/coralscruise.htm

GOA Groundfish Draft FMP: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/fmp/bsai/BSAI.pdf

NPFMC Non-Target Species Committee to meet Sept 15 in Seattle

Wednesday, September 15, 2004, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon (PST).at the Alaska Fishery Science Center (AFSC), 7600 Sand Point Way North East, Building 4, Room 2143,

Seattle, WA 98115…Contact Jane DiCosimo, Council staff, 907-271-2809

 

NPFMC GOA & BSAI Groundfish plan team meetings Sept 15-17, Seattle

The meetings will be held on September 15-17, 2004. The meetings

will begin at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, September 15, and continue through

Friday September 17, at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Building 4, Room 1055 (BS/AI Plan Team) and Room 2076 (GOA Plan Team), Seattle, WA.http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun200
41800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/E4-1884.htm

 

NPFMC Crab Plan Team to meet in Juneau, Sept 20-22

…from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., September 21, 2004, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and September 22, 2004 from 9a.m. to 12 noon. The meeting will be held at NMFS, 709 West 9th Street,

Sustainable Fisheries Conference Room, Juneau, AK 99501.

Contact  Diana Stram, NPFMC, 907-271-2809.

NPFMC Committee calendar: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/cmteemtg.htm


54. NOAA Public Scoping Notice on Columbia R. Hatcheries EIS -Comment by Dec 2.

Notice of Intent to Conduct Public Scoping and Prepare an

Environmental Impact Statement on the Funding and Operation of Columbia

River Hatcheries…NMFS is currently developing options for funding and operation of Columbia River basin hatcheries consistent with the Mitchell Act, Endangered Species Act (ESA), treaty Indian trust responsibilities, and broader NMFS objectives for sustainable salmon fisheries under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act)… Comment deadline December 2, 2004. If the response to this Notice indicates there is a need, one or more public scoping meetings will be held…

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun2004
1800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/04-20157.htm


55. Notice of Availability of Marine Mammals Final Stock Assessment Reports

NMFS has incorporated public comments into revisions of marine mammal stock assessment reports (SARs). The 2003 final SARs are now complete and available to the public.

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun2004
1800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/04-20343.htm


56. Federal Subsistence RACs fall meeting schedule & Reg. Change form

http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/news04/r090304.html

&&&

USFWS Subsistence regulations change proposal form  -deadline October 22.

You may propose changes to:

• Federal subsistence season dates

• Harvest limits

• Methods of harvest

• Customary and traditional use determinations

• For National Parks and NPS managed National Monuments, individuals who live in resident zone communities (See 36 CFR 13.43) and people who already hold a Section 13.44 subsistence use permit issued by the superintendent

(See 36 CFR 13.44) may apply for an individual C&T use determination.

http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/regs04/propform.pdf


57. IPHC - RFP for Bait for Year 2005 Survey Vessels - Deadline Oct 1

Proposals must be received by 1700 PST October 1, 2004. Interested suppliers may send a letter of proposal to the IPHC, Attn. Kelly Van Wormer; P.O. Box 95009, Seattle Washington 98145-2009; Phone (206) 634-1838, ext. 202 or Fax: (206) 632-2983.

http://www.iphc.washington.edu/halcom/newsrel/
2004/nr20040902.htm


58. Fishlines - SeaGrant newsletter for September

http://www.uaf.edu/seagrant/Fishlines/Sept04.html


59. DCED posts Community Quota Loan Application Packets http://www.dced.state.ak.us/pub/CQE_PR11.pdf


60. CFEC proposed changes and public meeting Sept 23- Comments due Sept 15.

The Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission, proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 20, Chapter 05 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with miscellaneous regulations.

http://www.cfec.state.ak.us/NOTICES/NO_2004_0805.htm


61. Comment period reopened on Oceana deep sea coral protection petition -to Oct 15

The NMFS announced in the Federal Register on June 14, 2004, the receipt of a petition for rulemaking under the Administrative Procedure Act. Oceana, a non-governmental organization, petitioned the U.S. Department of Commerce to promulgate a rule to protect deep-sea coral and sponge habitats in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The public comment period for that notice closed August 13, 2004. By this notice, NMFS announces the re-opening of the public comment period on the rulemaking petition to protect deep-sea coral and sponge habitat and to ensure thorough public comment…

Written comments will be accepted through October 15, 2004.

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20
041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/04-19774.htm


62. NOAA extends comment period on West Coast salmonids ESA listings to Oct 20.

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun2004
1800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/04-19867.htm

&&&

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun2004
1800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/04-19870.htm


63. MPA Federal Advisory Committee meeting -Hawaii, Sept 21-23

Agenda is now posted: http://mpa.gov/fac/04mtg_sept21_24/sup_sept21_agenda.html

MPA Online Map Alaska page: http://mpa.gov/mpa_programs/states/alaska.html


64. NPRB September meetings in Seattle

The Science Panel will meet at 9:00 a.m. on September 13-14 at the NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Jim Traynor conference room in Seattle, WA.

The Advisory Panel will meet at 10:00 a.m. on September 27-28 at the NPRB office.

The Board will meet next at 9:00 a.m. on September 29-30 at the NPRB office.

http://www.nprb.org/index.html ...scroll down to calendar


65. ASMI 2003 Annual Report Online

http://www.alaskaseafood.org/aboutus/annualreport.htm


66. ASMI Board Appoints Committee Members

…The ASMI Board of Directors appointed fishermen and processor members to five of the six restructured ASMI advisory committees, including the newly created Halibut-Sablefish Committee; marketing issues related to halibut and sablefish (black cod) were formerly addressed through the Whitefish Committee…

http://www.alaskareport.com/news/2004/ASMI%20Board
%20Appoints%20Committee%20Members.htm


67. Working Waterfront magazine highlights Alaska Wild Salmon

"Sustainable Yield" - Alaskan wild salmon fishery survives global competition, low prices…http://www.workingwaterfront.com/article.asp?story
ID=20040903

&&

"Green" Marketing Sells Salmon

http://www.workingwaterfront.com/article.
asp?storyID=20040904