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UFA Update February 9, 2007 ACTION ALERT– USDA Country of Origin & Wild/Farmed labeling – comment deadline Feb 26…see Item #1 below WA Residents Action Alert – freight container tax will tank AK fish economy– see Item #2 The UFA Board meeting produced solid positions opposing Pebble Mine, supporting Mixing Zones legislation HB 74 and many others. Joe Childers was elected as UFA President and Deborah Lyons Vice President, effective June 15. Complete results will be sent to UFA members soon. The UFA Board will meet during the week of February 26 to consider nominations for NPFMC and BOF. If you are applying and have not submitted your materials to our office, please contact me as soon as possible so your information can be provided to UFA groups with ample time for them to consider before UFA meets. Contents 1. ACTION ALERT FOR ALL: USDA COOL Comment deadline February 26 2. Tax proposed on cargo containers at Washington ports – WA Action Alert 3. Representative Bill Thomas sponsors HJR 8 opposing Washington container tax 4. Laine Welch on UFA meeting: Fishermen unite to talk to lawmakers 5. Senate bill would lift investment cap on Exxon money 6. IPHC Posts Results from January 22 Meeting – partial Charter bag limits in 2C & 3A 7. Halibut top issue at NPFMC meeting 8. Governor Palin Concurs With Commissioners Habitat Remains Under Department of Natural Resources 9. Denby Lloyd appointed commissioner of Fish and Game – BOF forwards one name 10. Waters not calm for young fishermen – ADN on Young Fishermen’s Summit 11. Senate bill would create game refuge over Pebble 12. Major mining firm Rio Tinto ups its interest in Pebble 13. Kenai Floods: Fishing access and habitat restoration are wrecked 14. ADF&G predicts strong ‘07 salmon fishery 15. 2007 Bristol Bay Sockeye Salmon Forecast 16. Governor Palin Announces Workshops to Consider Fish Mercury Data 17. Robin Taylor out as ferry system head 18. Tom Irwin to Head DNR 19. Ocean Policy Report Card Praises Stevens and Inouye Fisheries Conservation Efforts 20. Bush Administration Announces $140 Million More For Clean Ocean Priorities 21. NOAA Announces 2008 Budget Request 22. New study shows Exxon Valdez oil persists off coast 23. Senator Murkowski re-introduces legislation to stop U.S. Offshore Fish Farms 24. Seafood expert Sackton: Fish farming could compliment Alaska's wild catch 25. Alaska Airlines reveals new cargo-passenger fleet 26. Agreement could send more fresh fish to Asia 27. Juneau may face Tulsequah barge traffic 28. Dutch Harbor-Unalaska & New Bedford Remain Top U.S. Fishing Ports For 2005 29. NOAA report: Fisheries of the United States - 2005 30. U.S. Seafood Consumption Declines Slightly In 2005 31. Palin Responds to Tongass Forest Plan 32. Puget Sound Chinook Recovery Plan Approved 33. MA: Licenses urged for fishing captains - Maritime Inst. presses Congress for action 34. Laine Welch's Fish Radio –Topics from this week 35. Comment Deadline Feb 23 on NOAA Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research 36. Comment Deadline March 1 on NOAA Observers’ Health & Safety 37. Comment Deadline April 6 on BSAI King & Tanner Crab plan Amendment 25 38. NOAA 2006 Report to Congress on Apportionment Of Membership on Regional Fishery Management Councils… 39. Comment deadline Feb 28 on MPA Draft Framework 40. Deadline June 1 to apply –USCG ComFish Industry Vessel Safety Advisory Committee (CFIVSAC)… 41. Deadline April 12 for BOF proposals for Cook Inlet, Kodiak, Chignik finfish & statewide King & Tanner crab. 42. Comment by March 12 on ADF&G Fish ticket changes 43. ASMI Board meets Feb 12 – 13, Juneau 44. Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Councils Hold Winter Meetings Statewide 45. Federal Subsistence Board Approves Subsistence Fisheries Monitoring Plan 46. USFWS Announces Grants to Conserve Coastal Wetlands in 14 States, (AK) 47. Representative Don Young is Fantasy Congress' Number One Draft Pick 1. ACTION ALERT FOR ALL: USDA COOL Comment deadline February 26 …for interim final rule for mandatory Country of Origin Labeling of fish and shellfish …USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service is reopening the comment period to request general comments on the costs and benefits of the IFR… Details of the comment period reopening were published in the Nov. 27, 2006, Federal Register. Comments may be sent via e-mail to cool@usda.gov ; by mail to Country of Origin Labeling Program, Room 2607-S, Agricultural Marketing Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0254, Washington, DC 20250-0254; or by fax to (202) 720-1112, no later than Feb. 26, 2007. Additional information on this and the COOL program can be found at http://www.ams.usda.gov/cool/ . USDA AMS Press Release: http://www.ams.usda.gov/news/279-06.htm Federal Register Notice:
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800 Points you may want to include: -Comments should be open to all concerned public, not select segments. -Wild and Farmed labeling is essential consumer information and needs to remain. -Seafood in all product forms should be covered, not only unprocessed seafood -All sellers should be included, not only supermarkets -If record keeping and producer tracking are a burden, the solution is to streamline with Homeland Security producer tracking requirements, not eliminating the program. -As a producer, did you benefit from consumers’ ability to identify your product as product of Alaska or USA, and wild not farmed? 2. Tax proposed on cargo containers at Washington ports Wash. State Senator Mary Margaret Haugen of Camano Island has proposed a tax on cargo containers shipped through Washington ports… Haugen wants a tax of 50 dollars on each 20-foot container. Or 100 dollars on a 40-foot container. The tax would raise an estimated 287 (m) million dollars in the next two-year budget for freight congestion relief projects.
http://www.khq.com/Global/story.asp?S=5983321&nav (WOW – how much of that $287M will come directly from the economy of Alaska?) WA Freight container bill S 5027:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill= ACTION ALERT TO WA RESIDENTS: This will come off the top of your ex-vessel price in Alaska and be added to most of what you buy up here. Contact your state legislators: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx 3. Representative Bill Thomas sponsors HJR 8 opposing Washington container tax
http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill.asp?session We alerted the Anchorage Daily News managing editor on the importance of this Washington state bill to all Alaskan’s, but have not seen it covered. Go figure. 4. Laine Welch on UFA meeting: Fishermen unite to talk to lawmakers The United Fishermen of Alaska this week selected a slate of fish issues it will bring before Alaska lawmakers this year. Topping the commercial-fishing group's list is support for restricting sport halibut charters by imposing quota shares on the industry, whose catches have skyrocketed in some regions. "We feel that the sport charter halibut sector needs to pony up and sit at the table with us and take some responsibility for conservation and longer-term allocations," said outgoing UFA president Bobby Thorstenson Jr.
http://www.adn.com/outdoors/fishing/fishing_report/story 5. Senate bill would lift investment cap on Exxon money Kodiak fishermen anticipating reparation money from the Exxon Valdez oil spill may get some help once checks come through if a U.S. Senate bill wins approval and the fishermen keep their eyes on the best use of the money. Those working to aid Exxon plaintiffs in the spill settlement lawsuit are pushing for passage of Senate Bill 3422, a bill introduced in the 109th Congress in June 2006 by Sen. Lisa Murkowski… What the bill would do is lift the cap on the amount of money a fisherman who is awarded a punitive damage check could invest in a retirement fund without tax liability… Bruce Schactler, who helped conceive the bill, said it is now vital that all fishermen start calling on their congressional delegation to get the bill passed into law… http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/?pid=19&id=4346 ACTION ALERT TO ALL NON RESIDENTS: ALASKA’S THREE DELEGATES CANNOT MOVE THIS BY THEMSELVES – If your senators and representatives in DC are not hearing from you and your beneficiaries on this, much of any Exxon settlement will be lost... 6. IPHC Posts Results from January 22 Meeting – partial Charter bag limits in 2C & 3A The Commission noted that Guideline Harvest Levels (GHL) approved by the NPFMC for the charter/guided recreational halibut fishery in Areas 2C (southeast Alaska) and 3A (central Gulf of Alaska) were exceeded in recent years, substantially so in Area 2C (over 40% higher than the GHL in 2006). Commission staff initiated dialogue with the NPFMC to determine what control measures would be enacted by the Council to constrain harvest to the GHLs in 2007. The NPFMC indicated that, although it is committed to management of this fishery to the GHL limits, it would not be able to complete analyses and develop a regulatory framework to effect control of this fishery until 2008. The Commission, with the support of its advisory bodies, therefore passed a regulation for a one-fish halibut bag limit for sport guided charter fishing in Area 2C from June 15 - July 31, 2007 and for Area 3A from June 15 - 30, 2007. These bag limit regulations will be effective until the implementation by the U.S. government of domestic regulations to achieve halibut mortality reductions consistent with those that would be achieved by the IPHC recommendations. The Commission takes this action with some reluctance but believes the action to be necessary, given the magnitude by which the charter/guided catches exceeded the GHL limits and the belief that such overharvesting puts at risk the achievement of IPHC management goals for the halibut stock…
http://www.iphc.washington.edu/halcom/newsrel/2007 UFA applauds the IPHC Commissioners for their attention to this exploding problem. We appreciate theIPHC’s precautionary paradigm of “Slow Up and Fast Dow” harvest management and our businesses are dependent on this in the long run, even though it often cuts our harvests in the short term. The charter representatives seemed to want this changed to Fast Up, No Down, and came out of the US sector Conference Board working group with no meaningful ideas for reductions in 2007 to anywhere near the overages in 2C and 3A.. The IPHC is to be commended for their wake up call to these head-in-the-sand ostriches that are eating away the ground from under their own feet. Now it’s in the hands of Secretary of State Rice who should not be wasting their time on this. Be sure to fax a letter today. Honorable Condoleezza Rice Secretary of State, US Department of State (OES/O) 2201 C Street NW Washington, DC 20520 FAX (202) 647-0217 & send a CC to: Honorable Carlos M. Gutierrez Secretary of Commerce US Department of Commerce 1401 Constitution Ave NW Washington, DC 20230 FAX (202) 482-2741 7. Halibut top issue at NPFMC meeting The North Pacific Fishery Management Council and its committees hold their first meeting of the year, Feb. 7-13, at the Benson Hotel in Portland, Ore… Council deputy director Dave Witherell identified halibut charter management as the biggest issue on the agenda. “The council is going to take a first look at an analysis for a moratorium for new charterboats,” Witherell said. http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/?pid=19&id=4323 Craig Medred: Only here do commercial fishermen own halibut http://www.adn.com/outdoors/craig_medred/story/8579476p-8472467c.html ADN: Halibut bag limit cut down to 1 fish http://www.adn.com/money/industries/fishing/story/8575941p-8469015c.html It's about time halibut charters pay attention to harvest levels Jeff Stephan and Linda Behnken in ADN Compass piece http://www.adn.com/opinion/compass/story/8617276p-8509855c.html Dick Curran in Kodiak Daily Mirror: ADF&G stay out of allocation politics “IPHC has acted to control catch to federally published and state supported guideline harvest levels. ADF&G should welcome the conservation action taken by IPHC and stay out of allocation politics.” http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/?pid=19&id=4325 Wrong strategy pits user groups against each other - Steve Brown in Homer News http://www.homernews.com/stories/020707/oped_4a002.shtml 8. Governor Palin Concurs With Commissioners Habitat Remains Under Department of Natural Resources In a letter to the Chairman of the Alaska Board of Fisheries, Melvan Morris, Jr., Governor Sarah Palin announced that she concurs with the Commissioners of the Alaska Department of Fish & Game and the Department of Natural Resources to leave the Office of Habitat Management and Permitting under the Department of Natural Resources, at this time. http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=115 9. Denby Lloyd appointed commissioner of Fish and Game – BOF forwards one name Gov. Sarah Palin Saturday appointed Denby Lloyd commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game… http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/?pid=19&id=4343 10. Waters not calm for young fishermen – ADN on Young Fishermen’s Summit "You've got to be an accountant, a lawyer and a businessman to be a fisherman these days. And for good measure, you gotta be a biologist too," -Arne Fuglvog. http://www.adn.com/money/industries/fishing/ UFA is proud to have supported the Young Fishermen’s Summit, wished we could have been there but for our own meeting, and enjoyed meeting with the eager young fishing activists who came to Juneau afterwards… 11. Senate bill would create game refuge over Pebble With the endorsement of the Jay Hammond family, Senate Minority Leader Johnny Ellis of Anchorage and Senate Majority Leader Gary Stevens of Kodiak are sponsoring a bill that would create a game reserve in the late former governor’s namesake… http://www.homertribune.com/article.php?aid=1230 12. Major mining firm Rio Tinto ups its interest in Pebble Rio Tinto stake in Northern Dynasty climbs to nearly 20 percent, option could push ownership to 30 percent A major mining company based in London has agreed to more than double its investment in developing a vast copper, gold and molybdenum deposit in Southwest Alaska…
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/020407/hom_ & Drilling report grows Pebble's prospects - Eastern zone appears to exceed expectations for mineralization, would be mined underground..
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/020407/hom_ 13. Kenai Floods: Fishing access and habitat restoration are wrecked Flood Destroys Years' Worth Of Expensive Projects.. Anglers will find fewer places to fish and young salmon will find fewer places to hide here this year because of a roiling crush of ice and water that scoured the Kenai River's banks two weeks ago… http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/kenai/story/8624207p-8516674c.html 14. ADF&G predicts strong ‘07 salmon fishery The Alaska Department of Fish and Game released its statewide annual salmon harvest forecast for 2007, projecting a significantly larger statewide commercial salmon harvest than in 2006. Chum and pink salmon harvests are expected to be higher than last year, while the sockeye salmon catch is expected to be similar to 2006. http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/?pid=19&id=4348 &&& Salmon boom forecasted Pink expected to rebound after poor harvest in 2006 Southeast Alaska commercial salmon fishermen this year could haul in nearly 50 million more fish than in 2006, according to a forecast by the Alaska Department of Fish And Game..
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/020607/sta_ ADFG Run Forecasts and Harvest Projections for 2007 Alaska Salmon Fisheries and Review of the 2006 Season: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/FedAidpdfs/sp07-01.pdf 15. 2007 Bristol Bay Sockeye Salmon Forecast
http://www.cf.adfg.state.ak.us/region2/finfish/salmon/ ADFG COMFISH Home Page: http://www.cf.adfg.state.ak.us/ 16. Governor Palin Announces Workshops to Consider Fish Mercury Data Governor Sarah Palin announces a series of public workshops in response to preliminary data collected in the state’s ongoing fish monitoring program. The data shows that certain fish contain mercury levels that meet or exceed limits for unlimited consumption… http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=99 17. Robin Taylor out as ferry system head Controversial ferry system head Robin Taylor is out, Gov. Sarah Palin's office revealed Tuesday… (Senator Kim) Elton likened the appointment of ferry system critic Taylor to run the system to "asking a deadhead to guard the medicine cabinet. It just didn't make sense."
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/020707/loc_ 18. Tom Irwin to Head DNR Governor Sarah Palin today named Tom Irwin as Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources. Marty Rutherford has been named Deputy Commissioner. Irwin was the Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources from January 2003 to October 2005. He currently works as the Vice President of Government and Public Affairs for Golden Valley Electric Association. He also led the Palin transition team for the Department of Natural Resources http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=114 19. Ocean Policy Report Card Praises Fisheries Conservation Efforts Led by Senators Stevens and Inouye The Joint Ocean Commission Initiative today released its Ocean Policy Report Card, which praised legislative efforts to conserve the nation’s fisheries. Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) led these efforts in the 109th Congress… http://stevens.senate.gov/pr_detailed.cfm?prid=466 20. Bush Administration Announces $140 Million More For Clean Ocean Priorities The Bush Administration announced major budget increases totaling more than $140 million to support coastal and marine conservation efforts in Fiscal Year 2008, and released the administration's Ocean Research Priorities Plan and Implementation Strategy…
http://www.commerce.gov/opa/press/Secretary_Gutierrez & NSTC Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology (JSOST) Ocean Research Priorities Plan and Implementation Strategy home page: http://ocean.ceq.gov/about/sup_jsost_prioritiesplan.html 21. NOAA Announces 2008 Budget Request Retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator, today announced highlights of President Bush’s proposed 2008 budget for the Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Lautenbacher said NOAA’s request totals $3.8 billion or an increase of 3.4 percent over the administration’s 2007 request…
http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/releases2007/feb07/ 22. New study shows Exxon Valdez oil persists off coast Lingering crude from the nation's largest oil spill has weathered only slightly in some places almost 18 years after the tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground and fouled hundreds of miles of Alaska shoreline, a new federal study released Wednesday concludes.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGA 23. Senator Murkowski re-introduces legislation to stop U.S. Permits For Offshore Fish Farms Citing the importance of maintaining healthy, wild fish stocks, Senator Lisa Murkowski today re-introduced legislation to prohibit the development of any new offshore aquaculture operations in federal waters. The Natural Stock Conservation Act of 2007 prohibits the development of aquaculture facilities in federal waters until Congress has had an opportunity to review all of the serious implications, and make decisions on how such development should proceed. The bill also requires that federal agencies consult with the governor of any state near the aquaculture site, and that permits be approved by the regional fishery management council with jurisdiction in the region. “Alaska’s naturally healthy wild fish species, such as salmon, halibut, sablefish and crab are extremely important to our people and provide for sport, subsistence and commercial uses,” said Murkowski. “We cannot afford a rush to judgment on this issue – it is far too dangerous if we make a mistake…” http://murkowski.senate.gov/pressapp/record.cfm?id=268888 24. Seafood expert Sackton: Fish farming could compliment Alaska's wild catch Seafood market consultant John Sackton says aquaculture and global economic diversity will continue to impact markets for wild Alaska seafood, but that embracing fish farming, eco-labeling and expanding markets will help maintain the value of Alaska's harvests…
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/020407/hom_ 25. Alaska Airlines reveals new cargo-passenger fleet Hybrid jetliner part of company's $100 million upgrade operation Alaska Airlines on Thursday unveiled the first cargo-passenger plane in a new fleet that's expected to enhance service. The modified "combi" Boeing 737-400 is part of the Seattle-based company's $100 million plan to upgrade its cargo operations…
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/020207/sta_ 26. Agreement could send more fresh fish to Asia A nonprofit group in Anchorage and the owners of a Chinese free-trade zone have signed an agreement that may broaden market opportunities for Alaska seafood... Anchorage Economic Development Corp. President Bob Poe said he signed a contract in January with Beijing Liqiao Bonded Logistics Development Corp. to create an air cargo-trade exchange that would carry fresh Alaska salmon to Chinese processors.
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/020407/loc_ & Low-cost Chinese labor could spur Yukon chum fishery
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/020407/hom_ 27. Juneau may face Tulsequah barge traffic Company proposes using the vessels to reach mine site A hoverbarge on the Taku River? "Nobody really knows what to think about it," said Jim Becker, who serves as president of both the Juneau Chamber of Commerce and the Southeast Alaska Gillnetters Association… Known as an "air cushion barge" or "hoverbarge," the craft would operate year-round to and from the proposed Tulsequah Chief mine in British Columbia, according to a plan released by the company, Redcorp Ventures Ltd. The multi-metal mine is 40 miles southeast of Juneau… http://juneauempire.com/smart_search/ 28. Dutch Harbor-Unalaska & New Bedford Remain Top U.S. Fishing Ports For 2005 Commercial fishermen unloaded 887.6 million pounds of fish and shellfish in 2005 at the port of Dutch Harbor-Unalaska, Alaska, making it the country’s top port for landings for 17 consecutive years, NOAA Fisheries Service announced today. This represents a 1.2 million pound increase in landings over 2004. The total domestic commercial landings for 2005 were 9.6 billion pounds, valued at $3.9 billion.
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/mediacenter/docs/05 29. NOAA report: Fisheries of the United States - 2005 This publication is a preliminary report for 2005 on commercial and recreational fisheries of the United States with landings from the U.S. territorial seas, the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and on the high seas. This annual report provides timely answers to frequently asked questions… http://www.st.nmfs.gov/st1/fus/fus05/index.html 30. U.S. Seafood Consumption Declines Slightly In 2005 Americans ate 16.2 pounds of fish and shellfish per person in 2005, a two percent decrease from the 2004 consumption figure of 16.6 pounds. Despite the decline in consumption, consumer expenditures for seafood products increased by $3.3 billion, representing a five percent increase for a total of $65.2 billion. The commercial marine fishing industry contributed $32.9 billion to the U.S. Gross National Product in 2005, up from $31.6 billion in 2004…
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/mediacenter/docs/05_seafood 31. Palin Responds to Tongass Forest Plan Governor Palin Responds to Tongass National Forest Plan Calls for Cooperation and Balance Governor Palin today reaffirmed her commitment to responsible resource development by supporting the process for a balanced Tongass National Forest Plan. The United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service on Friday, January 12, released to the public a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and opened a 90-day public comment period for citizens wishing to express their opinions on forest management issues. The State agreed to continue its participation in the Tongass Plan amendment process as a cooperating agency. http://www.gov.state.ak.us/archive.php?id=64&type=1 && Federal Register posts McDowell minimum harvest estimate: A clarification to the Timber Markets Update and Analysis of an Integrated Southeast Alaska Forest Products Industry prepared for the Tongass Land and Resource Management Plan Amendment Draft Environmental Impact Statement is available for review and comment on the following Web site: http://tongass-fpadjust.net/Documents/McDowellGroupLetter-2006.pdf From Federal Register January 19:
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800 Tongass Forest Plan home page – comment deadline April 12, 2007 on Draft EIS 32. Puget Sound Chinook Recovery Plan Approved Developed by Local Stakeholders, Salmon Plan is the Nation's Biggest The NOAA Fisheries Service approved a far-reaching plan to recover threatened Chinook salmon in the Puget Sound region of Washington state. This salmon recovery plan, required by the Endangered Species Act, is the largest and most comprehensive ever approved by the federal government. http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2007/s2783.htm Federal Register Notice: NMFS announces ESA Recovery Plan for the Puget Sound Chinook Salmon
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800 33. MA: Licenses urged for fishing captains - Maritime Inst. president presses Congress for action The only way to prevent fishing tragedies such as the recent sinking of the New Bedford fishing vessel Lady of Grace is through formal education and certification, said Eric Dawicki, president of the Northeast Maritime Institute in Fairhaven… http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/02-07/02-05-07/03local.htm 34. Laine Welch's Fish Radio –Topics from this week Friday 2/9/07 - Complete sales picture of 2006 salmon season due out any day; AK winter kings top $9/lb. Trends to watch (Pt. 1) Thursday 2/8/07 Alaska’s first batch of baby king crabs will soon hatch at Seward Wednesday 2/7/07 AK exports top $4 billion for 2006, led by AK seafood Tuesday 2/6/07 Projected AK salmon catch for 2007 is up more than 20% Monday 2/5/07 Exxon could soon cut checks for Alaska fishermen; the oil giant offers cash to cast doubts on causes of global warming. Online at http://www.marineconservationalliance.org/fishradio.htm & also see Laine Welch's Fish Factor at http://www.kinyradio.com/fishfactor.html 35. Comment Deadline Feb 23 on NOAA Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research NMFS announces the availability of and seeks public comment on the draft (2007) Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research… Comments on the plan must be received on or before February 23, 2007. Federal Register Notice:
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800 NOAA Press Release:
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/mediacenter/docs/Fisheries 36. Comment Deadline March 1 on NOAA Observers’ Health & Safety This proposed rule would enhance the safety of observers and the efficiency of their deployment. The proposed rule would clarify prohibited actions regarding observers, reinforce that an observer may not be deployed or stay aboard an unsafe vessel, clarify when a fishing vessel is inadequate for observer deployment and how an owner or operator can resolve discrepancies, improve communications between observer programs and fishing vessel owners and operators, and provide for an alternate safety equipment examination of certain small fishing vessels…
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800 37. Comment Deadline April 6 on BSAI King & Tanner Crab plan Amendment 25 On January 12, 2007, the President signed the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006, which requires the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of that Act, to amend the Fishery Management Plan for the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs (FMP) to authorize conversion of catcher vessel owner quota shares and processor quota shares to newly created North Region catcher/processor owner quota shares. Proposed Amendment 25 to the FMP would satisfy this requirement…
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800 38. NOAA 2006 Report to Congress on Apportionment Of Membership on the Regional Fishery Management Councils…
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/reg_svcs/Council_Report 39. Comment deadline Feb 28 on MPA Draft Framework The Department of Commerce published a notice in the Federal Register on September 22, 2006 (71 FR 55432) announcing a 145-day public comment period on the Draft Framework for Developing the National System of Marine Protected Areas (Draft Framework). Copies of the Draft Framework can be requested via the contact information below or downloaded from http://www.mpa.gov . The extended deadline for public comment on the draft Framework is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on February 28, 2007. 40. Deadline June 1 to apply – USCG ComFish Industry Vessel Safety Advisory Committee (CFIVSAC)…
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan2007 41. Deadline April 12 for BOF proposals for Cook Inlet, Kodiak, Chignik finfish & statewide King & Tanner crab. The Alaska Board Of Fisheries calls for proposed changes in the subsistence, personal use, sport, guided sport, and commercial finfish regulations for the Cook Inlet, Kodiak, and Chignik finfish areas, and statewide (except southeast and yakutat areas) King And Tanner crab shellfish regulations PROPOSAL DEADLINE – TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2007
http://notes5.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/cc52605f7c BOF Home Page: http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/fishinfo/index.php 42. Comment by March 12 on ADF&G Fish ticket changes The Department of Fish and Game proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 5 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with reports required of fishermen, buyers, processors, and others within statewide commercial fisheries. The changes, in connection with proposed regulatory actions by the Board of Fisheries, would separate and establish the fish ticket reporting requirements in 5 AAC 39.130 in a new commissioner regulation… For a copy of the proposed regulation changes, contact Kerri Tonkin, Fishery Regulations Program Coordinator, Department of Fish and Game, P.O. Box 115526 Juneau, AK 99811-5526, Phone: (907) 465-6124; Fax: (907) 465-2604; Email: kerri_tonkin@fishgame.state.ak.us Online Public Notice:
http://notes5.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/cc52605f7c156e 43. ASMI Board meets Feb 12 – 13, Juneau A meeting of the ASMI Board of Directors will be held on Monday, February 12, 2007 and Tuesday February 13, 2007 beginning at 10:30 am on Feb. 12th and 8:00 am on Feb 13th at the Westmark Baranof Hotel located at 127 N Franklin St, Juneau, AK 99801 For more information about this event, please contact Lynn Coffee (907) 465-5560 or email LCoffee@AlaskaSeafood.org
http://notes5.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/cc52605f7c1 44. Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Councils Hold Winter Meetings Statewide The 10 Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Councils will meet during February and March to make recommendations on proposed changes to Federal subsistence hunting and trapping regulations for 2007-2008, make recommendations on council composition, and discuss current issues affecting subsistence in their regions. The Federal Subsistence Board will consider the councils’ recommendations when it meets April 30 – May 2. (This press release not available online) For meetings schedules see http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/deadline.cfm 45. Federal Subsistence Board Approves Subsistence Fisheries Monitoring Plan See Jan 30, 2007 Press release at: http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/news.cfm?gnr=1 46. Fish and Wildlife Service Announces Grants to Conserve Coastal Wetlands in 14 States The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced $18.8 million in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grants to 14 states… Here in Alaska, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources will acquire 960 acres of wetland, riparian and coastal upland habitat in the Portage Drainage on the north coast of Afognak Island in the Gulf of Alaska. This acquisition will link with 4,019 acres of protected lands to the east and west and form a continuous corridor of over 100 miles of protected coastline. This area ranked the highest for breeding, nesting, feeding and rearing habitat for an array of wildlife species, including species injured by the Exxon Valdez oil spill.…
http://www.fws.gov/news/NewsReleases/showNews.cfm?ne 47. Representative Don Young is Fantasy Congress' Number One Draft Pick http://donyoung.house.gov/PressRelease.aspx?NewsID=1720 (Free, non gambling) Fantasy Congress Website: http://www.fantasycongress.com/fc/ Congratulations Congressman Young – and our other Alaska delegation team members. Fishermen bet their livelihoods on your work everyday, and we understand that you cannot pass legislation alone. We call for our nonresident fishermen to get involved with bringing Alaska fishing issues to the attention of their delegations. If you are outside of Alaska, help bring your delegation in DC up to speed through regular contact with their office. Find your Congressmen: http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/ |