|
UFA Update March 13, 2006 See UFA at COMFISH booth 114, March 16-18 http://www.comfishalaska.com/ New and renewing members paying yearly dues at COMFISH will receive a free UFA hat. For COMFISH website and info see item #8 below. To support UFA’s work through individual or crew/supporter membership - see our website at www.ufa-fish.org . To be removed from this email list, please send an email to ufa@ufa-fish.org , including your name. Notes to members: The UFA Board spoke with a DEC representative at our Board of Directors meeting March 1, and commented strongly against DEC’s proposed seafood processing regulations as “a solution in search of a problem”. Especially objectionable were the notion of holding fish in the round for up to three days. We expect that part will be dropped – and we thank the many that wrote in during the comment period. UFA’s environmental chair and many other board members were alarmed that DEC issued the Long Island aerial spraying permit that day yet did not mention it in our conversation. Our position on spraying calls for buffer zones of 1000 feet from anadromous waters, and that alternative methods such as hand thinning where possible. The permit extended the buffer zone to 100 feet. See Item #1. On a more positive note, UFA thanks the City of Valdez, Samson Tug and Barge, Marine Travelift, Senator Lisa Murkowski, and all contributors for their vital roles in Alaska's assistance to Gulf of Mexico fishermen. (See Item #2). Governor Murkowski has issued an RFP for public relations to help improve the image of Alaska in the lower 48 (Item 3). Our direct help to Gulf of Mexico states may be even more important to our work in Washington to fight fish farms with their seats on the committee that will hear the bill (see Item #4). Other actions of the UFA Board will be mailed to members soon. CONTENTS 1. State approval of Long herbicide spraying outrages Hydaburg 2. Valdez Boat Lift arrives in new home port – Empire Louisianna 3. Governor issues RFP for “Telling Alaska’s Story” Campaign 4. S1195 Offshore Aquaculture bill to be heard in DC 5. Proposed quota system for halibut charters to be reviewed again 6. Smaller halibut fishery may push consumer's price limits 7. ‘Jellied’ halibut spreading 8. Kodiak gears up for ComFish '06 9. Alaska Crab Enhancement and Rehabilitation Workshop – Kodiak March 14-16 10. Kodiak: Three state cod fisheries expect to finish quickly 11. GAO says fish councils lack participation framework 12. Harvest level rises but demand for sac roe herring dwindles 13. Fisheries revitalization receives another blow in BOF Sitka Herring split rejection 14. New state Pacific cod fishery set to open west of Aleutian Islands 15. Pacific cod poised for strong sales in export markets 16. Stevens outlines Pebble stance 17. Alaskans, consider Lower 48's mistakes 18. Pebble mine resolution shut down 19. Restrictions on Kvichak River Salmon Harvest 20. BBNA Bristol Bay Economic Action Summit - March 23-24 in Dillingham 21. Fishing boat lost off Admiralty Island Friday morning 22. NOAA offers reward for information on Juneau harbor seal shootings 23. NOAA's lab gets funding; other marine studies feel the pinch 24. Board declines to close additional area to commercial Dungy crabbers 25. Petersburg Fishermen speak out against hike in harbor rates 26. More fishermen finding success with premium processing standards 27. AK DCCED to test RFID and GPS Tracking Technology with Food Aid Shipment 28. ASMI: Waitstaff Become Alaska Seafood ‘Experts’ to Raise Customer Awarenes 29. New Farmed Salmon Standards adopted by Wegmans and Bon Appétit 30. Death of wild salmon linked to lice, study says 31. USDA Economic Research Service – Aquaculture Outlook report for 2006 32. Seabird Avoidance solutions come of science-fishing teamwork 33. Bering Sea, Aleutian longline cod fishery scores MSC environmental label 34. Coastal Villages Region Fund increases ownership in American Seafoods Group 35. Warming trend imperils life in Bering Sea 36. U.S. may ban krill fishing for sea's sake 37. CA & OR Chinook fishing could be limited 38. Alaska Fishermen’s Memorial (Juneau) deadline April 10. 39. WA: Pastor blesses fishermen and dead found at Seattle's Fishermen's Terminal 40. USCG Safety Alert: Strike First Fire Extinguishers 41. Boating Safety and Survival Training Offered – Sitka March 23 42. Photo in the News: "Yeti Crab" Discovered in Deep Pacific 43. Laine Welch's Fish Radio –Topics from this week 44. Comment deadline April 28, 2006 on Crab Rationalization Amendment 20 45. NMFS proposes CDQ exemption from BSAI Crab Capacity Reduction Program 46. NOAA posts amendments to Civil Procedures - effective April 10, 2006 47. USCG revises Cruise Ship Security zones to exempt fishing vessels while fishing 48. USCG seeks Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee – apply by April 1. 49. NPFMC agenda for April 3-11, 2006 50. NMFS announces 2006 and 2007 harvest and PSC for BSAI and GOA groundfish. 51. NMFS Provides Guidance for Using Crab Longline and Pot Logbooks 52. IPHC seeks longline charters for May 29-August 31 2006 53. ADF&G Second Solicitation of bids for Chatham Sablefish Pot Gear Survey 54. NOAA Marine Sciences Scholarship Expanding 56. DCCED 2006 Fisheries Economic Development Grant Program - Deadline May 5, 2006 57. AK Department of Revenue Alaska Salmon production Report for 2005 58. ADF&G Staff Comments for March 17-25 Board of Fisheries Meeting 59. Comment Deadline April 17 on AK wastewater discharge AKPDES program 60. Deadline April 5 on CFEC PWS Sablefish gear codes and Aquatic farms 61. ADFG Management Reports posted 62. US Dept of Commerce report: Imports and Exports Of Fishery Products 2005 63. MMRC Steller Sea Lion Research - six part movie series- Episode 4 64. Alaska Department of Revenue letter to fisheries business taxpayers RE Salmon Product Development Tax 65. Marine Advisory Program FISHBIZ Alaska Fisheries Business Assistance Project 66. Fishlines – the newsletter of University of Alaska Sea Grant 67. Wild Catch – inaugural Issue 68. USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service Value-Added Producer Grants deadline March 31 1. State approval of Long herbicide spraying outrages Hydaburg Klukwan intends to curb alder, salmonberry on 1,950 acres of forest The state of Alaska approved a new permit Wednesday for a private trust set up by Klukwan Inc. to spray herbicides on nearly 2,000 acres of second-growth timber on Long Island. The decision prompted outrage from nearby Hydaburg on Thursday.
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/030306/sta DEC Long Island page: http://www.dec.state.ak.us/eh/pest/klukwannotify.htm 2. Valdez Boat Lift arrives in new home port – Empire Louisianna PLAQUEMINES PARISH- “It made it here,” a happy Lonnie Grecco said after months of hard work by folks from all over the country labored, often for free, to move the Marine Travelift donated by the City of Valdez to people of Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. The giant boat lift finally arrived at its new home port on the Gulf Coast last week and reassembly began Tuesday morning. “We really appreciate the Travelift,” said Sal Ferrel, who works in the offices of the Parish. “We’re actually going to have a dedication,” she said. http://www.valdezstar.net/03082006story_two.html 3. Governor issues RFP for “Telling Alaska’s Story” Campaign (Juneau) – The office of Governor Frank H. Murkowski is soliciting proposals to gather baseline information to begin work on a national public relations campaign to tell Alaska’s story to the nation. The effort is the first step in the governor’s proposed national education campaign announced during his State of the State Address in January. The request for proposals was posted on the state’s online public notice system Friday… http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=2241 4. S1195 Offshore Aquaculture bill to be heard in DC National Ocean Policy Study Hearing Thursday, April 6 2006 - 10:00 AM - SD-562 Description: The Senate Commerce Committee's National Ocean Policy Study Subcommittee has announced a hearing on Offshore Aquaculture scheduled for Thursday, April 6, at 10:00 a.m. in room 562 of the Dirksen Building… Committee announcement: http://commerce.senate.gov/hearings/witnesslist.cfm?id=1810 Committee membership info: http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/cgi-bin/newcommittee.cgi?commcode=scommerce_ocean&site=ctc For complete bill see http://thomas.loc.gov/, select “search by bill number” and enter S1195. Note to members: this committee includes Senator Stevens and Senators from Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi. We will make sure that they have heard of Alaska’s help to their region’s fishermen. By the way, Washington residents should contact Senator Cantwell and share your feelings about fish farms off our coasts: http://cantwell.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm 5. Proposed quota system for halibut charters to be reviewed again A plan to allocate individual fishing quotas for halibut charter boats will be back before a federal fisheries panel in April, for a fresh look at proposed new industry alternatives. In the interim, a stakeholders committee met in late February, and is scheduled to meet again March 21-22 in Anchorage to develop two alternatives for longer-term management of the charter halibut fishery…
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/031206/coa (UFA supports the Charter Halibut IFQ program adopted by the NPFMC in 2001). & Inconsistent log books hinder halibut options Inconsistent logbook data for saltwater charter boats and missing information are frustrating renewed efforts to map out halibut charter boat fishery regulation options for southeast and southcentral Alaska…
http://peninsulaclarion.com/stories/030506/news & Saving Fisheries With Free Markets – IFQ paper by Donald R. Leal http://www.ifqsforfisheries.org/pdf/saving_fisheries.pdf 6. Smaller halibut fishery may push consumer's price limits A reduced supply of Alaska halibut - just 55 million pounds - may prove to be a test of consumers' price tolerance as the 2006 harvest hits retail markets…
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/031206/coa 7. ‘Jellied’ halibut spreading This week commercial fishermen geared up their boats to kick off the opening of the halibut fishery and soon will be followed by sport and charter boat fishermen, all in hot pursuit of this sweet, flaky-fleshed bottom fish. But not all halibut will be welcomed onboard charter boats or into the fish market. After last year’s halibut season, charter boat fishermen are increasingly on the lookout for the jellied halibut, a sickly fish fishermen prefer to throw back if they identify it before slicing it open, said Perry Flotre, a charter boat operator out of Ninilchik…
http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/030706/ 8. Kodiak gears up for ComFish '06 Fisheries politics and economics, from a gubernatorial debate to a plan to privatize groundfish fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska, will be in the forefront at ComFish 2006 in Kodiak March 16-18…
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/031206/coa & Homer Seawatch: Comfish on tap in Kodiak
http://www.homernews.com/stories/030806/seawatch UFA will be at COMFISH booth 114 9. Alaska Crab Enhancement and Rehabilitation Workshop – Kodiak March 14-16 Kodiak College and Kodiak High School, March 14–16, 2006 The Alaska Crab Enhancement and Rehabilitation Workshop will be the first to bring together a group of international scientists doing cutting-edge research on cultivation and stock enhancement of crabs and lobsters…Topics may include stock enhancement, management issues, industry perspective, technical considerations, economic considerations, and community perspectives…The third day of the workshop will be a Kodiak ComFish Seminar with a keynote presentation, summary presentations, and a public forum… http://www.uaf.edu/seagrant/Conferences/crab06/index.html &&& Hatcheries examined as key to Alaska crab recovery http://www.uaf.edu/seagrant/NewsMedia/06news/02-28-06crab-meeting.html && Nations gather to discuss crab enhancement http://www.adn.com/money/industries/fishing/story/7479656p-7389701c.html 10. Kodiak: Three state cod fisheries expect to finish quickly The National Marine Fisheries Service announced the closure of the inshore processing component of the Pacific cod fishery in the Western Gulf of Alaska, effective at noon on March 2. The South Alaska Peninsula Area state waters Pacific cod fishery opens March 9, seven days after the Western Gulf closes on. The Central Gulf federal cod fishery closed Tuesday at noon. The cod fishery in Kodiak state waters also opens by regulation seven days later at noon, March 7. “The fleets that fish these two state fisheries have high catching power and the potential for the fisheries to be fairly quick,” said Alaska Department of Fish and Game fisheries biologist Nick Sagalkin … http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/?pid=19&id=2730 11. GAO says fish councils lack participation framework Kodiak Daily Mirror Guest Opinion by Stephen Taufen - The U.S. Government Accountability Office has issued a report critical to the development of dedicated access privilege (DAP) programs designed to end overfishing and promote conservation. On the gao.gov Web site under recently issued reports, GAO-06-289 is titled “Core Principles and a Strategic Approach Would Enhance Stakeholder Participation in Developing Quota-Based Programs.” http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/?pid=19&id=2738 GAO-06-289 is online at: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06289.pdf Report Abstract:
http://www.gao.gov/docsearch/abstract.php?rptno 12. Harvest level rises but demand for sac roe herring dwindles The Kodiak sac roe herring fishery opens April 15. The total guideline harvest level (GHL) for the season is 3,705 tons, a 7 percent increase over last year and the fourth highest for the fishery. The 2004 GHL was 2,850 tons with the 2005 GHL set at 3,475 tons. The GHLs are divided between 82 sections in the Kodiak management area. There are no major changes from the previous season, said Alaska Department of Fish and Game area management biologist Dennis Gretsch… http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/?pid=19&id=2791 13. Fisheries revitalization receives another blow in BOF Sitka Herring split rejection Juneau Empire letter to the editor by Chip Treinen - The daunting task of fisheries revitalization was dealt another blow by the Board of Fish in Ketchikan last Sunday (Feb. 19). In a 4-2 vote, the board rejected a proposal to split the quota equally among the 51 permit holders in the Sitka sac rose herring seine fishery.
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/022806/ Chip Treinen is an At-large Representative on the UFA Board of Directors, elected by individual members. 14. New state Pacific cod fishery set to open west of Aleutian Islands A new state open-access Pacific cod fishery, within three miles of shore, opens in mid-March west of the Aleutian Islands with a guideline harvest level of nearly 13 million pounds.
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/031206/ Kodiak Daily Mirror Story: http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/?pid=19&id=2760 15. Pacific cod poised for strong sales in export markets Pacific cod harvests from Alaska are in strong demand in the marketplace, thanks to worldwide shortages of the fish and acceptance of Pacific cod in European markets.
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/031206/ 16. Stevens outlines Pebble stance Senator against mine, supports creating climate for investment …Gold mining was the first item on the agenda. The senator announced his opposition last week to a plan by the Canadian corporation Northern Dynasty Mines Ltd. to open southwest Alaska’s Pebble Mine. His opposition is based on the region’s other natural resource: salmon…
http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/030606/ 17. Alaskans, consider Lower 48's mistakes …Our research has found that the diverse network of pristine watersheds throughout Bristol Bay is a primary reason why salmon fisheries have been sustainable for over a century. Certain Bristol Bay watersheds are especially productive during certain climatic conditions, while other watersheds are more productive during other climatic conditions. Thus, the intact network of pristine and diverse habitat is ultimately responsible for maintaining high salmon production at the scale of Bristol Bay… http://www.adn.com/opinion/guest_columns/story/7528961p-7440723c.html 18. Pebble mine resolution shut down A bipartisan resolution calling for more scrutiny of the proposed Pebble gold and copper project appears dead in the state Legislature… http://www.adn.com/money/story/7521416p-7433547c.html 19. Restrictions on Kvichak River Salmon Harvest The world famous Kvichak River in Bristol Bay used to support the world's largest run of sockeye salmon, but the number of sockeyes expected to return this year is so low that the river will not support a commercial harvest and the state is once again cutting back on the sport fishing bag limit. From member station KDLG Jody Seitz has more. KDLG Audio report:
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/apti/news.newsmain 20. BBNA Bristol Bay Economic Action Summit - March 23-24 in Dillingham Plans to address the region’s skyrocketing energy costs are firming up for the Bristol Bay Economic Action Summit to be held March 22-23, 2006 in Dillingham http://www.bbna.com/econdev/econ.htm 21. Fishing boat lost off Admiralty Island Friday morning Rick Nebert's 34-foot gillnetter, the Slayer, called in a mayday just before 7 a.m. Friday, U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Richard Reichenbach said. Nebert, 42, of Juneau, was fishing in high winds with 18-year-old deckhand Matthew Young of Sitka, the Coast Guard reported…
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/031206/loc 22. NOAA offers reward for information on Juneau harbor seal shootings NOAA Fisheries Service’s Office for Law Enforcement is offering up to $2,500 for information about the shooting of two Harbor Seals near Juneau, Alaska. Both shootings are believed to have occurred during the second week of February 2006, near Outer Point on Douglas Island. The reward is conditional upon information leading to an arrest, conviction, civil penalty assessment or forfeiture of property for violations against those responsible… http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ole/news/news_AKD_030806.htm 23. NOAA's lab gets funding; other marine studies feel the pinch Federal fisheries scientists in Juneau are suffering a budget pinch this year, and are anticipating an even tougher scramble to maintain their research projects in Alaska next year…
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/031206/ & New fisheries lab stays on schedule The Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute at Lena Point is on schedule and on budget, federal officials said.
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/031206/ 24. Board declines to close additional area to commercial Dungy crabbers Echo Cove, Funter Bay and Taku Harbor will remain open A bid to close three bays around Juneau to commercial Dungeness crabbing was quashed by the Alaska Board of Fisheries…
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/022806/loc_ 25. Petersburg Fishermen speak out against hike in harbor rates At the City Council meeting on Monday night fishermen stepped forward to speak out against the raising of the harbor rates. Bob Nilsen, a long time fisherman in Petersburg said he is very concerned about the harbor rate increases. “I was under the impression there would be a 28% increase with two 6% increases following,” said Nilsen. “My wife and I left in December and when we came back we had a 78% increase.”…
http://www.petersburgpilot.com/www/stories/2006/ 26. More fishermen finding success with premium processing standards The nation's top cooks have awarded Cook Inlet reds the gold for being the best-tasting fresh-frozen salmon when processed by the standards of Kenai Wild…
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/031206/coa_S 27. AK DCCED to test RFID and GPS Tracking Technology with Food Aid Shipment The State of Alaska Department of Commerce – Community and Economic Development, has partnered with Franwell, Inc. to implement a pilot study, testing RFID and GPS tracking technology to increase Food Aid shipment accountability, delivery confirmation, security, quality and safety… http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/3/prweb356040.htm 28. ASMI: Waitstaff Become Alaska Seafood ‘Experts’ to Raise Customer Awarenes Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) has just added new waitstaff tips to their merchandising materials in an effort to help operators drive Alaska Seafood sales. “Cheat Sheets” have been developed for Wild Alaska Black Cod, Crab, Cod & Pollock and Scallops to complete their species educational materials for your waitstaff…
http://www.pmq.com/cgi-script/csNews/csNews.cgi?database=industrynews.db& For ASMI Foodservice
Newsletters see
http://www.alaskaseafood.org/foodservice/newsletter/ 29. New Farmed Salmon Standards adopted by Wegmans and Bon Appétit (March 13, 2006 – Boston, MA) Wegmans Food Markets, one of the country’s most successful and innovative food retailers, and Bon Appétit Management Company, a leading food service company known for its ground-breaking sustainable sourcing practices, announced today at the Boston Seafood Show that they have adopted new purchasing policies to provide their customers with farmed king salmon that meets strong health and environmental criteria. The policies were developed in consultation with Environmental Defense, a leading environmental advocacy organization.
http://www.environmentaldefense.org/pressrelease.cfm Bon Apetit / Wegmans Farmed Salmon Purchasing Policy:
http://www.environmentaldefense.org/documents/5117 30. Death of wild salmon linked to lice, study says More research is pointing to a link between the mortality of wild salmon and sea lice. In a paper published Friday in the Alaska Fishery Research Bulletin, researcher Alexandra Morton of the Raincoast Research Society and Rick Routledge of Simon Fraser University report that mortality rates increase as lice infestations intensify.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC. 31. USDA Economic Research Service – Aquaculture Outlook report for 2006
http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/so/view.asp?f= 32. Seabird Avoidance solutions come of science-fishing teamwork As long as men have set sail to reap the bounty of the sea, seabirds have flocked toward their boats looking for an easy meal. All too often, these birds became unwitting victims of the fishermen's hooks and lines… But now, these accidental seabird deaths have been significantly reduced, thanks to the fishing industry and scientists putting their heads together. This process of collaborative research points the way toward addressing other issues facing our fishing fleets… Working together, industry and scientists can maintain a sustainable fishery that provides a source of healthful seafood and protects our broad national interests in a healthy ocean.
http://www.adn.com/opinion/guest_columns/story/ Seabird Avoidance Measures for Small Alaskan Longline Vessels by Edward F. Melvin and Michelle D. Wainstein - 6 MB download report:
http://www.wsg.washington.edu/research/living/ 33. Bering Sea, Aleutian longline cod fishery scores MSC environmental label The freezer longline Pacific cod fishery in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands has been certified by the Marine Stewardship Council as a sustainable, eco-friendly and well managed fishery…
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/031206/coa_ 34. Coastal Villages Region Fund increases ownership in American Seafoods Group An Alaska company has substantially boosted its ownership stake in Seattle-based American Seafoods Group, one of the North Pacific's most powerful commercial fishing companies. Coastal Villages Region Fund, based in Anchorage, teamed with American's chief executive, Bernt Bodal, to buy out a New York private-equity firm's 23 percent share in American in a deal worth nearly $82 million, company executives announced late Monday… http://www.adn.com/money/industries/fishing/story/7490876p-7400986c.html Alaska Journal of Commerce story:
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/031206/coa_ Seattle Times story:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology 35. Warming trend imperils life in Bering Sea Whales, walruses, seabirds and fish are struggling to survive the changing climate of the Bering Sea, their northern feeding grounds perhaps permanently disrupted by warmer temperatures and melting ice, scientists reported in the journal Science on Thursday…
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/7518170p 36. U.S. may ban krill fishing for sea's sake West Coast decline in population means other species die Federal regulators are considering for the first time a West Coast ban on fishing for some of the ocean's tiniest creatures, the shrimplike krill that support a vast food web of fish, seabirds and whales… http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/03/08/BAGFLHJJ8563.DTL 37. CA & OR Chinook fishing could be limited Ocean chinook salmon fishing seems destined to take a major hit this spring and summer along most of the Oregon coast, perhaps as early as the April 1 opening. Curt Melcher, deputy fish division chief for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, said a sharp decline in the predicted return of Klamath River chinook salmon is causing the Pacific Fishery Management Council to consider dramatic cutbacks in fishing…
http://www.oregonlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/sports 38. Alaska Fishermen’s Memorial (Juneau) deadline April 10. The Alaska Commercial Fishermen’s Memorial in Juneau announces that applications for engraving names of commercial fishermen and women on the Memorial are now available. The Memorial must receive applications and full payment by April 10, 2006. The names will be engraved on the Memorial just before this year's Blessing of the Fleet and Dedication of Names, which will be on Saturday May 6, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. For more information, call Bruce Weyhrauch at 907-463-5566. or Tom Gemmell at 907-523-0731 or tomgemmellmca@ak.net 39. WA: Pastor blesses fishermen and dead found at Seattle's Fishermen's Terminal The yearly blessing of the North Pacific fishing fleet Sunday became a remembrance of fishers lost not only at sea but at Seattle's Fishermen's Terminal as well… http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/262687_fleet13.html 40. USCG Safety Alert: Strike First Fire Extinguishers http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/moa/docs/1-06.pdf 41. Boating Safety and Survival Training Offered – Sitka March 23 As a part of gearing up for the fishing and boating season, commercial fishermen and other boaters will be offered a one-day, hands-on safety and survival workshop in Sitka on Friday, March 23 by the Alaska Marine Safety Education Association (AMSEA). Cost for this course is $125.00, but it is available free to licensed commercial fishermen thanks to funding from National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the USCG and the State of Alaska Department of Commerce and Community Economic Development… For additional information or to register, contact AMSEA at 907-747-3287 or www.amsea.org 42. Photo in the News: "Yeti Crab" Discovered in Deep Pacific
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/03/ 43. Laine Welch's Fish Radio –Topics from this week Monday 3/13/06 BSea snow crab catches picking up; prices are too! Friday 3/10//06 High winds ground early halibut catches, prices through the ceiling! Thursday 3/9/06 Brain implants by US military turns fish into underwater spies Wednesday 3/8/06 Grass roots voice growing loud in the Gulf Tuesday 3/7/06 Fairbanks Rep. aims to gut fisheries budgets See: http://www.marineconservationalliance.org/fishradio.htm & also see Laine Welch's Fish Factor Radio at http://www.kinyradio.com/fishfactor.html 44. Comment deadline April 28, 2006 on Crab Rationalization Amendment 20 …Amendment 20 would modify the FMP and the Program to increase resource conservation and improve economic efficiency in the Chionoecetes bairdi crab (Tanner crab) fisheries that are subject to the Program… Copies of Amendment 20 and the Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review/Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (EA/RIR/IRFA) for this action may be obtained from the NMFS Alaska Region…or from the Alaska Region Web site at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries.htm Federal Register Notice:
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800 45. NMFS proposes CDQ exemption from BSAI Crab Capacity Reduction Program NMFS publishes this proposed rule to exempt any crab landed under the Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program from the fee regulations for the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crab Fishing Capacity Reduction Program, to provide that crab buyers disburse fee collections to NMFS not later than the 7th calendar day of each month, and to provide that the annual report from each crab buyer shall be submitted to NMFS by July 1 of each calendar year. The fee regulations otherwise remain unchanged. The intent of this proposed rule is to modify the fee rules so that they do not apply to any crab allocated pursuant to the CDQ Program, and to ease the fee collection burden for crab buyers. DATES: Written comments on this proposed rule must be received by March 31, 2006.
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800 46. NOAA posts amendments to Civil Procedures - effective April 10, 2006 NOAA is amending its Civil Procedures governing NOAA's administrative proceedings for assessment of civil penalties; suspension, revocation, modification, or denial of permits; issuance and use of written warnings; and release or forfeiture of seized property…
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800 47. USCG revises Cruise Ship Security zones to exempt fishing vessels while fishing The Coast Guard is revising its first supplemental notice of proposed rule rulemaking published October 31, 2005, establishing permanent moving security zones around all escorted High Capacity Passenger Vessels (``HCPV'') and escorted Alaska Marine Highway System Vessels (``AMHS vessels'') during their transit in the navigable waters of the Seventeenth Coast Guard District to exempt from the provisions of this rule all commercial fishing vessels, as defined by applicable United States Code, only while actively engaged in fishing…
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800 48. USCG seeks members for Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee – apply by April 1. The Coast Guard seeks applications for membership on the Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Advisory Committee (CFIVSAC). CFIVSAC advises and makes recommendations to the Coast Guard for improving commercial fishing industry safety practices…
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800 49. NPFMC agenda for April 3-11, 2006 http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/Agendas/406Agenda.pdf & NPFMC Committees and Workgroups (Revised February 23, 2006)
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/membership/committees & NPFMC Newsletter for February http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/newsletters/NEWS206.pdf 50. NMFS announces 2006 and 2007 final harvest and PSC for BSAI and Gulf of Alaska groundfish. NMFS announces 2006 and 2007 final harvest specifications and prohibited species catch (PSC) allowances for the groundfish fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI)…. And Gulf of Alaska… BSAI Notice:
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800 Gulf of Alaska Final 2006 and 2007 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish Notice:
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800 51. NMFS Provides Guidance for Using Crab Longline and Pot Logbooks The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces guidance in recording crab information in the Catcher Vessel Daily Fishing Logbook for Longline or Pot Gear (DFL) and in the Catcher/processor Daily Cumulative Production Logbook for Longline or Pot Gear (DCPL), according to Robert D. Mecum, Acting Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS…
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/index/infobulletins/bulletin.asp 52. IPHC seeks longline charters for May 29-August 31 2006 IPHC Requests Bids for 2006 Stock Assessment and Experimental Fishing Charters The International Pacific Halibut Commission is seeking commercial longline vessels to conduct survey and experimental fishing between May 29th and August 31st 2006…
http://www.iphc.washington.edu/halcom/newsrel/2006/ 53. ADF&G Second Solicitation of bids for Chatham Sablefish Pot Gear Survey The Alaska Department of
Fish and Game is re-requesting bids to catch, tag, and release sablefish in
Chatham Strait (NSEI Subdistrict), due to a lack of bids received during the
first solicitation period. The objective is to tag and release approximately
8,000 sablefish. The survey is scheduled to begin on June 1, 2006 and must
be completed by June 25, 2006…
http://documents.cf1.adfg.state.ak.us/AdfgDocument. 54. NOAA Marine Sciences Scholarship Expanding NOAA Fisheries leaders in Alaska and Sheldon Jackson College educators met in Sitka this week to focus on NOAA’s Future Fishery Management Leadership Project. "In collaboration with the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council, we started this fisheries scholarship program two years ago," said NOAA Fisheries Regional Administrator Doug Mecum. "This week we met at Sheldon Jackson College to focus on expanding the program to include post-graduate work with the University of Alaska and strengthening our summer internships with NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center."
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/newsreleases/sheldon 56. DCCED 2006 Fisheries Economic Development Grant Program - Deadline May 5, 2006 The State is pleased to announce another grant program for the Fisheries Economic Development Grant Program administered by the Department of Commerce. The grant program is part of the Governor’s $50 million Fisheries Revitalization Strategy, a multi-faceted plan designed, in part, to spur increased productivity and innovation in the Alaska fishing industry by investing resources into critical commercial fisheries infrastructure and capital improvement projects… Deadline May 5, 2006 For Grant Application Guide and other info see:
http://www.dced.state.ak.us/oed/seafood/ For info call or email: Glenn Haight at (907) 465-5464, or email: glenn_haight@commerce.state.ak.us -or- Debbie McBride at (907) 465-2023, or email: debbie_mcbride@commerce.state.ak.us 57. AK Department of Revenue Alaska Salmon production Report for 2005
http://www.tax.state.ak.us/programs/fisheries/reports/2005 & Alaska Salmon Price Report for Sept - Dec 2005
http://www.tax.state.ak.us/programs/fisheries/reports 58. ADF&G Staff Comments on Dungeness Crab, Shrimp, Miscellaneous Shellfish and Supplemental Issues – for March 17-25 Board of Fisheries Meeting, Anchorage AK.
http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/fishinfo/meetinfo/ 59. Comment Deadline April 17 on AK wastewater discharge AKPDES program The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 18 of the Alaska Administrative Code for the Alaska Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (APDES) Program to administer wastewater discharge permits in accordance with State law (including AS 46.03.020(12)) and the Clean Water Act (including 33 U.S.C. §§ 1342 and 1345). The proposed regulations include: • Changes to 18 AAC 15, Administrative Procedures, to accommodate APDES permitting • Changes to 18 AAC 72, Wastewater Treatment and Disposal, to accommodate APDES permits for discharges to surface waters • A new Chapter, designated as 18 AAC 83, Alaska Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program, that includes purpose and applicability; the permit process; use of general permits and permits-by-rule; permit application requirements; permit conditions; general provisions;and definitions • Any necessary or appropriate changes to implement the APDES Program …The comments must be received no later than 3:00 p.m. on April 17, 2006.
http://notes5.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/cc52605f7c15 60. Deadline April 5 on CFEC PWS Sablefish gear codes and Aquatic farms The Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission, proposes to adopt a regulation change in Title 20, Chapter 05 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with fishery gear codes including the following: The Commission proposes to amend 20 AAC 05.220(a) to allow the use of pot gear as authorized by the Board of Fisheries in the Prince William Sound sablefish fisheries, and to establish a gear code for aquatic farming. The comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 5, 2006.
http://notes5.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/cc52605f7c & CFEC Meeting schedule: http://www.cfec.state.ak.us/notices/PUBNOTCDec05.pdf 61. ADFG Management Reports posted Recent reports are available at http://www.cf.adfg.state.ak.us/geninfo/pubs/pubs_recent.php Recent reports: Report # 06-05 - ADFG Annual Summary of the Commercial, Subsistence, and Personal Use Salmon Fisheries and Salmon Escapements in the Alaska peninsula, Aleutian Islands, and Atka-Amlia Islands Management Areas, 2005 http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/FedAidPDFs/fmr06-05.pdf Report # 06-06 - Kodiak Managemenr Area Salmon Daily and Cululative Escapement Counts for River Systems with Fish Weirs, 1996 - 2005 http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/FedAidPDFs/fmr06-06.pdf Report No. 06-07 - Southeast Alaska Sac Roe Herring Fishery, 2006 http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/FedAidPDFs/fmr06-07.pdf Report # 06-09 – 2006 Review of Cook Inlet Area Commercial Fisheries for Dungeness Crab, Shrimp, and Miscellaneous Shellfish Fisheries - http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/FedAidPDFs/sp06-09.pdf Report No. 06-10 - Review of Prince William Sound Management Area Dungeness crab, shrimp, and miscellaneous shellfish fisheries, a report to the Alaska Board of Fisheries http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/FedAidPDFs/sp06-10.pdf Report No. 06-11 - Annual management Report for the Commercial Waethervane Scallop Fisheries in Alaska’s Westward region http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/FedAidPDFs/fmr06-11.pdf 62. US Dept of Commerce report: Imports and Exports Of Fishery Products Annual Summary, 2005 Current Fisheries Statistics No. 2005-2 http://www.st.nmfs.gov/st1/trade/documents/TRADE2005.pdf 63. MMRC Steller Sea Lion Research - six part movie series- Episode 4 Hazy's Progress Late last year, Vancouver Aquarium and Marine Science Centre staff transferred a Steller sea lion named Hazy to an innovative open water research site. There, she is helping scientists to understand how much energy she uses when diving and foraging at depth… http://www.marinemammal.org/2006/hazy_progress.php Marine Mammal Research Consortium home page: http://www.marinemammal.org 64. Alaska Department of Revenue letter to fisheries business taxpayers RE Salmon Product Development Tax
http://www.tax.state.ak.us/programs/fisheries/ 65. Marine Advisory Program FISHBIZ Alaska Fisheries Business Assistance Project Providing information and resources to Alaska's fishermen, processors, and marine-related businesses… Tools and Information: Alaska Seafood Processing Leadership Institute, Publications and Presentations, Online Business Resource Guide for Alaska Fishermen Upcoming Workshops…and more info is at: http://www.uaf.edu/map/fishbiz/ 66. Fishlines – the newsletter of University of Alaska Sea Grant This months topics include: Zooplankton Research Allee elected SGA Liaison Alaska Science Bowl Whales Prey on Longlines Sea Grant Conferences And more… http://www.uaf.edu/seagrant/Fishlines/2006/mar06.html 67. Wild Catch – inaugural Issue Wild Catch is a business publication devoted to this supply chain and to enabling the marketers of wild seafood — including retailers and restaurants — to be better equipped with vital focuses, features, information, news, regulations on wild seafood species and how best to source the products, and ultimately market it to the consumer… http://www.wildcatchmagazine.com/ 68. USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service Value-Added Producer Grants deadline March 31 For details see
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops & Federal register Notice: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service hereby announces the maximum dollar amount on loan and grant awards under the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program for fiscal year (FY) 2006. The maximum dollar award on zero-interest loans for FY 2006 is $740,000. The maximum dollar award on grants for FY 2006 is $300,000…
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800
|