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UFA Update December 8, 2005 Contents: 1. Valdez donates Marine Travel Lift to help Gulf fishermen 2. Halibut IFQs are fair but need review - ADN Commentary By Dan Hull 3. Murkowski enters CDQ fish fight fray 4. Alaska firms use 'big guns' to win fish 5. Wasted bycatch detailed in study- Seattle-based Alaska fleet boasts one of best records 6. Ships near Aleutians called a hazard 7. High costs hinder newcomers to Alaska's fishing industry 8. Pebble isn't behind mixing-zone proposal – ADN commentary By Kurt Fredriksson 9. Murkowski risks salmon for gold mine - ADN Commentary by Alan Boraas 10. Fishermen worry about mixing zones 11. December 19 is deadline for comment on mixing zones 12. SMART GEAR: Wildlife-saving fishing concepts could net prizes 13. Diversified Folds Alaska Fisherman's Journal into National Fisherman 14. Fishermen all smiles at KIB resolution – Gulf Rationalization 15. Coast Guard establishes new communications site 15. Health risks of farmed salmon may outweigh benefits 16. Farmed-salmon producers focus on consumers instead of critics 17. Russia threatens boycott of farmed Norwegian salmon over Cadmuim & Lead 18. Norway Concern Over Russia Salmon Ban 19. Laine Welch's Fish Radio 20. Federal Subsistence Board Names 10 Communities for Further Rural Analysis 21. Subsistence RACs seek representatives – deadline for nominations January 3, 2006 22. Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Councils Winter & Spring Meetings: 23. IPHC Staff Preliminary Catch Limit Recommendations: 2006 24. NOAA Notice on Digital Navigation Charts – available and viewable online 25. NMFS Workshop on non-AFA trawl Catcher/processor catch monitoring standards 26. Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute, Juneau – Construction Update 27. MMRC: Role of Disease in Steller decline 28. Board of Fisheries Call for Proposals for 2006-2007 – Deadline April 10, 2006 29. Collaborative Pacific Halibut Bycatch Control by Canada and the United States 1. Valdez donates Marine Travel Lift to help Gulf fishermen The city of Valdez has donated a 60-ton Marine Travel lift to Plaquemines Parish in Louisiana to help moved fishing boats back to the water to help fishermen get back to fishing. The Alaska Fishing Industry Relief Mission will coordinate the transportation. KTUU News story:
http://www.ktuu.com/cms/templates/master.asp? && Alaska Boat Lift Heads South to Help Gulf Fishermen
http://www.sitnews.us/1205news/120805/120805_ To donate to AFIRM see www.akgulfhelp.org AFIRM is a 100% volunteer and fully tax deductible charitable organization of representatives of the Alaska fishing industry dedicated to helping the Gulf of Mexico fishing industry in the wake of this summer’s hurricanes –Mark Vinsel, Board Chairman You can also help AFIRM by shopping Alaska Sea Grant for the holidays – excellent gifts for anyone interested in fishing and marine science – see press release and link to bookstore at: http://www.uaf.edu/seagrant/NewsMedia/05news/11-10-05afirm.html And Alaska Sea Grant home page at http://www.uaf.edu/seagrant/ 2. Halibut IFQs are fair but need review - ADN Commentary By Dan Hull How can you allocate the halibut resource between charter boats and commercial longliners in a way that protects public access, and balances the economic interests of both sectors and coastal communities that depend on them? This is the crux of the problem that the North Pacific Fishery Management Council addressed in 2001. After eight years of debate, analysis (384 pages) and public participation, the council approved a plan to incorporate the halibut charter boat fleet into the commercial IFQ program. The council's decision responded to concerns about localized depletion in some areas heavily fished by charter boats and overcapitalization by a fleet that has far more boats than necessary to meet angler demand… http://www.adn.com/opinion/guest_columns/story/7269861p-7181632c.html 3. Murkowski enters CDQ fish fight fray Gov. Frank Murkowski, piqued over a high-stakes fish fight in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday moved to assert state control over the issue.
http://www.adn.com/money/industries/fishing/story/726 Governor’s Press Release: Governor Frank H. Murkowski announced today that he will submit new Community Development Quota allocation figures to the National Marine Fisheries Service using a new allocation period, which will run from 2007-2011… http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=2081 NPFMC CDQ home
page:
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues DCCED CDQ page: http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/bsc/CDQ/cdq.htm 4. Alaska firms use 'big guns' to win fish BERING SEA: Companies hire lobbyists close to Stevens, Young to sway how catch is split. Alaska fishing companies are mounting an intense lobbying battle in Washington, D.C., to try to lock up Bering Sea commercial fishing rights worth millions of dollars. The six companies, divided into two competing factions, have hired lobbyists with close ties to members of Alaska's congressional delegation.
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/7264612p 5. Wasted bycatch detailed in study- Seattle-based Alaska fleet boasts one of best records Commercial fisheries in the United States kill a pound of fish for every four pounds intentionally caught, jeopardizing efforts to restore some struggling stocks, scientists said Wednesday. A tally of the nation's yearly unintentional "bycatch" -- unwanted fish that are caught and, in most cases, die before being thrown overboard -- was presented in a peer-reviewed study sponsored by the environmental group Oceana and published in the December issue of Fish and Fisheries, a scientific journal… http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/250412_fish01.html 6. Ships near Aleutians called a hazard On the one-year anniversary of the Selendang Ayu wreck, a shipping safety organization contends not enough has been done to prevent another similar episode and is calling for the company that owned the freighter to pay $200 million for cleanup and safety measures…
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/7269847p 7. High costs hinder newcomers to Alaska's fishing industry By Matt Volz, The Associated Press PETERSBURG, Alaska — For what it's going to cost Justin Peeler to elbow his way into Southeast Alaska's fishing fleet, he could have gone to Harvard Medical School. Twice… The 26-year-old Peeler has been a crewman in the Petersburg fleet for 15 years, starting as a kid fishing with his father. He now plans to buy his own salmon seiner, and figures the cost of a 56-foot boat, along with the gear and permits needed to get started, will be about $500,000… http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-12-04-alaska-fleet_x.htm 8. Pebble isn't behind mixing-zone proposal – ADN commentary By Kurt Fredriksson The Dec. 1 opinion column by Alan Boraas ("Murkowski risks salmon for gold mine") suggests that the Pebble mine is behind the Department of Environmental Conservation's proposal to amend the state's water-quality mixing-zone regulations. Mr. Boraas is entitled to his opinions, and we mean no disrespect. In this case, however, Mr. Boraas' opinions fly in the face of the facts…
http://www.adn.com/opinion/guest_columns/story/ 9. Murkowski risks salmon for gold mine - ADN Commentary by Alan Boraas A proposal by the Murkowski administration would allow the dumping of untreated effluent (sewage, tailings, etc.) into Alaska's salmon streams at the discretion of the state. So far that's been illegal, but this will change if the so-called mixing zones proposal becomes policy….
http://www.adn.com/opinion/guest_columns/story/ 10. Fishermen worry about mixing zones Some fear new pollution rules will undermine industry's clean rep To Juneau salmon troller Steve Ricci, a state proposal to allow new pollution discharges in fish streams appears to be a threat to his livelihood. Ricci said the salmon industry was "in the toilet" three years ago. Now, the industry outlook has improved but "it's still holding on by a thread," he said Monday night.
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/120105/sta 11. December 19 is deadline for comment on mixing zones See
http://www.dec.state.ak.us/water/wqsar/trireview/ 12. Laine Welch on SMART GEAR: Wildlife-saving fishing concepts could net prizes Alaska might boast the world's most abundant and best managed fisheries, but it was glaringly absent last year when it came to offering good ideas for cleaner fishing. The World Wildlife Fund hopes to lure Alaskans as well as others from around the world to participate in its second International Smart Gear competition, which began last week. The best idea will net the winner $25,000; two runners up each will receive $5,000 cash prizes…
http://www.adn.com/money/industries/fishing/ See SmartGear home page at http://www.smartgear.org 13. Diversified Folds Alaska Fisherman's Journal into National Fisherman Diversified Business Communications announced Tuesday that it will fold its regional commercial fishing magazine, Alaska Fisherman's Journal, into its flagship publication, National Fisherman. Alaska Fisherman's Journal, which has served the Pacific Northwest and Alaska since 1977, has been the region's leading commercial fishing title. "We're proud of the coverage we've provided the Alaska industry, and we have nothing but admiration and respect for the readers and advertisers who have supported us," commented John van Amerongen, editor of Alaska Fisherman's Journal since 1984
http://www.sitnews.us/1205news/120705/120705_ 14. Fishermen all smiles at KIB resolution – Gulf Rationalization A bevy of fishermen left Thursday’s Kodiak Island Borough Assembly meeting with grins on their faces… The resolution is the result of a joint City Council and Borough Assembly meeting a month ago to develop a unified position on proposed fisheries management plans. It urges the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to take time to thoroughly study the effect of any plans on fishing communities, with particular emphasis on the impact to the workforce… http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/?pid=19&id=2369 15. Coast Guard establishes new communications site The Coast Guard has established a VHF-FM communications site near Reef Point on St. Paul Island, which became operational Thursday. The site will allow the Coast Guard to monitor and respond to hailing and distress calls relayed over VHF-FM channel 16, 156.8 MHz. This system has a range of approximately 20 miles from Reef Point and is monitored 24-hours a day by Coast Guard watch standers located here. The communications site will enable the public to quickly contact the Coast Guard in the event of a maritime emergency. Mariners near St. Paul Island are advised to hail Coast Guard Juneau Radio when contacting the Coast Guard. http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/780/89876/ 15. Health risks of farmed salmon may outweigh benefits Better find out where your salmon comes from if you want the health benefits to outweigh the risks. A study led by a University at Albany researcher found that contaminants in farmed salmon from certain parts of the world increased the risk of cancer. The risk outweighed the heart health benefits of salmon… http://www.wstm.com/Global/story.asp?S=4181339&nav=2aKD Unfortunately the article doesn’t mention Alaska salmon… 16. Farmed-salmon producers focus on consumers instead of critics Farmed salmon producers in North and South America, who recently spent $100,000 on a lavish advertising insert in one of the world's most influential newspapers, said Wednesday they're focusing on consumers rather than critics as they seek new market share for their product…
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/story.html?id 17. Russia threatens boycott of farmed Norwegian salmon over Cadmuim & Lead Russian authorities are considering denying farmed Norwegian salmon to the Russian market after finding what they deem to be excessively high levels of cadmium and lead
http://www.aftenposten.no/english/business/ 18. Norway Concern Over Russia Salmon Ban Norway expressed concern over a partial ban on its farmed salmon to Russia, its largest market for seafood, saying its fish were tested to meet stringent European Union standards. “We are very surprised because Norwegian salmon is constantly monitored for ... the presence of heavy metals,” said Anne-Kristin Jorgensen, counselor for fisheries at the Norwegian Embassy. Her comments came after the Russian Agriculture Ministry said it would ban imports of salmon from four fish farms beginning this week on account of dangerous levels of lead and cadmium. Levels of lead in the fish were 10 to 18 times higher than Russian safety standards, and those of cadmium almost four times higher, Interfax reported… http://www.sptimes.ru/story/16299 19. Laine Welch's Fish Radio Thursday 12/8/05 Halibut/black cod fisheries yield $3.7m for management costs; Wednesday 12/7/05 Sneaky bathroom photos bust bird scientist aboard F/T Tuesday 12/6/05 AK has lowest fish discards in US; Study credits AK pollock fishery Monday 12/5/05 Toxins in farmed salmon increase cancer risks, outweigh health benefits Friday 12/2/05 Smart Gear contest aims to reduce bycatch in world fisheries http://www.marineconservationalliance.org/fishradio.htm ….& see Laine Welch's Fish Factor at http://www.kinyradio.com/fishfactor.html 20. Federal Subsistence Board Names 10 Communities for Further Analysis in Rural Review Process The Federal Subsistence Board has directed its staff to further analyze 10 communities as the Board continues its rural review process. At its December 6-7 meeting in Anchorage, the Board took public testimony and determined that additional information is needed on these 10 communities before it decides upon any potential changes… This notice was not yet posted but is expected to be soon at http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/news.cfm?gnr=1 21. Subsistence RACs seek representatives – deadline for nominations January 3, 2006 Interested in Subsistence? -Seats are open statewide to subsistence, commercial and sport users. Application packets or information is available from: Ann Wilkinson at (907) 786-3676 or (800) 478-1456 Email ann_wilkinson@fws.gov . Or download application from office of Subsistence Management website at:
http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/racapp.cfm?CFID=8225 Deadline for nominations January 3, 2006 22. Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Councils Winter & Spring Meetings: http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/deadline.cfm 23. IPHC Staff Preliminary Catch Limit Recommendations: 2006
http://www.iphc.washington.edu/halcom/newsrel/2005/ 24. NOAA Notice on Digital Navigation Charts – available and viewable online NOAA's National Ocean Service (NOS) is announcing the distribution of Raster Navigational Charts (RNCs) to the public via the Internet. These RNCs have primary application in navigation and geographic information systems... Paper versions of the nautical charts will continue to be available from existing sources… In addition, NOS is announcing the availability of a public service by which fully updated versions of NOAA nautical charts are posted on the Internet in a manner that they may be readily examined on-line. The intent of this service is to make the updated charts easily accessible anywhere for use as a planning and reference tool. Access to the on-line, nautical chart viewer can be had from http://www.NauticalCharts.gov/viewer Federal Register Notice:
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan2005 25. NMFS Workshop on non-AFA trawl Catcher/processor catch monitoring standards, Dec 16, Seattle NMFS will present a workshop on proposed catch-monitoring standards for the non-American Fisheries Act (AFA) trawl catcher/processor sector. These standards are necessary to support proposed groundfish and prohibited species allocations to these sectors that are under consideration by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. December 16, 2005, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. local time. Nordby Center, in Fishermen's terminal, 1711 W Nickerson St., Seattle, WA. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan Kinsolving, 928-774-4362.
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan 26. Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute, Juneau – Construction Update Steel has been rising fast on the skyline at Lena Point near Juneau, Alaska, where a new NOAA Fisheries research facility is taking shape on the rocky bluff. The roof decking on the new facility is in place, and workers expect the final roofing to be on within a couple weeks…
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/newsreleases/ 27. MMRC: Role of Disease in Steller decline Disease is among the many possible causes behind the decline of Alaska's Steller sea lions. But while the pattern of decline is consistent with a disease outbreak, researchers face a lack of material evidence such as infected carcasses. A recent study searched for more circumstantial proof—a presence or absence of disease antibodies in Steller sea lion populations—to answer some key questions… For full study see MMRC home page at http://www.marinemammal.org/ 28. Board of Fisheries Call for Proposals for 2006-2007 – Deadline April 10, 2006 Bristol Bay, Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim, and Alaska Peninsula/Aleutian Islands Finfish Areas and Statewide Finfish Regulations PROPOSAL DEADLINE - APRIL 10, 2006 The Alaska Board of Fisheries is accepting proposed changes to the subsistence, personal use, sport, guided sport, and commercial finfish regulations for the Bristol Bay, Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim, and Alaska Peninsula/Aleutian Islands management areas. Finfish includes: salmon, herring, trout, groundfish, char, burbot, northern pike, whitefish, Pacific cod, sablefish, shark, pollock, etc., but does not include halibut. In addition, the board is accepting proposed changes to the subsistence, personal use, sport, guided sport, and commercial statewide finfish provisions regulations. http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/fishinfo/meetinfo/fcall.php 29. Collaborative Pacific Halibut Bycatch Control by Canada and the United States Report by Bruce M. Leaman and Gregg H. Williams Bycatch of Pacific halibut, Hippoglossusstenolepis, in nontarget fisheries has been a major resource removal since the 1960’s (Williams et al., 1989). Although targeted by directed commercial setline and recreational fisheries, bycatches of halibut occur in many other fisheries… http://spo.nmfs.noaa.gov/mfr662/mfr6624.pdf
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