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UFA Update July 25, 2005 The UFA Office is reachable from the fishing grounds on Alaskanet satellite dispatch #6449, thanks to equipment and service provided by Vessel Connection and Satellite Alaska. To view service their options see http://www.satellitealaska.com . To get connected, call Harold Whittlesy at 206-321-6896. Contents 1. Former State Legislator Drew Scalzi Dies 2. Coast Guard adopts less restrictive interim Cruise ship security zones for SE 3. Testimony posted from House Resources MSA Kodiak & Ketchikan hearings 4. Seattle partners acquire Alaska crab processor 5. White House moves to drill for oil off Gulf Coast & Bristol Bay 6. Sonar glitch miscounts Kenai kings - Numbers off about 1,000 a day 7. Cook Inlet Swimming in sockeyes 8. Tags offer customers proof that salmon is wild 9. Pinks arriving in record numbers 10. Sockeye catch strong in Bristol Bay 11. Klukwan backs off spray permit; will try again 12. USDA extends County Committee Election nomination – deadline August 15 13. Subsistence meeting focuses on East Alaska plan 14. AK Fishing Photos wanted for AFS September meeting 15. Coast Guard establishes new AIS site in Unimak Pass 16. ASMI Delivers "Wild" Message to Cherished Seafood Customer: Japan 17. Aquaculture Act unlikely to make a difference 18. Government's 'gift' of fish farming would hurt reputation of our seafood 19. Fisheries best served when stakeholders backed by strong science – Dave Benton 20. Ocean's bounty must be ensured with ecosystem-based management 21. Rationalization - a.k.a. privatization - Kodiak Daily Mirror letter by John Finley 22. NW salmon sent to China before reaching U.S. tables 23. Alaska's king crab harvests include through the ice in Norton Sound 24. Laine Welch's Fish Radio 25. Pacific Salmon Commission: 2006 Funding available 26. USDA Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Grants & Loan rules 27. NOAA Marine Debris Program Grants due October 12, 2005 28. NOAA correction to Subsistence Halibut in Cook Inlet & Sitka 29. Halibut Fishing Area Changes allows 4C IFQ & CDQ holders to harvest in 4D 30. 2005 Halibut Landing Reports No. 5 & 6 31. 23rd NOAA Science Advisory Board Meeting, August 8, Seattle 32. NPFMC posts AP and SSC minutes from June meetings 33. FAS Online: U.S. Fishery Product Exports Continue 2005 Increase 34. PWSCAC SERVS 2005 Fishing Vessel Training Program –2005 Report 35. Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council’s Meeting August 10 36. N. Pacific Groundfish Observer Training Schedule for Anch. & Seattle July – Nov. 37. BSAI Crab - Deadline Aug 1 for IFQ and IPQ Annual Permit Applications 38. Alaska Peninsula Areawide Oil And Gas Lease Sale, Aleutians E. Borough, Oct 26 39. BOF updates 2005/2006 meeting schedule, dates 40. CFEC posts 2004 Annual Report 41. CFEC notice on permit and vessel fees regs and hearings Aug 9 & 17 42. MMRC Steller Watch- A Year in the Life of a Sea Lion July update - New Arrivals 43. Deadline Aug. 10 for Public Comment on Draft Mariculture Regulations (HB 198) 44. Catch or See an Atlantic Salmon? - Please Call 1-877-INVASIV (1-877-468-2748) 45. ADF&G 2005 Inseason Alaska Salmon Summaries online 46. Salmon Price Report for week of July 11 1. Former State Legislator Drew Scalzi Dies Former State Legislator, Drew Scalzi of Homer, passed away on Thursday July 21, in Seattle. Governor Frank H. Murkowski will order state flags to be lowered to half-staff at a later date when the family has announced funeral arrangements. “Drew contributed greatly to his community, local government, state government and his profession as a fisherman. I am sure his contribution will be remembered long after he is gone,” Murkowski said. http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1836 Memorial Service will be held August 5th, Friday, at 3 Pm at the Seafarer's Memorial on the Homer Spit. Cards can be sent to Drew's family at his home addresss: 41685 Redoubt Circle, Homer, AK 99603 In lieu of flowers,
donations can be made to the Seafarer's Memorial. That address is: 2. Coast Guard adopts less restrictive interim Cruise ship security zones for SE Coast Guard officials here announced interim security zones around high capacity passenger vessels (HCPV) for all navigable waters in Alaska Thursday. The interim security zone, which went into effect Thursday and will remain until Sept. 28, mandates a 100-yard security zone only around an HCPV only when they are being escorted by a Coast Guard boat or ship. For the purposes of the interim rule, HCPV is defined as a vessel 100-feet or more in length carrying 500 or more passengers. The zone does not apply to state ferries.
http://www.uscgalaska.com/external/index.cfm?cid= 3. Testimony posted from House Resources MSA Kodiak & Ketchikan hearings Subcommittee on Fisheries and Oceans - Oversight Hearing on Fisheries Management Successes in Alaska and the Reauthorization of the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Testimony from all 24 presenters has been posted: July 6 Ketchikan Hearing:
http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/archives/ July 8 Kodiak Hearing:
http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/archives/ 4. Seattle partners acquire Alaska crab processor In a sign that the crabbing industry is fundamentally changing, a Seattle-based group of harvesters and processors said yesterday that they had teamed up to buy an Alaska-based crab processing company. Bering Sea Partners said it has acquired Royal Aleutian Seafoods of Unalaska for an undisclosed eight-figure sum. "It's a unique combination -- diverse harvesters in partnership with processors," said Arni Thomson, executive director of the Alaska Crab Coalition, which represents vessel owners and processors before the federal government and the state of Alaska… http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/233242_crab20.html 5. White House moves to drill for oil off Gulf Coast & Bristol Bay Florida's two U.S. senators criticized the White House on Friday for trying to open new waters in the Gulf of Mexico off Florida to oil and natural gas drilling. An administration spokeswoman said President Bush continues to oppose drilling off Florida but she contended that doesn't include areas far offshore in the eastern Gulf covered by the new proposal, which also calls for new drilling in Alaska's Bristol Bay.
http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050723/NEWS0105 & Palm Beach Post Editorial - Block the latest attempt to open state for drilling A White House plan that would give control over drilling in Florida waters to Louisiana, Alabama and oil companies threatened late last week to make its way into the federal energy bill, which could go to a vote in the Senate as early as Tuesday… The proposal also would allow drilling in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/opinion/ 6. Sonar glitch miscounts Kenai kings - Numbers off about 1,000 a day During its annual sonar system calibration recently, an error was noted in the measurement of the system sensitivity for the Kenai River Chinook Sonar — located 8.6 miles from the mouth of the Kenai River. According to a Fish and Game press release, this error in the calibration resulted in a "significant underestimation" of the number of fish entering the river. For example, on July 12 the counter recorded the largest daily total of kings entering the river as of yet in the late run. It was believed that 1,711 fish had passed the counter for a cumulative total of 14,894 late-run kings so far this season.
http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/072405/ 7. Cook Inlet Swimming in sockeyes Commercial catch up to 1.6 million salmon with more coming Commercial fishers have harvested 1.6 million sockeye salmon so far this summer in Upper Cook Inlet — with more on the way. "The indications are there are plenty of fish," Alaska Department of Fish and Game commercial fisheries area biologist Jeff Fox said Friday…
http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/071705/news_ 8. Tags offer customers proof that salmon is wild …Fed up by what they call "impostor fish" in the marketplace, Prince William Sound fishermen and processors this summer started tagging individual fish to assure domestic and Japanese buyers they're getting genuine Copper River king, sockeye and coho salmon. Cordova District Fishermen United, a trade organization, launched the novel program using a $40,000 grant from the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development…
http://www.ajc.com/living/content/living/food/0705 9. Pinks arriving in record numbers Strong to Excellent. That is what is written in Alaska Department of Fish & Games 2005 salmon forecast for Southeastern Alaska pink salmon. “It’s early and it’s strong,” commented Petersburg’s Icicle Seafoods Fleet Manager John Baird on the 2005 humpy run that has started to hit the docks…
http://www.petersburgpilot.com/www/stories/2005/ 10. Sockeye catch strong in Bristol Bay Fishermen in Bristol Bay are landing loads of sockeye salmon and are getting more money for their catch in the second consecutive strong season for Alaska's most important commercial salmon fishery. Gillnetters had landed more than 22 million fish by Friday and seemed likely reach the state's predicted haul of 25.6 million sockeye.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/aplocal_story.asp? & Sockeye yield may signal recovery BRISTOL BAY: Commercial catch is robust, and selling price is high. http://www.adn.com/front/story/6713855p-6601021c.html 11. Klukwan backs off spray permit; will try again Klukwan Inc. has abandoned its proposal to spray herbicides by air on Long Island, but may submit a revised proposal to the state within days…
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/072005/sta_ 12. USDA extends County Committee Election nomination – deadline August 15 Alaska salmon fishermen who applied for TAA are eligible to serve on paid FSA County Committees. Nomination deadline is August 15. http://www.fsa.usda.gov/pas/publications/elections/Default.asp 13. Subsistence meeting focuses on East Alaska plan At the request of the Southcentral Alaska Subsistence Regional Advisory Council, the Bureau of Land Management will host a special session of the Council on July 27, 2005, to discuss, take testimony and offer recommendations for the Draft East Alaska Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/EIS). The Council will focus on potential impacts to subsistence as identified in the RMP/EIS in compliance with Section 810 of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. The meeting will be held in the Kluti-Kaah Memorial Hall in Copper Center at 1 p.m. The public is invited to attend and provide oral testimony for the Council to consider in developing their recommendations… http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/news.cfm?gnr=1 (Click on July 18 Press release) 14. AK Fishing Photos wanted for AFS September meeting …The meeting's opening session will start with a powerpoint slide show of Alaska fish, fishing, and fishing-related stuff, such as seafood processing. We are seeking high-resolution photographs to use in this show. We want to "shock and awe" the audience, who come from most states and several countries, by showing them the magnitude and variety of Alaska's fishing industry. Please let us use your pix. We cannot pay you, but we will give you on-screen credit, which will be seen by over 2,000 people. Please contact Steve Grabacki, ph: +907-272-5600 or graystar@alaska.net 15. Coast Guard establishes new AIS site in Unimak Pass The Coast Guard, through a contract with the Port Graham Development Corporation (PGDC), has established an Automated Identification System (AIS) site in the Unimak pass to assist tracking vessels operating AIS equipment. This effort will contribute substantially to improving maritime domain awareness...
http://www.uscgalaska.com/external/index.cfm?cid= 16. ASMI Delivers "Wild" Message to Cherished Seafood Customer: Japan "There's a keen interest in the authentic Alaska story among Japanese trade and consumers," explains KC Dochtermann, director of international activities for the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI). "Alaska seafood, and Alaska itself, are wild, and we drive that message home." http://www.alaskaseafood.org/aboutus/071805.htm & New ASMI Alaska Surimi web page http://www.alaskaseafood.org/Surimi/index.html 17. Aquaculture Act unlikely to make a difference "Ultimately, the ability to grow fish off American shores will come down to simple economics. And it is here that any effort to develop a significant U.S. fish-farming industry may flounder. " http://www.seafoodbusiness.com/columns.shtml#1 18. Government's 'gift' of fish farming would hurt reputation of our seafood – Anne Mosness …The fish farm industry is not without significant impacts, despite the glossy spin by industry proponents. Six hundred ten thousand non-native fish escaped in four years, and five million pounds of fish waste annually flush from the Puget Sound salmon pens that Strohmeyer described as "environmentally trouble-free."… Alaska and all other coastal states must say no to this "gift" from the government. It is like a Trojan horse that, once in place, will destroy its host… http://www.adn.com/opinion/letters/story/6738646p-6626348c.html (scroll down) 19. Fisheries best served when stakeholders backed by strong science – Dave Benton For nearly 30 years, the Magnuson-Stevens Act has worked well to regulate our nation's marine fisheries, those out to the 200-mile limit. An upcoming congressional review of the legislation presents an opportunity to strengthen its provisions to better conserve the nation's fish stocks, and Alaska has a lot at stake in the outcome…
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/071705/vie_ & Alaska rises to the challenge of being a good steward for ocean resources The annual Alaska Oceans Festival celebrates the importance of our oceans and the bounty of our marine resources. It is the perfect opportunity to look at the progress that we've made toward sustainable fisheries and the challenges that remain ahead… http://www.adn.com/opinion/guest_columns/story/6717773p-6605068c.html 20. Ocean's bounty must be ensured with ecosystem-based management More than half of America's seafood catch comes from the nearly 1 million square miles of North Pacific waters that stretch along Alaska's rugged coastline, generating nearly $2 billion in revenue for the fishing industry annually and 55,000 jobs. Its seemingly limitless productivity gives rise to the alluring illusion that the North Pacific ecosystem -- considered the healthiest ecosystem in the United States -- can sustain this bounty into perpetuity. In truth, it may be dying and could collapse unless the problems are addressed when Congress soon reauthorizes the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. http://www.adn.com/opinion/guest_columns/story/6717776p-6605104c.html 21. Rationalization - a.k.a. privatization - Kodiak Daily Mirror letter by John Finley I hope Kodiak residents in general (not just the people who’ve joined the fight against the government’s privatization schemes) saw this big-time “reauthorization summit” for what it was… http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/?pid=19&id=1734 22. NW salmon sent to China before reaching U.S. tables Pacific salmon swim as far as 2,000 miles to lay their eggs in rivers up and down the Northwest. Once caught, some make a longer journey: 8,000 miles round-trip to China.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/ 23. Alaska's king crab harvests include through the ice in Norton Sound Fish Factor By Laine Welch: Alaska's biggest king crab catch might come from Bristol Bay, but many crab lovers are enjoying the prized crustacean long before that fishery opens in the fall. Each summer since 1977, red king crab has been harvested from far away Norton Sound. Starting on July 1 through mid-August, a fleet of about 30 local crabbers, mostly in boats under 32 feet, hauls in up to 400,000 pounds of red kings from waters ranging from Cape Romanzof up to Cape Prince of Wales… http://www.sitnews.us/LaineWelch/072405_fish_factor.html 24. Laine Welch's Fish Radio This weeks topics: Monday 7/25/05 Aleutian Life Forum: A focus on fisheries and oil spill Friday 7/22/05 Canned Salmon Classic at Petersburg: guess canned pack, win cash Thursday 7/21/05 Update on salmon catches/prices Wednesday 7/20/05 Real fishermen featured at trade shows; ASMI/GAPP educate younger Japanese media Tuesday 7/19//05 Pink salmon jerky sticks target snack market http://www.marineconservationalliance.org/fishradio.htm ….& see Laine Welch's Fish Factor at http://www.kinyradio.com/fishfactor.html 25. Pacific Salmon Commission: 2006 Funding available The Pacific Salmon Commission’s Northern Fund Committee, composed of representatives from Alaska and Canada, has determined approximately U.S. $3.1 million will be available in the 2006 Northern Boundary Transboundary Rivers Restoration and Enhancement Fund for projects consistent with the principals and goals of the Fund. The Committee is seeking potential projects in the Northern Boundary and Transboundary areas that are consistent with the Fund goals that involve: 1) Data collection and stock assessment for salmon harvests, escapement, forecasting returns, and determining stock composition; 2) Rehabilitation and restoration of freshwater and/or marine salmon habitats and/or improvement of existing natural salmon habitats or providing new salmon habitats; or 3) Salmon enhancement through low technology techniques rather than through construction of large facilities with high operating costs… .http://www.psc.org/REFund/2006/NF_2006_Press_Release.pdf 26. USDA Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Grants & Loan rules The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) is establishing a program for making grants, loan guarantees, and direct loans to farmers and ranchers (agricultural producers) or rural small businesses to purchase renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements…
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/ 27. NOAA Marine Debris Program Grants due October 12, 2005 Announcement:
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/restoration/projects_ Program home page:
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/restoration/projects_ 28. NOAA correction to Subsistence Halibut in Cook Inlet & Sitka This document corrects a final rule published in the Federal Register amending the Subsistence Halibut Program. This correcting amendment corrects the description, geographic coordinates, and associated figures for the Anchorage/Matsu/Kenai non-subsistence marine waters area and the Local Area Management Plan (LAMP) for the halibut fishery in Sitka Sound in the Gulf of Alaska...
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/ April 1 Rule – to which these corrections apply:
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/ 29. Halibut Fishing Area Changes allows 4C IFQ & CDQ holders to harvest in 4D Officials at the Alaska Region of NOAA Fisheries have changed the fishing territory available to some commercial fishermen in the Bering Sea… The new rule allows individual fishing quota (IFQ) and western Alaska community development quota (CDQ) fishermen in International Pacific Halibut Commission regulatory area 4C to harvest all or part of their area 4C halibut IFQ or CDQ allocation in area 4D---but not the reverse. The rule does not allow area 4D IFQ or CDQ holders to harvest all or part of their area 4D halibut IFQ or CDQ allocation in area 4C. http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/newsreleases/halibut072205.htm 30. 2005 Halibut Landing Reports No. 5 & 6 2005 Halibut Landing Report No. 5 Non-treaty Commercial Fishing Period Limits in Area 2A for the July 27 opening
http://www.iphc.washington.edu/halcom/newsrel/2005/ 2005 Halibut Landing Report No. 6: Washington State & Columbia area sport halibut quotas & closures
http://www.iphc.washington.edu/halcom/newsrel/2005/ 31. 23rd NOAA Science Advisory Board Meeting, August 8, Seattle Northwest Fishery Science Center, 2725 Montlake Blvd. East http://www.sab.noaa.gov/Meetings/2005/2005August8-9Agenda.htm 32. NPFMC posts AP and SSC minutes from June meetings http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/minutes/minutes.htm 33. FAS Online: U.S. Fishery Product Exports Continue 2005 Increase See also on same page: U.S. Seafood Exports to Japan U.S. Seafood Exports to Taiwan http://www.fas.usda.gov/ffpd/Fish-Circular/Market_News/market.html 34. PWSCAC SERVS 2005 Fishing Vessel Training Program –2005 Report SERVS conducted its spring 2005 fishing vessel training in Kodiak, Homer, Seward, Valdez, Cordova, Chenega, and Whittier from March 28 - May 5, 2005… The training was well attended with 1,046 fishermen from 306 fishing vessels completing the course.... http://www.pwsrcac.org/documents/rpts/d0007100.pdf 35. Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council’s Meeting August 10 The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council’s next meeting is Wednesday, August 10, 2005 at 9:00 a.m. at the EVOS office 441 W. 5th Ave, Ste 500, Anchorage. Public comment is at 9:15 a.m. Action items include discussion and approval of the FY 2006 Draft Work Plan. For more information call: (907) 278-8012 or (800) 478-7745 or on the web at www.evostc.state.ak.us ... Public Notice:
http://notes5.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/cc52605f7c & EVOS Trustee Council’s FY 2006 DRAFT Work Plan
http://notes5.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/cc52605f7c 36. N. Pacific Groundfish Observer Training Schedule for Anch. & Seattle July – Nov. http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/refm/observers/training_schedule.htm 37. BSAI Crab - Deadline Aug 1 for IFQ and IPQ Annual Permit Applications IFQ / IPQ Permit
Application form:
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/crab/rat/ram Crab Harvesting Cooperative IFQ Permit Application form:
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/crab/rat/ram 38. Alaska Peninsula Areawide Oil And Gas Lease Sale, Aleutians E. Borough, Oct 26 The Alaska Department of Natural Resources has issued a Notice of Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sale and Issuance of a Final Best Interest Finding and ACMP Consistency Determination addressing an oil and gas lease sale on the Alaska Peninsula, from the Nushagak River to the area north of Izembek Lagoon. The sale is scheduled for October 26, 2005. More information is available at the Department's website, www.dog.dnr.state.ak.us or by phone at 907-269-8806.
http://notes5.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/cc52605f7c 39. BOF updates 2005/2006 meeting schedule, dates The Board of Fisheries’ 2005/2006 meeting schedule has been updated on our website, with notations of meeting locations and a slight change in the dates of the January 20056 Southeast Finfish meeting. You can find the updated schedule at: http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/fishinfo/meetinfo/fcal.php 40. CFEC posts 2004 Annual Report http://www.cfec.state.ak.us/annrpts/ar2004.pdf 41. CFEC notice on permit and vessel fees regs and hearings Aug 9 & 17 CFEC Notice: http://www.cfec.state.ak.us/notices/NO_2005_0519.htm Proposed Regulation & Fees:
http://www.cfec.state.ak.us/pregs/PR_2005_0519_ 42. MMRC Steller Watch- A Year in the Life of a Sea Lion July update - New Arrivals 43. Deadline Aug. 10 for Public Comment on Draft Mariculture Regulations (HB 198) The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is seeking public comment on proposed regulatory changes that implement House Bill 198, thereby bringing the state’s Aquatic Farm Regulations into compliance with a recent Alaska Supreme Court decision…Deadline 5 p.m. on August 10, 2005 ADF&G Press release: http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/news/2005/07-11-05_nr.php Public Notice:
http://notes4.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/cc52605f7 44. Catch or See an Atlantic Salmon? - Please Call 1-877-INVASIV (1-877-468-2748) call ADF&G hotline, keep fish whole and refrigerate if possible. 45. ADF&G 2005 Inseason Alaska Salmon Summaries online This weekly summary reports management, harvest, and escapement information of the Alaska commercial salmon fishing season. Note that inseason harvest data published in this summary is preliminary and is subject to revision… For links to district reports see:
http://www.cf.adfg.state.ak.us/geninfo/finfish/salmon/ 46. Salmon Price Report for week of July 11 Week of July 11: http://www.alaskaseafood.org/fishingprocessing/071105smb.pdf & look for latest report at ASMI SMIS Homepage: http://www.alaskaseafood.org/fishingprocessing/bulletin.htm
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