UFA Update  

September 29, 2005

JUNEAU FISH AID - Fund raising concert for Gulf of Mexico fishermen in the wake of Hurricane Katrina - Friday, September 30 – 7:00 pm to midnight - Centennial Hall, Juneau

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/092905/thi_
20050929008.shtml


UFA Board of Directors Meeting – The Frontier Building, Cordova – October 20-22

Open to all paid UFA Members

Contents:

1. Katrina & Rita: Losses in Louisiana seafood industry may be felt nationwide

2. First test of Gulf fish after Katrina finds no elevated hydrocarbon contaminants

3. Magnuson Reauthorization: ADF&G Posts Magnuson Briefing papers, plus Commerce & Administration draft Reauthorization bills:

4. AK hearings on Magnuson Stevens – Fishermen comments wanted

5. ISER Salmon Restructuring Report: Salmon industry reform is urged

6. Feds embrace state recommendations for coast management

7. US House Passes Historic Endangered Species Act Improvement Bill (TESRA)

8. Kodiak Daily Mirror: Pollock season slow for various reasons

9. Gulf rationalization in trouble if Kodiak city, borough candidates’ attitudes prevail

10. Kodiak Daily Mirror: Denby Lloyd takes new position in Juneau

11. Laine Welch: What's ahead for the seafood industry

12. Kosher fresh-frozen Alaska fish available

13. State to intervene in lawsuit against Kensington mine permit

14. BC: Rockfish conservation targets 30 per cent – ‘Be like Alaska’ says fisherman

15. Bill fights fishing quotas

16. WA Times: Commercial anglers may soon own shares in fish stocks

17. NE: NMFS rules against groups in East Coast Right Whale petition

18. Taiwan: MOFA believes Indonesian crew hijacked Taiwan fishing boat

19. Laine Welch's Fish Radio

20. IPHC calls for Bait Suppliers  - Bait for Year 2006 IPHC Survey Vessels  

21. State Website Scheduled Outage Announced for October 16, 2005

22. MMRC research: Fecal Frenzy: How Much Scat is Enough?

23. USFWS Fish Passage Projects Return Fish to 73 Miles of Alaska Rivers and Streams

24. Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Councils to Hold Fall Meetings Statewide

25. DEC seeks comments on potential changes to Oil Pollution Prevention Regs

26. DNR changes to Atlas and Catalog of Waters Important for Spawning, Rearing…

27. NPFMC meeting October 3-11, 2005, Anchorage – documents posted

Previously posted meetings and comment periods approaching, for your convenience:

28. US Marine Mammal Commission to Meet in Anchorage, Oct 12-14

29. BOF meetings Oct 13 (nonregulatory actions) & Oct. 15 (groundfish), Girdwood

30. CFEC & ADFG changes for halibut & sablefish, groundfish areas

31. Pacific Salmon Commission agendas for Juneau October 18-20 & forward

32. Comment deadline Oct 21 on National Standard 1 guidelines

33. MMPA List of Fisheries reopened for comment –five AK fisheries upgraded

34.  DEC posts Klukwan Long Island pesticide spraying application

35. AK Aquatic Farm sites for review – comment by Nov 3

36. AYK SSI Solicits Comments on "Draft Salmon Research and Restoration Plan"

37. Catch or See an Atlantic Salmon? - Please Call 1-877-INVASIV (1-877-468-2748)


1. Katrina & Rita: Losses in Louisiana seafood industry may be felt nationwide

It may be months before officials know the extent of hurricane damage to Louisiana's seafood and aquaculture industries. But Hurricane Rita's damage picked up right where Katrina's left off on Louisiana's ragged coast.

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article
?AID=/20050927/APN/509270977&cachetime=
3&template=dateline

Wild American Shrimp: Status Report on the Domestic Shrimp Industry After Rita

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/09-28-2005/0004133733&EDATE=

USCG Hurricane Rita site: https://www.piersystem.com/external/index.cfm?cid=1022

USCG Hurricane Katrina site: http://www.uscg.mil/katrina/index.shtm

EPA Hurricane Katrina site:   http://www.epa.gov/katrina/


2. First test of Gulf fish after Katrina finds no elevated hydrocarbon contaminants Fish samples collected from coastal and offshore marine waters of the Gulf of Mexico two weeks after hurricane Katrina show no elevated exposure to contaminants related to oil, announced the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

These results are just one part of contaminant testing of Gulf water and fish currently underway at NOAA. Additional results on potential exposure to bacteria, pesticides and other toxic chemicals will be available within days, and additional testing on shrimp samples from Mississippi Sound is ongoing…

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/docs/Hurricane_Research_
Results_Releasev3.pdf


3. Magnuson Reauthorization: ADF&G Posts Magnuson Briefing papers, Commerce & Administration draft Reauthorization bills:

State MSA Briefing Paper (PDF - 41K) Updated 9/27/05:

http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/special/oceans/msa_briefing_
9-27-05.pdf  

State: Why MSA Works (PDF - 33K) Updated 9/27/05

http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/special/oceans/whymsaworks_
9-27-05.pdf

State: LAPP Recommendations  (PDF - 14K) Updated 9/27/05

http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/special/oceans/lapp_9-27-05.pdf

Senate Commerce Committee's Staff MSA Draft Bill  (PDF - 314K)

http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/special/oceans/msa_senatebill.pdf

Administration's MSA Bill  (PDF - 162K)

http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/special/oceans/msa_adminbill.pdf

NOAA MSA Information home page: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/msa2005/


4. AK hearings on Magnuson Stevens – Fishermen comments wanted

Public meetings will be held Oct. 4 in Anchorage and Oct. 14 in Girdwood.

Written comments will be accepted through Oct. 17…

Additional hearings will also be scheduled in Western Alaska and in Seattle at November's Fish Expo.

ADF&G notice of stakeholder meetings: http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/special/oceans/policy.php#msa


5. ISER Salmon Restructuring Report: Salmon industry reform is urged

Some say big recovery makes restructuring less necessary.

Alaska's struggling commercial salmon industry can thrive only if it restructures, but it faces "fundamental obstacles" including lack of government leadership in making the needed changes, according to a new university study…

http://www.adn.com/money/story/6999467p-6900826c.html

 ISER Research Summary: Alaska’s Salmon Harvesting System: What Are The Challenges?

http://www.alaskaneconomy.uaa.alaska.edu/Publications/
UA5-1.pdf

Complete paper: "Challenges In Restructuring Alaska's Salmon Fisheries"

http://www.alaskaneconomy.uaa.alaska.edu/Publications/
UlmerKnappRestrucfinal.pdf


6. Feds embrace state recommendations for coast management

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) -- Federal official have embraced state revision to Alaska's coastal zone management program that drew strong criticism when it was announced.

A draft environmental review of the state plan has been released for public comment.

http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/?pid=18&path=A/
AK_COASTAL_ZONE_MANAGEMENT


7. US House Passes Historic Endangered Species Act Improvement Bill (TESRA)

Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act passes by a vote of 229-193

For the first time in more than a decade, the House of Representatives passed legislation introduced by Chairman Richard W. Pombo (R-CA) and Representative Dennis Cardoza (D-CA) to update and modernize the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973. The Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act (TESRA) of 2005 has more than 96 cosponsors from 30 states across the country…

http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/Press/releases/
2005/0929esapassage.htm

Bill details & other documents and are available at House Resources home page: http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/


8. Kodiak Daily Mirror: Pollock season slow for various reasons

The pollock “C” season has been slow. It opened Aug. 25, but fishermen delayed going out for a number of reasons.

“It was exacerbated by settling the price for pollock, so a lot of fishermen stood down early in the season because they didn’t get the price they wanted,” said Tom Pearson, National Marine Fisheries Service fishery biologist…

http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/?pid=19&id=2060


9. Kodiak letter: Gulf rationalization in trouble if city, borough candidates’ attitudes prevail

The city and borough candidates’ forums, a day apart last week, were very well run. One question that got answered in spades was “What about Gulf rationalization?” If the attitudes of the candidates come to prevail in the attitudes and actions of our two governments, Gulf rats is in trouble…

http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/?pid=19&id=2062


10. Kodiak Daily Mirror: Denby Lloyd takes new position in Juneau

Denby Lloyd soon heads to Juneau to assume his new position as chief of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Commercial Fisheries Division. However, Kodiak has not seen the last of him…

http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/?pid=19&id=2021


11. Laine Welch: What's ahead for the seafood industry

Look 20 years into the future and here is what's ahead for the seafood industry: more "convenience" foods in more varied forms, more outsourcing of seafood processing to other countries, and more aquaculture competing with wild fisheries…

http://www.sitnews.us/LaineWelch/092905_fish_factor.html


12. Kosher fresh-frozen Alaska fish available

The Kosher Seafood Co. sells chinook and coho salmon, halibut and sablefish (black cod) delivered from fishing vessels calling at Sitka, Alaska.

Visser says their product is "fresher than fresh" because it is shipped to the consumer direct from the processor…

http://www.jewishreview.org/Archives/Article.php?Article=
2005-10-01-1693


13. State to intervene in lawsuit against Kensington mine permit

Lawsuit would prevent mining company from dumping waste in lake…

The Alaska Department of Law will intervene in a lawsuit filed by environmental groups that challenges the federal approval of a permit for the Kensington Mine.

On Sept. 13, the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council, the Sierra Club and the Lynn Canal Conservation filed a complaint in federal court to try to prevent Coeur Alaska from dumping rock waste from the gold mine into a lake north of Juneau.

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/092905/sta_20050
929027.shtml

&

Governor calls on Southeast leaders to support State on Kensington mine intervention

http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1964

&

State will pay for mine road from Slate Creek Cove

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/092905/sta_20050
929028.shtml

&

Juneau Empire My Turn: Kensington mine is a threat to Berners Bay fish habitat

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/092905/opi_20050
929004.shtml


14. BC: Rockfish conservation targets 30 per cent – ‘Be like Alaska’ says fisherman

Powell River fishermen raised several concerns during a Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) public meeting last week.

The purpose of the meeting, held on September 21, was to provide information and seek input on rockfish conservation strategy and proposed rockfish conservation areas (RCAs) in the Strait of Georgia.

"One thing I want to talk about is a complete gutting of the department by the Feds," said commercial fisherman Ivan Askgaard. …

Askgaard would like to see local management in BC similar to the way the fishery is managed in Alaska, which also used to be run from a distant office. "They are now progressive. Their fisheries are rolling and healthy."

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15296023&
BRD=1998&PAG=461&dept_id=221589&rfi=6


15. Bill fights fishing quotas

A bipartisan group of congressmen wants small fishermen protected if the Bush administration's proposal to revamp fishing limits is approved. They are concerned that the survival of New England fishing communities is at risk from corporate monopolies if the Bush plan is adopted…

Under a plan President Bush sent to Congress last week, fishermen, communities and collectives would be allowed to catch a specific percentage of an overall fishing quota, to be set by region and species. Fishermen could then buy or sell their quota shares to other fishermen…

http://www.capecodonline.com/cctimes/billfights27.htm


16. WA Times: Commercial anglers may soon own shares in fish stocks

Last week an outfit called Environmental Defense applauded Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez's effort to modernize how the federal government governs fishing.

Guitierrez is proposing amendments to the nation's primary fisheries management law. One of those proposals includes giving commercial fishermen ownership shares in the stock of the fish they target, called dedicated access privileges (DAPs) in fishery law terms. The proposed amendments to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act explicitly authorize doubling the existing number of these programs.

http://washingtontimes.com/sports/20050927-
115722-6291r.htm


17. NE: NMFS rules against groups in East Coast Right Whale petition

NMFS received a petition dated May 19, 2005 co-signed by Defenders of Wildlife, International Fund for Animal Welfare, International Wildlife Coalition, National Environmental Trust, Natural Resources Defense Council, Oceana, The Humane Society of the United States, The Ocean Conservancy, and Whale and Dolphin Conservation

Society, requesting that NMFS ``promulgate emergency regulations, within sixty days, to slow and/or re-route vessels within right whale habitat, as a means of protecting the species until such time as permanent measures can be enacted. Such emergency regulations should require all ships entering and leaving all major East Coast ports to

travel at speeds of 12 knots or less within 25 nautical miles of port entrances during expected right whale high-use periods.''

NMFS has determined that the petition is not warranted at this time…

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/
edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/05-19372.htm


18. Taiwan: MOFA believes Indonesian crew hijacked Taiwan fishing boat

A Taiwanese fishing boat that has been out of contact since the beginning of September is believed to have been hijacked by the Indonesian crewmen on board, Foreign Ministry spokesman Michel Lu said on Tuesday.

The Ji Li Wang, captained by Taiwanese Lin Chong-wo and crewed by eight Filipinos and three Indonesians, lost contact with Taiwan on September 8.

http://english.www.gov.tw/TaiwanHeadlines/index.jsp?
categid=10&recordid=86112


19. Laine Welch's Fish Radio

This weeks topics:

Monday 10/3/05 Bering Sea crab harvests boosted

Friday 9/30/05 Seaweed extract removes fat from junk food, adds fiber

Thursday 9/29/05 Sea Pharmacy: AK has huge potential for disease fighting marine compounds

Wednesday 9/28/05 Fish Aid concert/Juneau launches AFIRM: long term action to help LA, MI fishermen

Tuesday 9/27/05 Crabs, cucumbers, urchins: Fall fisheries get underway

http://www.marineconservationalliance.org/fishradio.htm

….& see Laine Welch's Fish Factor at http://www.kinyradio.com/fishfactor.html


20. IPHC calls for Bait Suppliers  - Bait for Year 2006 IPHC Survey Vessels  

The International Pacific Halibut Commission is requesting proposals from industry to provide bait for the year 2006 summer halibut surveys. The Commission will also consider direct purchases from salmon fishers, if the fisher can make proper processing arrangements…

http://www.iphc.washington.edu/halcom/newsrel/2005/
nr20050922.htm


21. State Website Scheduled Outage Announced for October 16, 2005

There will be a COMPLETE SERVICE DELIVERY OUTAGE October 16, 2005 between 7am and noon affecting all electronic services delivered from the State of Alaska Juneau Data Center (JDC). This outage is being scheduled as a precautionary measure and is an element of the State Office Building Halon Repair Project to prevent life/safety threats from a 5th floor JDC computer room fire.

http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/oct16_2005outage.php


22. MMRC research: Fecal Frenzy: How Much Scat is Enough?

In the race to understand the possible link between diet and the decline of sea lions in Alaska, researchers have been hauling out thousands of bags of scats from offshore rocks and islands to pan for fish bones. But have they been collecting enough? …

http://www.marinemammal.org/2005/joy.php

Marine Mammal Research Consortium home page: http://www.marinemammal.org/


23. USFWS Fish Passage Projects Return Fish to 73 Miles of Alaska Rivers and Streams

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service?s Fisheries Program and its partners in 19 states will spend a combined $7.4 million this year to remove or bypass more than 150 barriers to fish passage…

Here in Alaska, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has invested $421,112, backed by an additional $185,615 in matching funds from our various partners, to remove a total of 17 barriers to fish passage. When completed, these projects will reopen more than 73 miles of waterway to salmon and other fish species…

http://news.fws.gov/NewsReleases/showNews.cfm?newsId=
7ECC7B62-65BF-03E7-2A7D4BEEF6EA7BCC


24. Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Councils to Hold Fall Meetings Statewide

Meeting dates and details are available at: http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/deadline.cfm


25. DEC seeks comments on potential changes to Oil Pollution Prevention Regs – by Nov 28

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) is engaged in a comprehensive review and update of the oil pollution prevention regulations located in 18 AAC 75 Article 1. As part of this process, ADEC has developed a discussion paper on suggested changes to our oil pollution prevention regulations. This discussion paper has been posted for public comment on our website at http://www.state.ak.us/dec/spar/ipp/cpr.htm . ADEC will accept comments on the document for sixty days, with the informal comment period ending November 28, 2005.

DEC Public Notice:

http://notes5.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/cc52605f7c15
6e7a8925672a0060a91b/a85b8aa938ddfa148925708b006
087d7?OpenDocument


26. DNR change to Atlas and Catalog of Waters Important for Spawning, Rearing, or Migration… and related documents…

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources (ADNR) proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 11 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with waters important for the spawning, rearing, or migration of anadromous fish… Public Notice:

http://notes5.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/cc52605f7c15
6e7a8925672a0060a91b/c0da37b9ae3406c189257081005
5498b?OpenDocument

For related Documents and catalog, see DNR Habitat Division Home Page at: http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/habitat/

(SEE 7th item under ABOUT US – Proposed Regulatory Changes


27. NPFMC meeting October 3-11, 2005 Anchorage Hilton, Draft Agenda

http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/Agendas/1005Agenda.pdf

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

& Documents: Items for the October Meeting

BSAI Amendment 80, IRIU large file (5MB): http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/bycatch/
AM80_1005.pdf

BSAI Amendment 85 P.cod allocations: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/bycatch/
AM80_1005.pdf 

BSAI Amendment 84 Salmon bycatch ( very large file 20MB – call (907) 271-2809 for a hardcopy if you cannot download: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/analyses/SalmonBy
catch905.pdf

Executive Summary: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/analyses/SalmonBycatch
ExecSum905.pdf

GOA Rationalization Overview of Alternatives and Preliminary Analysis:

http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/groundfish/
1005GOAalts.pdf

BSKTC Amendment 20, Bairdi crab

http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/analyses/BairdiAm20
_Aug05.pdf

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


Previously posted meetings and comment periods approaching, for your convenience:


28. US Marine Mammal Commission to Meet in Anchorage, Oct 12-14

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/
edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/05-18950.htm


29. BOF meetings Oct 13 (nonregulatory actions) & Oct. 15 (groundfish), Girdwood

Alyeska Prince Hotel, 1000 Arlberg Ave., Girdwood, AK 8:30 a.m. on Saturday October 15…

http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/fishinfo/meetinfo/
2005_2006/Oct05Note.pdf

Proposed Changes And Public Meeting Notice:

http://notes5.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/cc52605f7c156e
7a8925672a0060a91b/a6598a2c8d7b27668925707a006fa84
1?OpenDocument


30. CFEC & ADFG propose changes for halibut & sablefish, groundfish areas

Comment by October 17.

ADF&G proposes to repeal 5 AAC 39.122 which deals with landing permits for vessels fishing exclusively outside of state waters to land or deliver halibut or sablefish inside state waters…

http://notes5.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/cc52605f7c
156e7a8925672a0060a91b/6487ac4f8fb5cdb28925707e
00609c80?OpenDocument


31. Pacific Salmon Commission agendas for Juneau October 18-20 & forward

Portland January 9-13, 2006; & Vancouver March 13-17, 2006

http://www.psc.org/Meetings/Draft%20Forward%20Looking
%20Agenda.pdf

PSC home page: http://www.psc.org/index.htm


32. Comment deadline Oct 21 on National Standard 1 guidelines

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/domes_fish/index.htm


33. MMPA List of Fisheries reopened for comment –five AK fisheries upgraded

Comment deadline October 24

NOAA List of Fisheries Info: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/interactions/lof/

Federal Register Notice: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/
edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/05-16939.htm

Online comment submission: http://www.news-miner.com/Stories/0,1413,113~7244~3029383,00.html


34.  DEC posts Klukwan Long Island pesticide spraying application – Comment by Oct 31

The Department has scheduled the following public hearings:

October 14, 2005 City of Hydaburg City Municipal Bldg 10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m.

October 14, 2005 City of Craig Council Chambers 3:00p.m. – 5:00p.m.

DEC Public Notice:

http://notes5.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/cc52605f
7c156e7a8925672a0060a91b/5c38223f0aaa4b2c8925
708100649469?OpenDocument

DEC web page with links to permit & DNR comments: http://www.dec.state.ak.us/eh/pest/Amended%20
Klukwan%20Pmt.htm


35. AK Aquatic Farm sites for review – comment by Nov 3

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is accepting comments on preliminary best interest findings and decisions (PD) for the 2005 aquatic farm applications and lease amendment requests. Three (3) applications and two (2) amendment requests are being reviewed for sites in Southcentral Alaska. The applications and amendment requests include suspended culture sites located at Perry Island in Prince William Sound; Day Harbor; and Bear Cove and the Herring Islands in Kachemak Bay…

http://notes5.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/cc52605f7c
156e7a8925672a0060a91b/6b23be9670f5ca948925707
c0078ff0b?OpenDocument


36. AYK SSI Solicits Comments on "Draft Salmon Research and Restoration Plan"

“Between now and November 15, 2005 we are soliciting review comments on our newly released draft AYK Salmon Science Plan from a wide variety of agencies, organizations and communities in the AYK region and beyond as well as the general public…”

http://aykssi.org/prod/index.htm


37. 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.