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UFA Update December 2 , 2006 VOTE FISH in the FSA County Committee election – ballot deadline Dec 4 (item #4) NPFMC Meeting – Anchorage Hilton – agenda: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/Agendas/1206Agenda.pdf UFA will be there in support of Halibut fishermen in the face of rampant overharvest by the charter sector in area 2C and significant overharvest in 3A. Please attend and testify for sustainable & responsible fisheries management for all sectors! Whether you are a commercial, sport, or subsistence fisherman, or public consumer of halibut, this is important to you. NPFMC home page: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/ For Halibut & GOA Rationalization items, see # 21 below BOF Bristol Bay meeting, Dillingham- agenda:
http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/fishinfo/meetinfo Governor-elect Palin Fish and Game Transition Team UFA is represented on the team with Executive Director Vinsel, and UFA Board member Linda Kozak from our newest membr group, Crab Group of Independent harvesters; and UFA Board Alternate Roland Maw of Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association. The Fish and Game transition team will begin its work Monday after Governor Palin’s inauguration ceremony. To submit ideas for
the Fish and Game Transition team online see:
http://www.gov.state.ak.us/govelect/comment/ Support UFA through individual, crew or business membership at: http://www.ufa-fish.org/members.htm Contents 1. Palin begins filling the state's top jobs – & pushes for brownshirts’ return 2. Bipartisan senate leaders for Alaska -- Strange Alliance: If it holds, Lyda Green will become Senate president… 3. USDA County Committee election – ballot deadline December 4 – Vote Fish. 4. DCCED SE Alaska Salmon Vessel Quality Upgrade Program – call for Applicants 5. DCCED calls for comments on Target Fisheries Assistance program Emer. Regs. 6. Alaska Salmon Fishery MSC Re-Certification on Track 7. Bush may end drilling ban in Alaskan bay 8. NOAA AK Regional Office - Tips for Submitting Effective Public Comments 9. BLM Open House Meetings on Bristol Bay Draft Mgmt Plan / EIS 10. Sport fishing industry speaks out against Pebble Mine project 11. Not enough fish in the sea –LA Times on AK sustainability, WalMart, McDonalds… 12. Cook Inlet Salmon Enhancement Plan Phase II - Deadline January 12 for comments 13. Guides encourage DNR to up power limit on Kenai 14. U.S. balks on double walled tankers… 15. Halibut season winds down 16. Governor Comments on Tongass LMP Forest Plan 17. Effort to improve health care for fisherman gains ground 18. Russian king crab may get eco-label 19. An organic fish is indeed difficult to define 20. Laine Welch's Fish Radio –Topics from this week 21. NPFMC: Items for the December 2006 Council Meeting: 22. NOAA Final Rule for Rockfish Pilot Program 23. NPFMC workshop on gear modifications / Bering Sea Habitat Conservation Dec 7. 24. NOAA Comment request on GOA & BSAI Groundfish COAR reports 25. NOAA Final Rule on Critical Habitat for Southern Resident Orcas, & Recovery Plan 26. F/V Alaska Juris nets $254,500 Penalty for Fisheries Violations 27. MMRC reports: Season of the Sea Lion 28. CFEC Public meeting schedule 29. AFSC Status Review and Extinction Assessment of Cook Inlet Belugas 30. AFSC Seafloor Videos From Bering Sea Research Project: 31. DCCED Notice of Proposed Changes dealing with Western Alaska CDQ program 32. BOF Agenda Change requests for 2006/2007 meetings 33. Deadline December 18 for comment on Halibut Sablefish IFQ changes 34. Deadline January 8 for NOAA Sustainable Fisheries Leadership Awards Nominations 35. Subsistence Board to Consider Rural/Nonrural Status, Dec. 12-13, Anchorage 36. Deadline Jan 5 for Comments on changes to Federal subsistence Kenai Pen. Regs. 37. Southcentral Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Council Meets Dec. 8 38. Office of Subsistence Management Accepting RAC Nominations & Applications 39. Alaska Sea Grant Bookstore Holiday Gifts for 2006 40. Vital Choices November 30 Newsletter 1. Palin begins filling the state's top jobs – & pushes for brownshirts’ return Palin said one of the first things she wants Monegan to do is work on separating Alaska State Troopers back into two different flavors -- brown shirts and blue shirts… http://www.adn.com/news/politics/story/8450896p-8345482c.html AK Governor Transition Team website: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/govelect/ 2. Bipartisan senate leaders for Alaska -- Strange Alliance: If it holds, Lyda Green will become Senate president… State Sen. Lyda Green, a conservative Republican from Wasilla, has joined forces with four other Republicans and eight Democrats to form a group controlling the state Senate... The arrangement would put two of the most powerful political jobs in the state -- governor and president of the Senate -- in the hands of Valley politicians. Sarah Palin of Wasilla was elected governor earlier this month. "The cream rises to the top," said Sen. Charlie Huggins, another Republican from Wasilla.
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/8419615p 3. USDA County Committee election – ballot deadline December 4 – Vote Fish. Ballots were mailed by November 3, 2006, and the last day to return voted ballots to your USDA Service Center is December 4, 2006. If you received TAA you should have received your ballot – if not please contact the Alaska Farm Service Agency office at (907) 761-7738 Scott McAllister and Chip Treinen are board members of UFA and Kevin Adams and Craig Schauf are active fishermen running for County Committees.
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=newsroom& 4. DCCED Southeast Alaska Salmon Vessel Quality Upgrade Program – call for Applicants The Alaska Department of
Commerce, Community & Economic Development is making available Southeast
Alaska Salmon Vessel Quality Upgrade Program grants for salmon fishing and
tendering vessels in Southeast Alaska. Applications and instructions are
available at
http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/oed/seafood/revitalization
http://notes5.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/cc52605f7c156 5. DCCED calls for comments on Target Fisheries Assistance program Emer. Regs. A new chapter 146 is added to 3 AAC regarding the Targeted Fisheries Assistance Program. The new chapter includes provisions addressing purpose and applicability, eligible persons, project eligibility, selection of grant recipients, size and duration of grants, match requirement, acceptance of grant offer, disbursement of money, use of money, and return of money. …comments must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on December 11, 2006.
http://notes5.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/cc52605f7c156 6. Alaska Salmon Fishery MSC Re-Certification on Track Alaska offers to help MSC de-bug process for future recertifications. Alaska’s salmon fishery is on track to being recertified as sustainable under the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standards for sustainably-managed fisheries, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) announced today. The State of Alaska has offered its assistance to the MSC in an effort to streamline the process for fisheries seeking recertification. http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/news/2006/12-1-06_nr.php 7. Bush may end drilling ban in Alaskan bay President Bush is deciding whether to lift a ban on oil and gas drilling in federal waters off Alaska's Bristol Bay, home to endangered whales and sea lions and the world's largest sockeye salmon run…
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1151AP_ &&& Environmentalists bristle over rumor of lifting ban on Bristol Bay drilling Word spread like wildfire through Alaska's environmental community Tuesday of alleged Bush administration plans to lift a presidential moratorium on offshore oil and gas exploration in the North Aleutian Basin…
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/112906/Breaking 8. NOAA AK Regional Office - Tips for Submitting Effective Public Comments http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/prules/effectivecomments.pdf 9. BLM Open House Meetings on Bristol Bay Draft Mgmt Plan / EIS New Stuyahok Dec. 4, 2006 Village Council Building 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Naknek Dec. 5, 2006 Borough Office 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Newhalen Dec. 6, 2006 Teen Center 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Open House Meeting (no ANILCA 810 Hearing) BLM has developed a draft Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/EIS) for 2.5 million acres of BLM-administered public land in the Bristol Bay and Goodnews Bay areas of Alaska. You are encouraged to review the draft plan and provide comments and/or testimony. Comments will be accepted through January 5, 2007. BLM Anchorage Field Office, 6881 Abbott Loop Road, Anchorage, AK 99507 (907) 267-1246 View the draft plan on-line at: http://www.blm.gov/ak/ado/BayRMP01.html The area affected in this plan dwarfs Pebble Mine’s footprint. 10. Sport fishing industry speaks out against Pebble Mine project Members of the sport fishing industry are speaking out against a proposed mine near Lake Iliamna in the Bristol Bay area. Thirty-seven leaders in the sport fishing industry are urging Alaska Governor-elect Sarah Palin and various others to put a stop to the Pebble Mine project. The group wants the state and federal governments to permanently protect the Bristol Bay watershed… http://www.ktva.com/alaska/ci_4729647 11. Not enough fish in the sea –LA Times on Alaska sustainability, WalMart, McDonalds… As ocean seafood populations plummet, catching is mostly unhindered -- only Alaska is willing to self-police. Big business is starting to lend a hand. 12. Cook Inlet Salmon Enhancement Plan Phase II - Deadline January 12 for comments The Commissioner of the Department of Fish and Game through delegation to the Cook Inlet Regional Planning Team proposes to adopt changes in the Cook Inlet Regional Salmon Enhancement Plan: Phase II. For a copy of the proposed changes, contact Craig Farrington, Development Program Manager at Department of Fish and Game, P.O. Box 115526, Juneau, AK 99811-5526; or 907-465-6154, or go to www.cf.adfg/state.ak.us/geninfo/enhance/enhance.php. .. ADF&G Public Notice:
http://notes5.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/cc52605f7c 13. Guides encourage DNR to up power limit on Kenai Guides: Let the horses run free More than 75 people, mostly Kenai River fishing guides, came out in force to give testimony to the Alaska Department of Natural Resources on a proposal to raise outboard motor horsepower limits on the river. to reduce hydrocarbon emissions in the Kenai River and curb bank erosion, DNR is considering amending boat regulations to raise the horsepower limit from 35 to 50 and limit the boat size to 21 feet long and 106 inches wide…
http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/113006/news 14. U.S. balks on double walled tankers… USCG Notice: Double Hull Standards for Vessels Carrying Oil in Bulk; U.S. Position on International Standards for Tank Vessel Design SUMMARY: This notice is to inform the public that on January 25, 2005, the U.S. Embassy in London deposited a declaration with the International Maritime Organization stating that the express approval of the U.S. Government will be necessary before Regulations 19, 20, and 21 of the revised Annex I of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78) would enter into force for the U.S…
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/ 15. Halibut season winds down High ex-vessel prices for halibut spelled success for the 2006 season with more than 90 percent of the total allowable catch harvested in the majority of areas… http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/?pid=19&id=3982 16. Governor Comments on Tongass LMP Forest Plan Governor Frank H. Murkowski today submitted the State of Alaska’s position on the US Forest Service’s draft environmental impact statement and forest plan for the Tongass National Forest, with strong support for a timber volume sufficient to maintain an integrated timber industry in Southeast Alaska and to protect timber-dependent communities… The draft EIS and forest plan is scheduled for public release in January 2007. A final EIS and final forest plan is scheduled to be completed in August 2007… http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=2737 USFS Tongass Forest Plan home page: http://tongass-fpadjust.net/ UFA Environmental Chair Bruce Wallace has been at the table for constituent meetings this summer and fall. We expect to address the plan at UFA’s winter meeting. 17. Effort to improve health care for fisherman gains ground A group rallying nationwide for health care and other benefits for commercial fishermen appealed to participants in the Pacific Marine Exposition in Seattle Nov. 17 to help change national policies to aid harvesters. “There is no future (for commercial fishermen) unless we make our voices known,” said David G. Bergeron, executive director of the Massachusetts Fishermen’s Partnership, in Gloucester, Mass. “We can change national policy to have our voices heard.”…
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/112606/fis_200611 The House Resources Magnuson bill will likely be rewritten with a new Chairman, and may be a vehicle for this or we’ll seek another measure to advance the research funding and the program language. Thanks to all who have supported our action alerts on this… we need to stick with it! 18. Russian king crab may get eco-label Russian efforts to get the Barents Sea King crab harvest certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council might not all be in vain. Jim Humphries, with the MSC office in Portland, Ore., said much will depend on the outcome of a meeting being held by the council last week in Asia…
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/111906/fis_ 19. An organic fish is indeed difficult to define …That is a question vexing the US Agriculture Department… To the dismay of some fishermen—including many in the Alaskan salmon industry—this means that wild fish, whose living conditions are not controlled, are not likely to make the grade. And that has led to a lot of bafflement, since wild fish tend to swim in pristine waters, show lower levels of contaminants, and be favored by fish lovers. “If you can’t call a wild Alaska salmon true and organic,” asked Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, “what can you call organic?” Instead, it appears that only farm-raised salmon may pass muster, as may a good number of other farm-raised fish—much to the delight of fish farmers…
http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content 20. Laine Welch's Fish Radio –Topics from this week Friday 12/1/06 Spy fish Thursday 11/30/06 Surimi Sales Up Wednesday 11/29/06 Dogs smell out off fish flavors Tuesday 11/28/06 CG replenishes McMurdo Station Monday 11/27/06 Fat Busting Algae.....(Did you eat seaweed with your Thanksgiving dinner????) Online at http://www.marineconservationalliance.org/fishradio.htm & also see Laine Welch's Fish Factor at http://www.kinyradio.com/fishfactor.html 21. NPFMC: Items for the December 2006 Council Meeting: GOA Rationalization
Overview
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/ Motion:
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/ Halibut Charter Items 5 Fish Annual Limit
(updated):
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/ Halibut Act Paper
(updated):
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/ Separate Accountability
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/ Moratorium Discussion Paper (updated):
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/ Allocation Paper Part 1(updated):
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/ Allocation Paper Part 2:
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/ ADF&G GHL status:
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/ Committee Minutes:
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/ Committee Moratorium
Alts:
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/ Committee Allocation Alts
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/ NPFMC home page: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/ 22. NOAA Final Rule for Rockfish Pilot Program Federal Register Nov 20:
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan2006 Final Rule pdf file: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/frules/71fr67210.pdf 23. NPFMC workshop on gear modifications / Bering Sea Habitat Conservation Dec 7. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a workshop on potential gear modification regulations as a part of the analysis for the Bering Sea Habitat Conservation analysis. DATES: The workshop will be held on Thursday, December 7, 2006, at 6:30 p.m. ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at the Hilton Hotel, 500 West 3rd Avenue, in the Dillingham/Katmai Room, Anchorage, AK.
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan2006 24. NOAA Comment request on GOA & BSAI Groundfish COAR reports info collection… Deadline January 22, 2007.
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan2006 25. NOAA Final Rule on Critical Habitat for Southern Resident Orcas, & Recovery Plan SUMMARY: We, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), issue a final rule designating critical habitat for the Southern Resident killer whale (Orcinus orca) distinct population segment (DPS). Three specific areas are designated, (1) the Summer Core Area in Haro Strait and waters around the San Juan Islands; (2) Puget Sound; and (3) the Strait of Juan de Fuca, which comprise approximately 2,560 square miles (6,630 sq km) of marine habitat…
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan2006 & Recovery Plan:
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan2006 26. F/V Alaska Juris nets $254,500 Penalty for Fisheries Violations NOAA Fisheries Service has assessed a $254,500 civil penalty and permit sanctions against the owner, manager and three captains of the FV Alaska Juris, a catcher/processor fishing boat operating in Alaskan waters… http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/newsreleases/FishCoAlaskaNR.pdf 27. MMRC reports: Season of the Sea Lion Are the impacts of nutritional stress seasonally dependent? Just as many people prefer to eat heavier foods in winter and lighter meals in summer, the Steller sea lion diet also varies with the seasons. Sea lion appetites peak during winter and again during the spring, while they resiliently adapt to smaller meals and periods of fasting in the summer… http://www.marinemammal.org/2006/kumagai.php Marine mammal Research Consortium home page: http://www.marinemammal.org/ 28. CFEC Public meeting schedule … the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission will meet in public meetings on December 14, 2006, and January 18, February 28, April 18 and May 15, 2007 at 3:30 PM, in the Commission’s Conference Room in Juneau, Alaska…
http://notes5.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/cc52605f7 29. AFSC Status Review and Extinction Assessment of Cook Inlet Belugas NMFS formally initiated this Status Review in March 2006 to determine if Cook Inlet belugas should be listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). 2.4 Mb report pdf:
http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/Publications/ProcRpt/PR% 30. AFSC Seafloor Videos From Bering Sea Research Project: Modifying Trawl Sweeps to Reduce Effects on Sessile Benthic Animals… Using underwater video, scientists with the AFSC's Midwater Assessment and Conservation Engineering program compared the effects of conventional and modified sweeps (herding cables ahead of the trawl net) on sessile invertebrates. http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/RACE/midwater/seafloor_videos.htm 31. DCCED Notice of Proposed Changes dealing with Western Alaska CDQ program Proposed Regulations , Cover Letter to Interested Parties, Public Notice, Additional Regulations Notice, and Proposed Changes To Regulations are all online at: http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/bsc/CDQ/proposedregs.htm DCCED CDQ home page: http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/bsc/CDQ/cdq.htm 32. BOF Agenda Change requests for 2006/2007 meetings http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/fishinfo/meetinfo/facr.php & Proposal books: http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/fishinfo/meetinfo/fprop.php 33. Deadline December 18 for comment on Halibut Sablefish IFQ changes NOAA Fisheries has published a proposed rule to modify the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program for the fixed-gear commercial Pacific halibut fishery and sablefish fishery. This proposed rule would implement seven actions that were recommended by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council in December 2004. The proposed actions would (1) allow IFQ holders to transfer their IFQ, avoiding owner-on-board requirements, in the event of a medical condition that precludes their participation; (2) narrow restrictions for using hired masters to fish IFQ; (3) add vessel clearance requirements to the sablefish IFQ fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands; (4) change the product recovery rate for bled sablefish; (5) amend the halibut QS block program; (6) allow halibut IFQ derived from category D QS to be fished on category C vessels in Areas 3B and 4C; and (7) allow category B QS to be used on vessels of any length for halibut and sablefish in all regulatory areas. Comments must be received by December 18, 2006. Send comments to 0648-AS84@noaa.gov. For more information, contact Jay.Ginter@noaa.gov . Federal Register Notice:
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan2006 34. Deadline January 8 for NOAA Sustainable Fisheries Leadership Awards Nominations NOAA has established the Sustainable Fisheries Leadership Awards Program to recognize outstanding performances, achievements and leadership by industries, organizations and individuals who promote best stewardship practices for the sustainable use of living marine resources and ecosystems, and who have fostered change and inspired a stewardship ethic within their community. This notice solicits nominations of qualified candidates for the second annual Sustainable Fisheries Leadership Awards in six award categories listed in this Notice. NMFS has partnered with the Fish for the Future Foundation to collect the nominations...
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan2006 35. Subsistence Board to Consider Changes to Rural/Nonrural Status Dec. 12-13, Anchorage The Federal Subsistence Board will hold a public meeting Dec. 12-13 at the Egan Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage to consider a proposed rule that would change the rural/nonrural status of several Alaska communities and areas. The meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. The public is welcome to attend. There will be an opportunity for public comment during the meeting. See November 29 news release at: http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/news.cfm?gnr=1 36. Deadline Jan 5 for Comments on proposed changes to Federal subsistence fisheries regulations for the Kenai Peninsula The Federal Subsistence Board is accepting written comments, through January 5, 2007, on proposed changes to Federal subsistence fisheries regulations for the Kenai Peninsula. These proposed changes would affect Federal subsistence open seasons, harvest limits, methods for the taking of fish and shellfish, and customary and traditional use determinations for the regulatory year beginning April 1, 2007. Copies of the proposal book can be found at http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/home.html or by contacting the Office of Subsistence Management at (800) 478-1456 or (907) 786-3888. See November 22 news release at: http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/news.cfm?gnr=1 37. Southcentral Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Council Meets Dec. 8 The Southcentral Alaska Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Council will meet on Friday, December 8. The meeting will be held at the Office of Subsistence Management Conference room, 3601 C St., Suite 1030, Anchorage. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. and the public is invited to attend. See November 28 news release at: http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/news.cfm?gnr=1 38. Office of Subsistence Management Accepting RAC Nominations & Applications The Office of Subsistence
Management is accepting applications and nominations to fill seats on the
Regional Advisory Councils that advise the Federal Subsistence Board. The
deadline for submitting applications is January 10, 2007. 39. Alaska Sea Grant Bookstore Holiday Gifts for 2006 Order today to ensure delivery in time for the holidays! -Free book rate shipping… http://seagrant.uaf.edu/bookstore/holiday2006.html 40. Vital Choices November 30 Newsletter In This Issue : Fish and Omega-3s Found to Reduce Colon Cancer Risk Harvard study links higher fish and omega-3 intake to lower rates of colorectal cancer; may slow prostate cancer, too http://newsletter.vitalchoice.com
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