UFA Update  

June 18, 2007

 

United Fishermen of Alaska announces new President Joe Childers, VP Deborah Lyons, and at-large board members…

http://www.ufa-fish.org/press/2007-2_UFA_officers_&_at_large.pdf

 


Contents:

1. NPFMC halibut decision - Alaskan charter boats ordered to limit number of fish taken

2. Halibut fisheries pack large economic punch for coastal communities

3. NOAA Fisheries publishes guided sport halibut fishing regulations for SE Alaska

4. Items From June NPFMC Meeting:

5. Charter halibut regs in Kodiak area may differ from Southeast

6. ADF&G Sportfish division to study economic impact of sport fishing in Alaska:

7. Appeals court sets$2.5 billion Exxon Valdez damages

8. USDA Reopens Comment Period for Interim Final Rule for Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling of Fish and Shellfish (6/15).  WASHINGTON, June 15, 2007 -- 

9. Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling—Will It Benefit Consumers?

10. Inouye Introduces by Request Administration’s Offshore Aquaculture Act (& amendments)

11. Senator Stevens Sponsors Amendment Banning Finfish Aquaculture in Alaskan Waters

12. A fight about fish farms

13. Tainted Chinese Imports Common

14. Chile’s Pucón Says No To Fish Farms

15. ADFG Briefing Paper – Alaska’s Hatcheries and Melamine in Fish Food

16. Federal fisheries panel draws the line for bottom trawling

17. PSPA Hires Mary McDowell for Juneau Vice President position

18. USDA FSA County Committee Nominations Open  - deadline Aug 1.

19. Deadline July 30 for USDA Small Minority Producer Grant Program

20. Fed Subsistence Board upholds rural rights for Ninilchik fishery

21. Federal Subsistence Program Moves to Two-Year Regulatory Cycles

22. Lower Kenai River, Big Lake called polluted

23. There's no room for small fishing entrepreneur in Alaska

24. Blue king crabs hatch in Alaska research program to rebuild wild stocks

25. USCG & Troopers Effort urges Bristol Bay fishermen to comply with safety regs

26. Bristol Bay fishermen stage two rallies to protest Pebble Mine

27. Washington Gov. hears fishing, shipping concerns on first Alaska visit

28. Senate Passes Stevens-Murkowski Resolution Condemning Harmful Foreign Fishing Practices

29. Judge sides with wild salmon- Hatchery-bred fish can't be counted toward ESA goals

30. Report: Climate change has affected cod fisheries

31. Laine Welch's Fish Radio –Topics from this week

32. MAP Alaska Fishing Communities Conference asks for feedback & priorities

33. NMFS Comment deadline August 20 on Steller Sea Lion Draft Revised Plan

34. NPFMC Steller Sea Lion Mitigation Committee, Seattle June 19-21

35. MMRC Steller Research: To the Depths on a Breath

36. NPFMC Crab Committee, Seattle, June 19

37. CI Beluga ESA listing comments due Aug 3 - public meeting Homer 7/19, Anchorage 7/20

38. Deadline July 26, 2007 on Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated (IUU) fisheries…

39. Public Meeting on IUU Fisheries, Seattle July 5

40. NOAA posts public comments on NEPA/MSA Environmental Review Procedures

41. Comment Deadline June 29 on BSAI non pollock trawl AFA Amendment 80…

42. NPRB Project Synopses. 

43. IPHC Halibut Landing reports Nos. 2 & 3

44. Alaska Sea Grant Fishlines newsletter for June

45. AK Fishery Science Center posts reports:

46. ASMI Seafood Market Bulletin (6/12)

47. Deadline June 29 for IPHC Merit Scholarship

48. Coast Guard requests comments on HF radio WX – Comment deadline August 24

49. EPA Proposed Rule on Emissions of Air Pollution from Locomotive & Marine Engines - Comment by July 2, 2007
 



1. NPFMC halibut decision - Alaskan charter boats ordered to limit number of fish taken

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council issued its decision Friday on how the growing halibut charter fleet in southeast Alaska should be managed.
 

The council limited the charter halibut catch in southeast Alaska to two fish a day, with one of those being no longer than 32 inches. The council also restricted the charter boat take to four halibut per guided sport angler each year…

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/azetc/articles/0613out-halibut0614.html
 



2. Halibut fisheries pack large economic punch for coastal communities

Halibut, that delectable whitefish so versatile as an entrŽe on dinner tables across America, is also proving one of the treasures that keep cash registers ringing in Alaska's coastal economies.
 

A new research report by the McDowell Group, conducted for the Halibut Coalition, shows that 40 million pounds of commercially harvested halibut, valued at $83 million, were delivered to ports in Southeast and Southcentral Alaska in 2006. Those deliveries represented 80 percent of a total of 52.2 million pounds of halibut harvested commercially statewide last year.

http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/061007/coa_2007
0610014.shtml

 

UFA helped fund the Halibut Coalition economic study
 



3. NOAA Fisheries publishes guided sport halibut fishing regulations for SE Alaska

NOAA Fisheries issued new regulations for guided sport halibut fishing in Southeast Alaska (Area 2C).

"The new regulations keep the current sport fishing bag limit of two halibut per day but require that, if two fish are taken, at least one of them is no more than 32 inches long,"

 

NOAA Press release: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/newsreleases/2007/charter
halibut060107.htm

 

Federal Register Notice June 4: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/
edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/E7-10736.htm

 

Juneau Empire/AP: NOAA keeps two-fish limit on Southeast Alaska halibut

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/060707/sta_2007
0607006.shtml

 

AK Journal of Commerce: New rules aim to reduce Southeast halibut charters' catch http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/061007/coa_2007
0610016.shtml

 



4. Items From June NPFMC Meeting:

Halibut motions:

2CGHL: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/halibut_
issues/Area2CGHL607motion.pdf

Compensated Reallocation:

http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/halibut_
issues/CompReallocationJun07CouncilMotion.pdf

Arctic Fishery Management Council Motion (June 2007)

http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/motions
/ArcticFMPMotion.pdf 

Bering Sea Habitat Conservation Motion (June 2007)

http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/BSHC/
BSHC607motion.pdf

Trawl LLP Recency Motion (June 2007)

http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/motions
/TrawlLLPmotion.pdf
 



5. Charter halibut regs in Kodiak area may differ from Southeast

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council reached a decision Friday on management measures for 2008 and beyond to keep the halibut charter fleet in Area 2C, Southeast Alaska, within their allocation. Consideration for action in 3A, which includes Kodiak, is coming up in the fall…

http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/?pid=19&id=4872
 



6. ADF&G Sportfish division to study economic impact of sport fishing in Alaska:

Public Invited to Comment

(Anchorage) - The Division of Sport Fish of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) has contracted with Southwick Associates to produce updated information on the economic contribution of sport fishing to the Alaskan economy.

 

The study will estimate the total expenditures associated with sport fishing in Alaska in 2007, as well as the total direct, indirect, and induced economic effects of angler spending. The study will estimate total jobs, wages and salaries, and tax receipts generated from sport fishing activities by residents and non-residents within several regions in Alaska…

 

For more information about this study, check out the project webpage on the Division of Sport Fish website at:  www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/SFeconomics.cfm   

 

Written comments may be sent to Bill Romberg, Fisheries Biologist, 333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage, AK 99518.

http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/news/2007/5-23-07_nr.php
 



7. Appeals court sets$2.5 billion Exxon Valdez damages

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco rejected Exxon Mobil Corp.'s latest appeal in the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill case and ordered the company to pay $2.5 billion in punitive damages.

http://www.adn.com/money/industries/oil/story/8911526p-8811518c.html

 

9th Circuit ruling:

http://www.adn.com/includes/highliner/Exxon_Valdez_ruling.pdf

 

Plaintiffs on track for possible ‘07 Exxon payout

Barriers blocking judgment payout for Kodiak fishermen continue to fall with a decision Wednesday by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals refusing Exxon’s request for a 15-judge panel to hear arguments contesting a $2.5 billion judgment…

http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/?pid=19&id=4785

 

Laine Welch’s Fish Factor: Alaska fishermen hope to end more appeals by Exxon

http://www.sitnews.us/LaineWelch/052207_fish_factor.html
 



8.
USDA Reopens Comment Period for Interim Final Rule for Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling of Fish and Shellfish (6/15).  WASHINGTON, June 15, 2007 --  The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today that it is reopening the comment period for 60 days for the Interim Final Rule (IFR) for mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) for fish and shellfish covered commodities.

USDA Press release: http://www.ams.usda.gov/news/124-07.htm
 



9. Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling
—Will It Benefit Consumers?

Demands for mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) for some retail food products have sparked considerable controversy. Proponents— primarily some cow-calf producer and fruit and vegetable grower/shipper associations—claim such labels would benefit consumers who are concerned about food safety, who wish to support U.S. producers, or who believe that U.S. foods are of higher quality than imports. Others—cattle feeder and hog finishing operators, meatpackers, processors, and retailers—argue that mandatory labeling will merely raise costs and bring few benefits…

http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/May07SpecialIssue
/Findings/Mandatory.htm

 

This article is clearly out of date because it doesn’t mention melamine.
 

Do they think people only care about what their pets’ eat?

See more reasons why we need a stronger COOL below beginning at item #13
 



10. Inouye Introduces by Request Administration’s Offshore Aquaculture Act (& amendments)

Amendments Address Concerns by Providing Safeguards for Environment, Native Fish… 
 

Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Vice Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) introduced today, by request of the Administration, the National Offshore Aquaculture Act. Chairman Inouye simultaneously introduced three amendments, and cosponsored a fourth amendment introduced by Vice Chairman Stevens, that bolster environmental safeguards and protect native fish species. 

http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction
=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=248841&Month=6&
Year=2007
 



11. Senator Stevens Sponsors Amendment Banning Finfish Aquaculture in Alaskan Waters

Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) today introduced an amendment to the Bush Administration’s National Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2007, which would forbid the issuance of finfish aquaculture permits within Alaska’s 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) has agreed to co-sponsor this amendment.
 

“Sixty percent of America’s commercial fish harvest is caught off of Alaska’s shores. The vitality of our waters is important not only to Alaskans, but to the whole nation,” said Senator Stevens. “Senator Inouye and I have introduced this amendment because it will ensure the sustainability of commercial fisheries in Alaska. While fish farms may be important to other states, finfish aquaculture may threaten wild fish stocks in our state. My support for the Administration’s aquaculture bill is contingent upon the adoption of this critical amendment.”…

Senator Ted Stevens Press release:

http://stevens.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=
NewsRoom.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=2a2c9f19-802a-23ad-4c57-beee11d1139b&Region_id=&Issue_id=
 



12. A fight about fish farms

With the U.S. facing a 'seafood trade deficit,' the industry wants to grow more fish in the ocean - but others say not so fast…
 

In Alaska, meanwhile, commercial fisherman and state politicians worry that the rapid growth of farmed fish threatens their state's most important industry. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, says: "If we simply take dollars away from the existing commercial fishing industry and move them over to the aquaculture industry, are we really creating new commerce?"
 

Even more blunt is Mark Vinsel, executive director of the United Fisherman of Alaska. "We oppose fin fish farms, anytime, any place, any species," he says…

http://money.cnn.com/2007/06/08/news/pluggedin_Gunther
_fishfarms.fortune/?postversion=2007060810
 



13. Tainted Chinese Imports Common

In Four Months, FDA Refused 298 Shipments

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/19/AR2007051901273.html?
referrer=email

 



14. Chile’s Pucón Says No To Fish Farms

The stunning, tourism-friendly city of Pucón in southern Chile’s Region IX is just saying no – to fish farming.

 “This decision was made because of the pollution that’s being generated by the indiscriminate installation of fish farms,” Carlos Inostroza, a Pucón City Hall communications officer, told the Patagonia Times. “We have approximately 20 farms, both small and large. And they cause a lot of people to complain to City Hall about the pollutants being pumped into the rivers.”

http://www.patagoniatimes.cl/content/view/88/1/
 



15. ADFG Briefing Paper – Alaska’s Hatcheries and Melamine in Fish Food

http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/news/issues/docs/2007/mela
mine_briefing.pdf?adfg=mcneil_river.plan

 



16.
Federal fisheries panel draws the line for bottom trawling

A federal fisheries panel meeting in Sitka voted June 10 to establish a northern boundary for bottom trawling, as part of a commitment to protect essential fish habitat from impacts caused by trawling…

http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/061707/hom_2007
0617006.shtml

 

Marine Conservation Alliance Backs Closure of Arctic Waters:

http://www.marineconservationalliance.org/press/pr2007
0611.pdf

 



17. PSPA Hires Mary McDowell for Juneau Vice President position

Pacific Seafood Processors Association, a Seattle-based trade group of mainly onshore fish packers, has hired a new Juneau lobbyist to replace Stephanie Madsen, who jumped ship in January to direct the At-sea Processors Association, which represents factory trawlers.

Mary McDowell is PSPA’s new vice president for Alaska…

See Wesley Loy’s ADN Highliner blog and comments online at:

http://community.adn.com/?q=adn/node/107802
 



18.
USDA FSA County Committee Nominations Open  - deadline Aug 1.

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced farmer and rancher candidate nominations begin today for local Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees. The nomination period continues through Aug. 1, 2007. Elections take place this fall.

http://www.usda.gov/2007/06/0168.xml
 



19. Deadline July 30 for USDA Small Minority Producer Grant Program
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/

Federal Register Notice: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/
edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/E7-10301.htm
 



20. Fed Subsistence
Board upholds rural rights for Ninilchik fishery

Subsistence fishermen who want first dibs on Kenai River salmon and trout successfully argued their case Tuesday for preserving the rural Alaska dream when McDonald's comes to town.
 

The Federal Subsistence Board gave its final approval to a subsistence fishery for Ninilchik residents, rejecting a proposal by sportsmen to undo an earlier board decision that the village has made traditional use of the river's fish. The Kenai River Sportfishing Association and its allies tried to convince federal officials that people who eat at the Kenai McDonald's or get hip replacements at the Soldotna hospital don't suddenly become rural Alaskans when they step into the nearby river…

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/8867950p-
8768631c.html


Federal Subsistence Fishery regulations Kenai Supplement:

http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/pdf/fishregs07/kenai
supplement.pdf

 



21. Federal Subsistence Program Moves to Two-Year Regulatory Cycles

The Federal Subsistence Management Program has made some changes in order to continue to be able to respond to the needs of rural subsistence users, while operating within budget. The program is moving to a two-year cycle for wildlife and fisheries regulations, and for the Fisheries Resource Monitoring Program. Special Action requests can address time-sensitive issues that cannot wait until the next regulatory cycle.

…Once the new schedule is underway, the Federal Subsistence Board will be addressing wildlife regulations and the Fisheries Resource Monitoring Program in odd-numbered years, and fisheries regulations in even-numbered years…

See June 6 Press release online at: http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/news.cfm
 



22. Lower Kenai River, Big Lake called polluted

The federal Environmental Protection Agency today declared the lower Kenai River and the Valley's Big Lake so polluted by fuel from recreational boats that they need a cleanup…

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/kenai/story/8973690p-8889408c.html
 



23.
There's no room for small fishing entrepreneur in Alaska

ADN Compass opinion piece by Mark Stopha

….The state is now not only promoting sale of our seafood overseas, but our processing jobs as well. The governor and Alaska lawmakers should mandate that state regulators work with innovative fish businesses that want to process fish here -- not make it unfeasible for us to do so…

http://www.adn.com/opinion/compass/story/8976375p-8891964c.html
 



24. Blue king crabs hatch in Alaska research program to rebuild wild stocks

Nearly two million wild blue king crabs hatched recently at the Alutiiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery in Seward. The hatch is part of a program to refine techniques to mass-culture wild blue and red king crabs, techniques that might one day be used to rebuild their stocks and boost commercial fishing opportunities for Kodiak and Pribilof Islands communities…

http://seagrant.uaf.edu/news/07news/05-31-07bluecrab-hatch.html
 



25.
USCG & Troopers Effort urges Bristol Bay fishermen to comply with safety regs

Bristol Bay salmon fishermen and tenders will get extra attention from the U.S. Coast Guard and the Alaska Wildlife Troopers (AWT) this season in a joint operation that will take place June 19 through July 15. The Coast Guard announced that AWT vessels Stimson and Wolstad will embark Coast Guard boarding officers along with troopers for underway boardings of salmon fishermen…

http://www.homernews.com/stories/06142007/seawatch
_11a_001.shtml

 

USCG District 17 Press release: http://www.uscgalaska.com/go/doc/780/159337/
 



26. Bristol Bay fishermen stage two rallies to protest Pebble Mine

Bristol Bay commercial fishermen concerned about a proposed massive copper, gold, silver and molybdenum mine in Southwest Alaska planned to rally in Naknek June 16 to protest the project.

Peter Pan Seafoods was to donate fresh king salmon from Dillingham for the event. Speakers were to include John Lowrance of Leader Creek Fisheries and David Harsila of the Alaska Independent Fishermen's Marketing Association.

An earlier rally June 10 in Dillingham attracted more than 600 fishermen and their families…

http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/061707/fis_2007
0617007.shtml

 



27.
Washington Gov. hears fishing, shipping concerns on first Alaska visit

….With the Pacific Salmon Treaty between the United States and Canada up for renewal this year, Gregoire wants to make sure Alaska and Washington work together during negotiations…

… “We need to focus on sustainability, not allocation issues. It is what now sets up apart from the other U.S. fisheries,” she said.

As for the port issue, Gregoire spent much of June 4 reassuring shippers and other Alaskans that a cargo tax, proposed and later abandoned in Washington's legislature earlier this year, would not be revived. It would have added a fee of $100 or more on shipping containers carrying freight in and out of that state…

http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/061707/hom_2007
0617009.shtml

 



28. Senate Passes Stevens-Murkowski Resolution Condemning Harmful Foreign Fishing Practices

The United States Senate has unanimously passed a Resolution condemning the harmful subsidies many foreign governments direct to their fishing industries. Introduced by Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), the Resolution (S. Res. 208) was cosponsored by a bipartisan group of 13 Senators. Senator Stevens noted that the problems caused by these subsidies affect not only global fisheries resources, but also the coastal communities which depend on them… 

http://stevens.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction
=NewsRoom.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=9fc0442c
-802a-23ad-43b4-e44eae075f68&Region_id=&Issue_id=
 



29.
Judge sides with wild salmon- Hatchery-bred fish can't be counted toward ESA goals

The push by property-rights advocates to count hatchery-bred salmon toward the goals of the Endangered Species Act is misguided and runs afoul of the law, U.S. District Judge John Coughenour ruled Wednesday in Seattle.

His decision flatly rejects the idea that if enough salmon can be produced in hatcheries, there is little need to protect wild stocks. It also strikes down what environmentalists widely viewed as a Bush administration policy to appease building and agriculture interests.

The Endangered Species Act has a "central purpose of preserving and promoting self-sustaining natural populations," the judge ruled.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/319752_salmon14.html
 



30. Report: Climate change has affected cod fisheries

Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 06/18/07

Climate change already affects ocean ecosystems and seafood production off the shores of North America, according to a new report on the long decline and now-stalled recovery of Atlantic cod and a decision by Alaska fisheries regulators to seal off America's farthest northern waters to fishing…

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/2007
0618/NEWS/706180326
 



31.
Laine Welch's Fish Radio –Topics from this week

Monday 6/18/07  Can bird flu be spread by farmed fish feedings???

Friday 6/15/07  Clam diggers advisory for shellfish toxins

Thursday 6/14/07  Importance of salmon to Bristol Bay region; Naknek Rally

Wednesday 6/13/07  Fishery modeling is tricky

Tuesday 6/12/07  Trawlers, trains use vegetable oil as fuel

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

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



32. MAP Alaska Fishing Communities Conference asks for feedback & priorities

Please help our planning committee decide whether to host another Alaska Fishing Communities statewide conference, and what the priority issues are. Please link to and complete this short survey…  (forwarded from MAP staff email):

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=819043859163

 

Marine Advisory Program Alaska Fishing Communities conference home page:

http://seagrant.uaf.edu/conferences/fish-com2/info.html
 



33.
NMFS Comment deadline August 20 on Steller Sea Lion Draft Revised Plan

NMFS announces the availability of the Draft Revised Recovery Plan ( Draft Revised Plan), dated May 2007, for the western and eastern distinct population segments (DPS) of Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus). NMFS is soliciting review and comment on the Draft Revised Plan from all interested parties. Due to continued and substantial public interest in the recovery plan to-date, NMFS is releasing an updated version of the Draft Revised Plan for additional review and written comments…

DATES: Comments on the Draft Revised Plan must be received by close of

business on August 20, 2007.

 

NOAA Press release:

http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/newsreleases/2007/sslrp052107.htm

 

Federal Register Notice:

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/
edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/E7-9755.htm

 

NOAA Steller Sea Lion Recover Plan home page: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/protectedresources/stellers
/recovery.htm
 



34. NPFMC Steller Sea Lion Mitigation Committee, Seattle June 19-21

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Steller Sea Lion Mitigation Committee (SSLMC) will meet in Seattle, WA.

…The meeting will be held on June 19-21, 2007, from 8:30 a.m. to

5 p.m.

…The meeting will be held at the Alaska Fishery Science

Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Bldg 4, Room 2076, Seattle, WA.

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/
edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/E7-10774.htm

 



35. MMRC Steller Research: To the Depths on a Breath

How much energy does a diving sea lion obtain from single breath of air? A group of scientists recently measured oxygen consumption in trained Steller sea lions diving in the open ocean. The results are helping to explain the behaviour of foraging sea lions in the wild… http://www.marinemammal.org/2007/hastie.php

 

MMRC Scientists survey killer whales in western Alaska

In 1992, a lone killer whale carcass washed ashore in Alaska’s Prince William Sound. Inside its stomach, scientists discovered no less than 14 flipper tags that had come from Steller sea lions—a surprising find that prompted researchers to do some ruminating of their own: Could killer whales have caused or contributed to the alarming decline and lack of recovery in western Alaska’s Steller sea lions?

http://www.marinemammal.org/2007/killer_whales_wildwest.php

 

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



36. NPFMC Crab Committee, Seattle, June 19

Location change to Fisherman’s terminal & Agenda: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/crab/
CrabCmteeagenda61907.pdf

 

Discussion paper: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/crab/
crabcmtee607.pdf

 

Federal register Notice (Notice includes incorrect address – see above)

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800
/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/E7-10776.htm

 



37. CI Beluga ESA listing comments due Aug 3 - public meeting Homer 7/19, Anchorage 7/20

NMFS is announcing that public hearings will be held at two locations in Alaska to provide additional opportunities and formats to receive public input…

DATES: The hearings will be held on July 19, 2007, from 6 to 9 p.m. in Homer and on July 20, 2007, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Anchorage, AK.

Written comments must be received by August 3, 2007.

ADDRESSES: The July 19, 2007, hearing will be held at the Maritime

Refuge, Island and Oceans, 95 Sterling Highway 1, Homer, AK.

The July 20, 2007, hearing will be held in hte Loussac Public Library,

Wilda Marston Room, 3600 Denali Street, Anchorage, AK…

 

For details and comment instructions see:

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/13jun20071800
/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/E7-11420.htm

 

Related story at Far North Science: http://www.farnorthscience.com/2007/06/18/marine-mammals/beluga-whale-hearings-set/#more-805

 

NOAA Fisheries Cook Inlet Beluga Whale home page:

http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/protectedresources/whales/
beluga/management.htm#esa

 



38. Deadline July 26, 2007 on Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated (IUU) fisheries…

NMFS issues this advance notice of proposed rulemaking to announce that it is developing certification procedures to address illegal, unreported, or unregulated (IUU) fishing activities and bycatch of protected living marine resources pursuant to the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act (Moratorium Protection Act).

NMFS is seeking advance public comment on the development of these procedures and on the sources and types of information to be considered in the process. NMFS plans to arrange for one or more opportunities to obtain public input on the certification procedures. Dates and locations of any such opportunities will be published in the Federal

Register at a later date (see next item).

DATES: Written comments must be received by July 26, 2007.

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/
edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/E7-11254.htm

 



39. Public Meeting on IUU Fisheries, Seattle July 5

Thursday, July 5, 2007, 3-5 p.m. NMFS Northwest Regional Office,

7600 Sand Point Way NE, Building 9 Auditorium, Seattle, WA 98115; phone

206-526-6150.

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/
edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/E7-11624.htm

 



40. NOAA posts public comments on NEPA/MSA Environmental Review Procedures

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/msa2007/publiccomments.htm

 



41. Comment Deadline June 29 on BSAI non pollock trawl AFA Amendment 80…

NMFS issues a proposed rule to implement Amendment 80 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP). Amendment 80 (hereinafter the ``Program'') primarily would allocate several Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) non-pollock trawl groundfish fisheries among fishing  sectors, and facilitate the formation of harvesting cooperatives in the non-American Fisheries Act (AFA) trawl catcher/processor sector. The Program would establish a limited access privilege program (LAPP) for the non-AFA trawl catcher/processor sector…

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/
edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/E7-9828.htm

 



42. NPRB Project Synopses
.  More than 60 NPRB-funded projects are now complete, and We have started to create synopses that provide an "at-a-glance" version of what was accomplished and why the research is important. Written in lively, compelling language, these synopses are suitable for a wide variety of audiences, and will be available for download from http://project.nprb.org/

NPRB Research Summaries – Birds.  Our Science Plan is based on marine research themes. Seabirds is the first in a series of these themes and tells the story of North Pacific seabird research funded by NPRB from 2000 through 2006. This beautiful eight-page booklet is available in print and online at: http://doc.nprb.org/web/research/research%20pubs/
Seabirds_A4.pdf


 

43. IPHC Halibut Landing reports Nos. 2 & 3

2007 Halibut Landing Report No. 3 (May 29, 2007)

 http://www.iphc.washington.edu/halcom/newsrel/2007/
nr20070529.htm

 

 2007 Halibut Landing Report No. 2 (May 23, 2007)

http://www.iphc.washington.edu/halcom/newsrel/
2007/nr20070523.htm

 



44.
Alaska Sea Grant Fishlines newsletter for June

Articles include:

Alaska Knauss Fellow Seanbob Kelly Chosen

New Publications

Education Specialist Martha Brownlee Hired

Crab Research Biologist Ben Daly Hired

Scientists and Administrators Learn about AKCRRAB

Summer Student help

Job Opens for Ketchikan MAP Agent

http://seagrant.uaf.edu/news/fishlines/2007/june.html

 



45. AK Fishery Science Center posts reports:

Bering-Aleutian Salmon International Survey

Vessel Comparison on Seabed Echo

Warming Changes Bering Sea Biogeography

Plan for Loss of Sea Ice Program

Winter Whale Surveys in Kodiak, Alaska

Probability Sampling of Remaining Oil

Salmon Bycatch Patterns in Pollock Fishery

Groundfish Survey Data Available

For the above reports and more see:
http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/

 


46. ASMI Seafood Market Bulletin (6/12)

http://www.alaskaseafood.org/fishingprocessing/seafoodweb
_june07/index.html

 


Previously posted items:

 

47. Deadline June 29 for IPHC Merit Scholarship

http://www.iphc.washington.edu/halcom/newsrel/2007/
nr20070412.htm

 


48. Coast Guard requests comments on HF radio WX – Comment deadline August 24


Federal Register Notice: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/
edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/E7-7945.htm


Marine Exchange of Alaska:

http://www.mxak.org/default.cfm?res=617&id=186

 


49. EPA Proposed Rule on Emissions of Air Pollution from Locomotive & Marine Engines - Comment by July 2, 2007


http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/
edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/07-1107.htm