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UFA Update October 17, 2007 The UFA Board will meet at the Nolan Center in Wrangell, October 24-26. Paid members are invited to attend. A reception will be held on October 24, 6:00 – 8:00 pm, also at the Nolan center, open to all Wrangell fishermen. WASHINGTON STATE RESIDENTS – we hear that Senator Cantwell is not hearing from her constituents in support of S.552. the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Tax Treatment Act. If you are a Washington resident EVOS claimant, call her office today! Senator Cantwell Phone: 202-224-3441… Fax 202-228-0514 UFA Action Alert & sample letter: http://www.ufa-fish.org/update/07/050507aa.htm Juneau fishermen: see items #4 & 5 for important DEC on-board processing meeting Nov 8, and F&G AC meeting on Lynn Canal Herring ESA petition Nov 7 Contents: 1. Alaska Public Health releases new fish consumption guidelines 2. NFI/Healthy Mothers-Healthy Babies group: Mothers Again Urged to Eat Fish 3. The rest of the story – Does Selenium in Fish reduce toxic effects of mercury? 4. DEC Seafood Processors Advisory Council Meeting November 8, Juneau 5. Juneau F&G AC to meet on Lynn Canal-Auke Bay Herring ESA petition - Nov 7 6. Under the Needle: In reality, 'Deadliest Catch' has never been safer 7. ASMI: “Prime-Time For Wild Alaska Crab” 8. Federal council asks for review of crab fisheries' shares 9. Fish council moves toward resolving charter halibut issues 10. Fisherman pays penalty, agrees to vessel monitoring system for quota violation 11. Senate Passes Stevens-Inouye Provision on IUU Fishing 12. U.S., Chinese intercept of three Chinese fishing vessels suspected of drift net fishing 13. Canadian Auroras conduct high seas stake-out 14. Commerce Committee Passes Stevens Arctic Fisheries Resolution 15. Commerce Committee Approves Inouye/Stevens Ballast Water Management Bill 16. Pebble group partners with Anglo American 17. Pebble Partner Anglo
American accused of profiting from 18. Divisions unearthed at Bristol Bay water bill hearings 19. House Resources markup Oct 18 on Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007 20. Search for Cordova fisherman called off (F/V HERO) (9/26). CORDOVA -- The 21. Fisheries Observer found in water may have missed his footing (9/25). 22. Yukon Chum take off in fall run — finally 23: BC Westcoaster: Alaskan Marketing Behind Salmon Farming Controversy? 24: UK: Toxic pesticide again in use on salmon farms 25. Fish Farming: Without a Net 26. NOAA posts Open Ocean Aquaculture Workshop Report (from Oct 2006) 27. Offspring of hatchery trout are fishy flops: Science magazine study 28. Gulf Council developing regulations to allow open ocean aquaculture 29. Papers posted for National Organic Standards Board Organic Aquaculture Symposium 30. North Aleutian Basin Energy/Fisheries Steering Committee Meeting –Anch. Oct 19 31. Alaska oil and fish dialogue on way 32. Icicle Seafoods agrees to pay $900,000 to settle EPA Clean Water Act Complaint (9/20) 33. Ballard Group fights for marine future 34. Menhaden and the demise of fisheries - Another Neverending Story 35. Laine Welch's Fish Radio –Topics from this week 36. Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute Meeting Notice – Oct 22-24, Seattle 37. IPHC: Chums Needed for 2008 Stock Assessment Survey - deadline Oct 19 38. Deadline Oct. 19 for comment on NMFS seabird avoidance proposed rule 39. NMFS Final Rule on BSAI non-pollock groundfish industry fee system 40. NMFS Posts Upper Columbia Spring-run Chinook ESA Recovery Plan 41. NOAA Habitat Division listening sessions Oct 25 (Anch) & Oct 30 (Juneau) 42. Nominations Sought for North Pacific Fishery Management Council 43. Items posted from NPFMC October meeting: 44. NPFMC Charter Halibut Stakeholder Committee meets Oct 31 – Nov 2, Anchorage 45. NPFMC Salmon Bycatch Workgroup meets Nov 2 in Anchorage 46. NOAA Fisheries boosts funding for Alaska king crab research 47. Alaska Young Fishermen's Summit II - Anchorage, December 10–12, 2007 48. Office of Subsistence Management From Land and Water –Fall 2007 Newsletter 49. USCG Marine Safety Alert: Securing of Watertight Doors While Underway 50. USCG Marine Safety Alert : Programming Marine Radio and AIS Equipment 51. Marine Mammal Research Consortium: New Approach to Classifying Marine Ecosystems 52. Fishermen’s Fund Appeals Board seeks fishermen willing to serve 53. 2007 Preliminary Alaska Salmon Catches — Final Edition Blue Sheet 1. Alaska Public Health releases new fish consumption guidelines Alaska fish continues to be an important part of a healthy diet. The health benefits from eating fish far outweigh any potential risk from the small amounts of contaminants found in most Alaska fish, according to guidelines released today by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. Public health scientists reaffirmed that fish continues to be an important part of a healthy diet for everyone, including pregnant and nursing women, and young children… Governor’s Press release: http://www.hss.alaska.gov/press/2007/pdf/pr101507fish-consumption.pdf AK H&SS Department Fish Facts & Consumption Guidelines home page: http://www.epi.hss.state.ak.us/eh/fish/default.htm Kodiak Daily Mirror: Fish benefits outweigh risk, health report finds http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/?pid=19&id=5354 …Only five species of sport-caught Alaska fish had mercury levels high enough to warrant limiting consumption to two meals or less per week for these sensitive groups… ADN: State puts mercury caveat on eating fish
http://www.adn.com/money/industries/fishing/story/ Juneau Empire: Pregnant women told to limit fish consumption
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/101607/ NOAA Seafood Consumer Guide: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/fishwatch/ I win the office pool on this one with my prediction that ADN would report this story with a negative headline, though I didn’t think they’d be quite so negligent not to include any mention that all of the recommendations to pregnant women for two meals per week or less are for personal use (sport) fish. I’ll add it to the running list of their obvious bias against commercial fishing. Hat’s off to the Kodiak Daily Mirror! 2. NFI/Healthy Mothers-Healthy Babies group: Mothers Again Urged to Eat Fish Pregnant and breast-feeding women should eat at least 12 ounces of fish and seafood per week to ensure their babies' optimal brain development, a coalition of top scientists from private groups and federal agencies plans to declare today in a public advisory that marks a major break with current U.S. health advice…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/03/AR200710030127 & NFI fish consumption effort backwash: NY Times: Industry Money Fans Debate on Fish
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/17/dining/17fish.ht & “The Media Fell Hook, Line and Sinker for Industry 'Study' on Mercury in Seafood” http://www.alternet.org/environment/65065/ & Fishy advice on pregnant women and seafood consumption
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/environment/ & NPR: New Report Fuels Confusion About Women, Fish
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php? & NPR Blog: Something Fishy About Mothers and Fish Story
http://www.npr.org/blogs/news/2007/10/theres_ 3. The rest of the story – Does Selenium in Fish reduce toxic effects of mercury? The Alaska full report includes a brief mention of the Seychelles Islands study that raises doubts to mercury’s harmful effects when selenium is also included – as is common in fish. Studies that are in progress will tell us for sure (even if our newspapers won’t):
Center for Consumer Freedom:
http://www.consumerfreedom.com/news_detail.cfm? & Seychelles study 2004 Mercury: Selenium interactions and health implications L. Raymond and N. Ralston Seychelles Medical and Dental Journal, Special Issue, Vol 7, No 1, November 2004 http://www.seychelles.net/smdj/SECIIIC.pdf & University of North Dakota Energy and Environmental Research Center Center for Air Toxic Metals (CATM) Health Effects Program area at: http://www.undeerc.org/catm/health.html 4. DEC Seafood Processors Advisory Council Meeting November 8, Juneau The Alaska Seafood Processors Advisory Council will meet in Juneau at 1:00 PM, November 8, 2007, in the Main Conference Room, on the 2nd Floor of the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Offices, 410 Willoughby Avenue. The Food Safety and Sanitation Program is seeking input from fish processors and fishermen about gilling and gutting fish on fishing vessels. There will also be an opportunity to discuss other sanitation issues of concern to Alaska’s seafood industry…
http://notes5.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/cc52605f7c1 DEC Seafood Home page: http://www.dec.state.ak.us/eh/fss/seafood/seafood.htm DEC Seafood Processing
page:
http://www.test.dec.state.ak.us/eh/fss/seafood/processing If you already do or would like to gut & gill onboard, or if you use coco mats or work on fish without covering overhead you’ll be interested in this meeting. 5. Juneau F&G AC to meet on Lynn Canal-Auke Bay Herring ESA petition - Nov 7 The Juneau Douglas Fish and Game Advisory Committee will be holding a public hearing on the petition to list the Lynn Canal Herring on the ESA (Endangered Species Act) on November 7th at 6:30 pm – location to be determined. This petition will have the potential to significantly affect this city. For example the wastewater treatment facility might need to meet higher standards than currently required; the ferry system might be affected; roads and road drainage; the harbors in Auke Bay and commercial fishing and recreational boating from Auke Bay to Sherman etc. We will have a presentation by NMFS, the Juneau Sierra Club who submitted the petition and ADFG. We will also take public testimony on the issue before submitting comments by the December 10th date to NMFS. -Kathy Hansen, Chair Juneau Douglas Fish and Game Advisory Committee Location to be determined - contact Kathy at 586-6652 prior to the meeting NOAA Lynn Canal Herring home page – with links to Federal Register Notice and Sierra Club petition.
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/protectedresources/herring/ Quote from Sierra Club Petition: …The Pacific Herring population in the vicinity of Lynn Canal, including Auke Bay and Berners Bay, southeastern Alaska (hereafter: Lynn Canal Herring) is a distinct and imperiled population…” If you use Lynn Canal or Auke Bay waters for fishing, recreation, or transportation use such as the Alaska Marine Highway System, you’ll be interested in this meeting. 6. Under the Needle: In reality, 'Deadliest Catch' has never been safer The reality apart from reality television? The catch has never been safer. In the 1990s, seven crabbers a year died in the Bering Sea. Between 2000 and 2005, nearly four a year did. But since 2005 -- the year "Deadliest Catch" first aired -- there have been no deaths… http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/334861_needle10.html 7. ASMI: “Prime-Time For Wild Alaska Crab” Juneau, Alaska, September 20, 2007 - The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) announces that the much-anticipated Alaska king and snow crab season will open on October 15th, 2007. Alaska Dungeness crab also continues to be available throughout the fall. Alaska’s fall crab lineup is predicted to receive high ratings from consumers, retailers and chefs alike… http://www.alaskaseafood.org/about/pressreleases/Prime-timeforWildAlaskaCrab.htm 8. Federal council asks for review of crab fisheries' shares Federal fisheries regulators agreed Oct. 7 to revisit a bitter dispute of how shares of the lucrative Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands crab fisheries are doled out to harvesters and processors…
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/101407/hom_2007 9. Fish council moves toward resolving charter halibut issues After hours of testimony and discussion at its October meeting in Anchorage, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council took steps toward resolving contentious issues stemming from charter halibut operators harvesting more than their allowable quotas. The council voted to release to the public review documents containing options that would put some brakes on the lucrative sport fisheries, which are exceeding their harvest quotas. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game agreed to examine prohibiting skippers and crew from retaining fish during the 2008 season. Final action is expected at the council's meeting next October…
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/101407/hom_2007 10. Fisherman pays penalty, agrees to vessel monitoring system for quota violation The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has entered into a settlement agreement with individual fishing quota permit holder Fred Currier of Homer, Alaska, to resolve a violation… Currier also agreed to install and operate a vessel monitoring System (VMS) on any vessel that he operates under his IFQ for the next four years. This is the first time VMS has been required as a compliance measure in an IFQ case.
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/newsreleases/2007/ifqviolation Many fishermen with no violations of any kind are subject to VMS requirements. UFA opposes further imposition of VMS for general monitoring of fishing locations used by fishermen. 11. Senate Passes Stevens-Inouye Provision on IUU Fishing Measure Would Create “Blacklist” of Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated Fishing Vessels The United States Senate yesterday approved a provision authored by Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) that would create a list of fishing vessels and vessel owners engaged in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing as part of the Fiscal Year 2008 Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations bill (H.R. 3093). The measure would also allow the United States to take appropriate action against listed vessels and owners, in accordance with federal and international fisheries and trade laws… This press release should
be posted by the time you’re reading this, at
http://stevens.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction= 12. U.S., Chinese high-seas law enforcement operation continues with interception of three Chinese fishing vessels suspected of drift net fishing The U.S. Coast Guard and People's Republic of China Fisheries Law Enforcement Command are investigating three fishing vessels suspected of illegal high-seas drift net fishing 400 miles east of Hokkaido, Japan. The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Boutwell with a FLEC officer onboard intercepted the fishing vessels Lu Rong Yu 2659, 2660, and 6105 Friday after an HH-65 helicopter, deployed with Boutwell from Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii, identified the three vessels as possible high-seas drift net fishing vessels. All vessels were intercepted by a joint China/U.S. boarding team from the cutter Boutwell. Once onboard the vessels, the boarding teams determined that all the vessels were rigged for high-seas drift net fishing and were all registered in the People's Republic of China. The master of one vessel admitted to the boarding team to having 9,000 meters of nets onboard. http://www.uscgalaska.com/go/doc/780/177979/ 13. Canadian Auroras conduct high seas stake-out Having already found and photographed three vessels suspected of illegal fishing, two Canadian Forces Aurora Long Range Patrol aircraft are continuing a search of breathtaking magnitude in the North Pacific. … Fishery officers from DFO and its U.S. counterpart, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), are also on board… http://www.lookoutnewspaper.com/archive/20071015/2.shtml 14. Commerce Committee Passes Stevens Arctic Fisheries Resolution WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today reported out S.J. Res.17, directing the United States to initiate international discussions and take necessary steps with other nations to negotiate an agreement for managing migratory and transboundary fish stocks in the Arctic Ocean. The resolution was introduced by Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), and is cosponsored by Senators Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), John Sununu (R-N.H.), Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), John Kerry (D-Mass.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.). The resolution now awaits action by the full Senate. "As ocean temperatures change and fish habitats expand northward, we may see valuable fish stocks migrate into the high seas of the Arctic Ocean," said Senator Stevens. "It is crucial that we pursue appropriate international agreements for this area to stop any expansion of fishing until a science-based fishery management plan can be implemented." 15. Commerce Committee Approves Inouye/Stevens Ballast Water Management Bill Measure Would Help Minimize Threat Posed by Nuisance Species Moved in Ballast Water WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today approved the “Ballast Water Management Act of 2007” (S. 1578) which is sponsored by Committee Vice Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii). The measure would help minimize the transportation of nuisance species in ship ballast water. The legislation now awaits action by the full Senate. “Nearly every state in the nation is impacted by invasive species which have the potential to alter the environment and devastate our fisheries,” said Senator Stevens. “This legislation will help prevent the unintentional relocation of marine life by providing a strong national standard to regulate the intake and discharge of ship ballast water. This is an important step toward preserving the ecosystems in our nation’s ports and waterways.” 16. Pebble group partners with Anglo American Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. and Anglo American have formed a new jointly owned company, Pebble Mines Corp., to develop the large Pebble project.
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/101407/hom_2007
17. Mining giant Anglo American accused of profiting from The British mining giant Anglo American has been accused of profiting from the persecution, intimidation and killing of miners in Colombia who oppose the company's operations. The international charity War on Want says in a report released yesterday that Anglo American and its subsidiaries benefited from army operations in areas where the company is prospecting, which have forced families off their land and intimidated community leaders. It is part of a "pattern of global abuse" in countries where Anglo American operates, it says. http://www.guardian.co.uk/colombia/story/0,,2140797,00.html & NPR on Pebble Mine: Planned Open-Pit Mine Stirs Environmental Fight
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php? UFA Opposes the Pebble Mine. Our statement is online at:
http://www.ufa-fish.org/doc/UFA%20Statement%20opposing%20Pebble%20Mine 18. Divisions unearthed at Bristol Bay water bill hearings Legislative hearings in three Bristol Bay villages unearthed divisions over proposed state legislation that opponents argue would block most commercial development in the region - including the Pebble mine.
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/093007/hom_2007 & Legislators get an earful on mining bill at village meetings http://www.adn.com/front/story/9330565p-9245653c.html HB 134 is not limited only to mining use of water. The UFA Board of directors will be looking at this bill at our meeting in Wrangell next week. HB 134 Text and tracking:
http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_complete_bill.asp? 19. House
Resources markup Oct 18 on Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007
http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/index.php?option The markup will be webcast live on the Committee's Web site at http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/ . & Environmental Working Group seeks to limit mining near protected lands
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_ & Royalty-free mining days may be near end (USA Today on Sept 30 hearing) http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-09-30-mining_N.htm 20. Search for Cordova fisherman called off (F/V HERO) (9/26). CORDOVA -- The Coast Guard called off its search for a fisherman whose overturned boat was discovered on the shoreline of a small island near Prince William Sound. There was no sign of Steve Reutov, the sole occupant of Hero, a 32-foot aluminum boat. A survival suit and life ring were found on the beach… http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/9332479p-9247561c.html 21. Fisheries Observer found in water may have missed his footing (9/25). The fisheries observer might have been trying to board his boat in nasty weather (9/25). A Texas man whose body was recovered from the water at Dutch Harbor last week had been out drinking the blustery night he disappeared, police said Monday. Jay Alderman, 25, of Teague, Texas, had been working as a fisheries observer aboard the commercial fishing boat Westward I, which was docked in Captains Bay… http://www.adn.com/money/story/9330395p-9245526c.html 22. Yukon Chum take off in fall run — finally A late surge in the Yukon River’s fall chum salmon run has state fisheries biologists re-calculating the size of this year’s return to the Yukon and Tanana rivers… Based on numbers from a sonar counter about 120 miles from the mouth of the Yukon, which was shut down on Aug. 31, biologists were projecting this year’s fall chum run to top out at around 700,000. But judging from the number of fish they are counting on spawning beds, biologists are now guessing the run is closer to a million fish… http://newsminer.com/2007/10/10/9294 23: BC Westcoaster: Alaskan Marketing Behind Salmon Farming Controversy? Having worked in the salmon farming industry during 2002 and 2003, I am well aware of the environmental impacts of salmon farming. And like most people, I feel that the recent escapes and recent deaths of sea lions in Clayoquot Sound are unacceptable… Central to the brand marketing strategy for Alaskan "wild" salmon is differentiating it from farmed salmon. By depicting farmed salmon as unsafe and unsustainable, environmental organizations facilitate the product differentiation and brand marketing strategy for Alaskan "wild" salmon, as safe and sustainable… The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) has clearly acknowledged working with "conservation funders" and "lots of private foundation money." ASMI has acknowledged working with environmental organizations and using materials generated by them to sell Alaskan seafood…
http://www.westcoaster.ca/modules/AMS/article.php 24: UK: Toxic pesticide again in use on salmon farms Parasite treatment returns despite effect on sea bed SALMON FARMERS are again using a toxic pesticide years after it was thought to have been phased out. The chemical, teflubenzuron, known commercially as Calicide, is given to salmon to kill sea lice parasites. Concerns about the polluting effects of the substance, 90% of which is excreted by the salmon into the sea, have been raised by shellfish farmers.
http://www.sundayherald.com/news/heraldnews/display 25. Fish Farming: Without a Net Lice, feces and pushiness - who knew Atlantic salmon could be so nasty? West Coast aquaculturists, as a matter of fact, who farm the species. The negative ecological effects of farming the fish are causing them big problems… AgriMarine Industries' plan is laughably logical: It's putting giant tanks in the ocean so the fish can't mess with the environment around them…
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/financialpost/fpb/story. It would be quite a stretch to attribute these stories to ASMI. We appreciate ASMI’s work on the positive marketing of Alaska wild seafood, which combined with your support of Wild & Farmed labeling in USDA COOL has made a huge difference in increasing awareness and demand. 26. NOAA posts Open Ocean Aquaculture Workshop Report (from Oct 2006) “Open Ocean Aquaculture—Moving Forward,” organized by the Aquaculture Interchange Program (AIP), was held in Honolulu, Hawaii, October 23-25, 2006. The objective of this workshop was to review and assemble information on operating open ocean aquaculture in various parts of the world and to develop a strategy for moving forward with the concept while maintaining current environmental conditions… 80 page report is online at:
http://www.lib.noaa.gov/docaqua/reports_noaaresearch NOAA Aquaculture home page: http://www.lib.noaa.gov/docaqua/frontpage.htm 27. Offspring of hatchery trout are fishy flops: Science magazine study When it comes to making babies, steelhead trout like it wild. In a study published on Thursday with great implications for captive breeding programs, U.S. researchers found that after being set free, steelhead trout reared in hatcheries produced offspring far less fit than those of wild-bred fish.
http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSN0 Science Magazine Study (for fee or by subscription): http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/318/5847/100 28. Gulf Council developing regulations to allow open ocean aquaculture Programmatic EIS (440 ppg):
http://www.gulfcouncil.org/Beta/GMFMCWeb/downloads/BB% Gulf Council home page: http://www.gulfcouncil.org & Mississippi Businesses, industry have begun to look to Aquaculture for the next big thing. http://www.sunherald.com/business/story/158873.html 29. Papers posted for National Organic Standards Board Organic Aquaculture Symposium Arlington, VA 22202 Tuesday, November 27, 2007
http://www.ams.usda.gov/nosb/MeetingAgendas/Nov2007/ 30. North Aleutian Basin Energy/Fisheries Steering Committee Meeting –Anch. Oct 19 The Aleutians East Borough is participating in a North Aleutian Basin Energy/Fisheries Steering Committee Meeting at the Anchorage Hilton Hotel on October 19, 2007 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The objectives of the scoping meeting include identifying common goals, areas of agreement as well as concerns surrounding offshore gas and oil development in the North Aleutian Basin…
http://www.aleutianseast.org/index.asp?Type=B_ 31. Alaska oil and fish dialogue on way The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) and Norway's Bodø University have announced an initiative to open a dialogue between offshore oil and gas interests and fisheries stakeholders in Alaska's North Aleutian Basin Planning Area, a 5.6-million-acre region that encompasses most of the southeastern Bering Sea continental shelf and Bristol Bay… The North Aleutian Basin Energy and Fisheries Workshop is being planned as a public event March 18-19, 2008, in Anchorage, Alaska. Setting the agenda is a 23-member steering committee consisting of the region's fishermen and seafood processors, Native and community leaders, energy and fishery regulators, environmentalists, and energy industry representatives. The initial meeting of the steering committee is scheduled for October 19, 2007, in Anchorage…
http://www.fishupdate.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/8829 AEB Pipeline newsletter online: 32. Icicle Seafoods agrees to pay $900,000 to settle EPA Clean Water Act Complaint (9/20) Icicle Seafoods, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Evening Star, Inc., have agreed to spend nearly $2 million to resolve Clean Water Act (CWA) violations associated with the operation of the M/V Northern Victor, a seafood processing vessel, in Alaska’s Udagak Bay. The settlement requires the payment of a $900,000 civil penalty. Icicle has already spent approximately $1.1 million cleaning up a historic seafood waste pile that created a one-acre “dead zone” on the Alaskan seafloor…
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d96f984dfb3 33. Ballard Group fights for marine future … If you have eaten a frozen fish stick anywhere in the United States, the fish was probably caught by a boat based out of the BINMIC. Most frozen whitefish is either pollock or Pacific cod, both of which are caught by boats based out of Terminal 90/91…
http://www.ballardnewstribune.com/articles/2007/10/15/ 34. Menhaden and the demise of fisheries - Another Neverending Story “The charge brought against the menhaden fishermen is not that they catch edible fish, but rather by the enormous takes of the Brevoortia tyrannus they deprive edible fish of their food, for the menhaden is supposed to be the main source of support to several fish on our coast, notably the striped bass and the blue-fish….” No link is available to the above NY Times piece, as it was written in 1882. Nils Stolpe presents a history of the “fallen sky” of commercial fisheries history leading right up to today at the fishnet site... 35. Laine Welch's Fish Radio –Topics from this week Wednesday 10/17/07 Crabbers accept 'disappointing' price; tout AK 'pedigree' Tuesday 10/16/07 Young Fishermen's Summit aims to build success for upcoming 'year classes' Monday 10/15/07 AK seafood trends to watch Friday 1012/07 AK beer company funds beach clean ups, sends brew crew to help Thursday 10/11/07 Nosedive in US dollar good for AK seafood sales Online at http://www.marineconservationalliance.org/fishradio.htm & also see Laine Welch's Fish Factor at http://www.kinyradio.com/fishfactor.html 36. Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute Meeting Notice – Oct 22-24, Seattle A meeting of the ASMI Board of Directors and all ASMI Committees will be held on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, October 22 - 24, 2007 beginning at 8:00 am each day at the Doubletree Guest Suites located at 16500 Southcenter Parkway, Seattle, Washington For more information about this event, please contact Lynn Coffee (907) 465-5560 or email LCoffee@AlaskaSeafood.org 37. IPHC: Chums Needed for 2008 Stock Assessment Survey - deadline Oct 19 258,000 pounds semi-bright chum salmon Proposals due October 19, 2007
http://www.iphc.washington.edu/halcom/newsrel/2007/ & IPHC 2007 Halibut Landing
Report No. 10
http://www.iphc.washington.edu/halcom/newsrel/2007/ 38. Deadline Oct. 19 for comment on NMFS seabird avoidance proposed rule NMFS issues a proposed rule that would revise the seabird avoidance measures for the Alaska hook-and-line groundfish and halibut fisheries. The proposed rule would strengthen gear standards for small vessels and eliminate certain seabird avoidance requirements that are not needed or not effective. This action is necessary to revise seabird avoidance measures based on the latest scientific information and to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens and associated costs. …Written comments must be received by October 19, 2007.
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800 39. NMFS Final Rule on BSAI non-pollock groundfish industry fee system NMFS establishes regulations to implement an industry fee system for repaying a $35 million Federal loan financing a fishing capacity reduction program in the longline catcher processor subsector of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) non-pollock groundfish fishery. This action implements the fee collection system to ensure repayment of the loan. …This final rule is effective, and fee payment collection begins, on October 24, 2007.
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/ 40. NMFS Posts Upper Columbia Spring-run Chinook ESA Recovery Plan The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the adoption of an Endangered Species Act (ESA) recovery plan for the Upper Columbia River Spring-Run Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) evolutionarily significant unit (ESU) and the Upper Columbia River steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) distinct population segment (DPS)…
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/ 41. NOAA Habitat Division listening sessions Oct 25 (Anch) & Oct 30 (Juneau) To get your feedback, the Alaska Region's Habitat Conservation Divison will host three listening session meetings. NOAA Fisheries' staff will explain how NOAA's habitat program has evolved over the past decade; highlight potential challenges and opportunities for the future; and seek feedback on what stakeholders think are important habitat issues for NOAA Fisheries to focus on over the next few years, especially here in Alaska... http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/habitat/lsessions/default.htm & If you can't attend a listening session, please e-mail your feedback to marla.trollan@noaa.gov. 42. Nominations Sought for North Pacific Fishery Management Council Governor Sarah Palin announced that she is seeking applications from members of the public interested in serving on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. The NPFMC is responsible for managing federal fisheries inside the United States 200 mile zone… Governor’s Press release: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=645 43. Items posted from NPFMC October meeting: Salmon Bycatch
Motion:
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/bycatch/ Crab Motion:
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/crab/ GOA Pcod Sector
Split Motion:
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/ Fixed Gear Recency
Motion:
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/ Arctic FMP Motion:
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/ Halibut Motion:
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/ Council proposed specs for 2008/2009: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/CouncilSpecs1007.pdf October 2007 Newsletter:
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/newsletters/ NPFMC home page: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/ 44. NPFMC Charter Halibut Stakeholder Committee meets Oct 31 – Nov 2, Anchorage …The meetings will be
held at the North Pacific Research Board, 1007 West 3rd Avenue, Suite 100…
Documents online at:
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/halibut 45. NPFMC Salmon Bycatch Workgroup meets Nov 2 in Anchorage …The meeting will be held at the Hawthorn Suites, 1110 West 8th Avenue, Anchorage, AK… Federal register meeting notice:
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/ NPFMC Salmon Bycatch home
page:
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/bycatch/ 46. NOAA Fisheries boosts funding for Alaska king crab research State-federal scientists continue studies aimed at rebuilding stocks… NOAA Fisheries, through its aquaculture program, has awarded $175,000 to Alaska Sea Grant to continue studies aimed at raising red and blue king crab at the Alutiiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery in Seward, Alaska. http://seagrant.uaf.edu/news/07news/09-28-07noaa-aquaculture.html 47. Alaska Young Fishermen's Summit II - Anchorage, December 10–12, 2007 ~Weaving a network of future fishing leaders~ http://seagrant.uaf.edu/map/workshops/2007/ayfs2/index.html 48. Office of Subsistence Management From Land and Water –Fall 2007 Newsletter Online at http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/news.cfm?nlr=1 & Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Council Meeting Fall Schedules online http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/deadline.cfm 49. USCG Marine Safety Alert: Securing of Watertight Doors While Underway This safety alert reiterates the need for vessel operators to ensure that watertight doors are always closed while underway, except when being used for access. This alert is the direct result of a collision between a 534’ cargo ship and a 166’ offshore supply vessel. The incident occurred on the Mississippi River, in a restricted visibility situation. As a result of the collision, the offshore supply vessel capsized and sank – the crew of five was lost. http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/moa/docs/3-07.pdf 50. USCG Marine Safety Alert : Programming Marine Radio and AIS Equipment Statistics show that many mariners in distress do not properly identify themselves nor provide a precise location when radioing for help which delays rescue services in arriving at the scene quickly and providing the assistance needed. Many marine communication devices, including marine radios equipped with Digital Selective Calling (DSC) and Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) equipment rely upon a 9-digit Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number to identify itself and more importantly the user of the device…http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/moa/docs/2-07.pdf 51. Marine Mammal Research Consortium: New Approach to Classifying Marine Ecosystems An Ocean Divided: A New Approach to Classifying Marine Ecosystems Ecosystem mapping has long been used to help terrestrial ecologists understand how organisms interact within a discrete environment. But in the ever-changing ocean, determining the boundary between ecosystems can be a challenge. New research suggests a method for mapping marine ecosystems by combining satellite images and oceanographic data… http://www.marinemammal.org/2007/gregr.php MMRC Home page: http://www.marinemammal.org/ 52. Fishermen’s Fund Appeals Board seeks fishermen willing to serve The Fishermen’s fund is a vital component of health care for Alaska fishermen. One or two fishermen’s seats are open on the appeals board. Contact Frank Bailey at the Governor’s office of Board and Commissions at 465-3500. http://gov.state.ak.us/boards/factsheet.php?i=038 53. 2007 Preliminary Alaska Salmon Catches — Final Edition Blue Sheet Preliminary Season Summary with exvessel values to be released in November. Bluesheet: http://csfish.adfg.state.ak.us/BlueSheets/BLUEWebReport.php Harvest summaries: |