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UFA Update CONTENTS 1. North Pacific fish takes up Bering Sea crab issues 2. Fishermen needed to serve on Subsistence RACs - January 11, 2008 is Deadline 3. Tulsequah Mine (Taku) Hoverbarge proposal timetable posted – comment by Jan 15? 4. Mining initiatives move forward 5. Coalition of Native groups sues state over mining initiatives 6. Governor’s Health Care Strategies Planning Council releases Preliminary Plan 7. SB 160 - Health Insurance For All Alaskans, Updated Dec 3 with changes… 8. ISER Research Matters No. 26. No Health Insurance: How Do Alaskans Cope? 9. Stevens Praises FCC Program to Improve Telemedicine in Alaska 10. Total pollock catch nearly 3 billion pounds - Frank Kelty For The Dutch Harbor Fisherman 11. 2007 salmon harvest nets fourth largest in history 12. Strong sales may mean bonuses for salmon fishermen 13. PWSAC projects surplus of $1.5 million 14. Forecast: Pink salmon numbers are likely to plummet next year 15. Report: Most fishermen in Alaska have other salary jobs 16. State plans to begin collecting crew data 17. Seafood workers needed – Homer News 18. Ice to heat up Bristol Bay sockeye market – BB RSDA 19. Man who let fish rot sentenced 20. ADN: Seafood merger won't affect Alaska 21. Young's earmark helps three fishing companies 22. Sales value for salmon, halibut hits high side 23. 'Deadliest Catch' skipper to hawk Russian crab 24. California Supreme Court will hear consumers' complaint that grocery chains aren't obeying the law on labeling. 25. Trident Pollock Roe is MSC milestone 1000th seafood item 26. MSC eco-label sought for Pacific cod fisheries 27. MSC. 1st annual surveillance report for the North Pacific Halibut fishery 28. South Korean seafood expo draws world's fish traders 29. Inouye Leads Commerce Committee Approval of Climate Change and Ocean Acidification Legislation 30. My turn: Alaskans deserve truth about Stevens (11/28) by Bob Thorstenson Jr. 31. Senate Commerce Committee Approves Measure to Deal With Increased Ocean Acidification 32. Hogarth to leave NMFS 33. Groups ask judge to order rules for salmon-killing pesticides 34. Chile's Flourishing Fish Farms Prompt Fears for Ecosystem 35. Salmon campaigners urge US board to reject organic bid 36. My Turn: Creating rural jobs while saving the Alaska soul by Roger Painter 37. Alaskan Steller Sea Lion Count Reported 38. MMRC Steller Research: Decisions at Depth 39. NOAA Renews Partnership with The Nature Conservancy for Habitat 40. State Supreme Court affirms – AK Trademark Shellfish not to recover expenses 41. National Fisherman: Bush Red Drum & Striped Bass order is Out of Order 42. SF Bay oil spill: Litigation compounds disaster-Notes from Riki Ott 43. EU: Oceana publishes damning shark report 44. EU fish policy: More holes than a trawlerman's net 45. Laine Welch's Fish Radio –Topics from this week 46. NOAA and USDA Accepting Public Comment on Aquaculture Feeds - Feb 29 47. NMFS Comment deadline Jan 14 on Aleut. Is. Habitat Conservation boundaries 48. Comment deadline Jan 7 on AIHCA coral and sponge habitat 49. Comment deadline Dec 14 on Halibut & Sablefish IFQ flexibility 50. NMFS posts final MMPA List of Fisheries for 2008 51. NMFS workshop on new groundfish observer protocols – Dec 11, Seattle 52. NPFMC Crab Advisory Committee meets Dec 17-18, Anchorage 53. Deadline Feb 11 for 2008 Annual Sustainable Fisheries Leadership Awards 54. IPHC Staff Preliminary Catch Limit Recommendations posted for 2008: 55. IFQ Cost Recovery (Fee) Program payments due January 31, 2008 56. Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee Latest Recommendations: 57. NOAA Fisheries Seeks Public Input on Fisheries Disaster Assistance by January 4 58. Coast Guard Centralizes Mariner Licensing Program 59. CFEC Notice to Fishermen paying by credit or debit cards – include exp. date! 60. Federal Subsistence Board meets in Anchorage Dec 11-13. 61. Comment Period on Subsistence Draft C&T Use Policy Extended to December 7 62. January 11, 2008 is Deadline for Federal Subsistence RAC Nominations 63. Comment deadline January 10 on Draft Statewide Long Range Transportation Policy 64. Don Young on Transportation and AK press: Setting the Record Straight 65. ADF&G Call for Proposals – PCSRF priority information issues – Deadline Jan 15 66. ADF&G Report: Biological and Fishery-Related Aspects of Overescapement in Alaskan Sockeye Salmon 67. Review of Salmon Escapement Goals in Upper Cook Inlet, Alaska 2007 68. Post-Season Stock Composition Analysis of Upper Cook Inlet Sockeye Salmon Harvest, 2005-2007 69. Board of Fisheries meeting dates: 70. Wild Seafood Exchange - February 21st, 2008, Seattle 71. Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory program Fish Entrepreneur newsletter for Fall 07 Previous Items Still Timely: 72. Comment Deadline December 10 on Lynn Canal-Auke Bay Herring ESA petition 73. Comment period extended until 12/10/07 on MAFAC Vision 20-20 74. Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC) meets Dec 18-20, Miami 75. Fishermen’s Fund Appeals Board seeks fishermen willing to serve 76. Comment by December 28 on North Pacific Right Whale ESA Endangered listing and critical habitat 77. Alaska Marine Science 2008 Symposium, January 20-23, 2008, Anchorage 78. APOC announces Ethics Training courses, Anchorage, Juneau and online 79. Alaska Young Fishermen’s Summit December 10-12, Anchorage 80. Alaska Seafood Processing Leadership Institute 2008 calendar & seminars 1. North Pacific fish takes up Bering Sea crab issues A major focus of the final meeting of the year for the North Pacific Fishery Management Council is setting the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea groundfish and crab quotas for the upcoming fishing year. The meeting is Dec. 5-11 in Anchorage… …thorough analysis of the wide range of topics in the full story online at… http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/?pid=19&id=5523 Meeting agenda: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/Agendas/1207agenda.pdf NPFMC Home page: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/Agendas/1207agenda.pdf 2. Fishermen needed to serve on Subsistence RACs - January 11, 2008 is Deadline The Office of Subsistence Management is accepting applications and nominations to fill seats on the 10 Regional Advisory Councils that advise the Federal Subsistence Board. The deadline to submit applications is January 11, 2008. The councils meet twice yearly and advise the Federal Subsistence Board on subsistence management regulations and policies. They also serve as a forum for regional public involvement in Federal subsistence management. Council members must be knowledgeable about fish and wildlife uses in their region. For an application or additional information, please contact Ann Wilkinson at the Office of Subsistence Management at (800) 478-1456 or (907) 786-3676. See December 3 Press release online at http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/news.cfm?gnr=1 Of the ten RACs, only the Seward Peninsula currently has the required 30% of representatives that self-identify themselves as sport or commercial interest. Fishermen are needed to submit names for nomination for all regions. 3. Tulsequah Mine (Taku) Hoverbarge proposal timetable posted – comment by Jan 15? DNR Large Mine dept: December 3, 2007 - Redfern Resources Limited has indicated that it intends to complete submission of finalized permit applications and supporting documents for its Air Cushion Barging proposal for the Tulsequah Chief Project in mid-December, 2007. Links to the finalized permit applications and supporting documents that have been received are included below. It is now expected that a 50-day Coastal Zone Consistency Review will begin on December 18, 2007. The schedule below summarizes the steps and anticipated dates for the Consistency Review process, assuming there are no stoppages to the 50-day clock.
http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/mlw/mining/largemine/tulsequah AK DNR Tulsequah Mine home page:
http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/mlw/mining/largemine/tulsequah 4. Mining initiatives move forward While Alaska's mining industry recoils in fear of one statewide voter initiative designed to drastically curtail its future pollution discharges, two more citizen-led initiatives are getting under way to strike some previous industry-friendly decisions by the state. .. http://www.adn.com/money/story/9450439p-9361936c.html Renewable Resources
Coalition Call to Action - Help Gather Signatures for the Alaska Clean Water
Initiatives:http://www.renewableresourcescoalition.org/ 5. Coalition of Native groups sues state over mining initiatives Following up on a resolution first proposed by Doyon Ltd., a coalition of Native groups sued the state on Wednesday, hoping to stop two ballot initiatives designed to prevent construction of a large copper mine in Southwest Alaska… http://newsminer.com/2007/11/23/10058/ 6. Governor’s Health Care Strategies Planning Council releases Preliminary Plan Proposal doesn't address the cost of reaching goals A team of experts Gov. Sarah Palin asked to study Alaska's growing health-care problem is setting some ambitious goals and proposing modest steps to get there. Karleen Jackson, commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services, presented the Health Care Strategies Planning Council's draft plan on Monday in Anchorage. The plan noted that the cost of health care in Alaska was too high, making it unavailable for some. "The high cost of health care is a barrier to many Alaskans getting the health care they need, and the present system supports the high and increasing costs of health care, and inefficient utilization of health care dollars," the plan says…
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/120407/sta_ Preliminary Plan: http://www.hss.state.ak.us/hspc/files/200712_consensus.pdf Health Care Strategies Planning Council home page: http://www.hss.state.ak.us/hspc/ 7. SB 160 - Health Insurance For All Alaskans, Updated Dec 3 with changes… … as a result of the extensive comments received about the legislation, Senators French, Ellis, and Wielechowski are pleased to release a list of upcoming changes to the bill. In addition, a new bill packet describes in greater detail how SB 160 will address Alaska’s health care needs… http://www.healthyalaskans.com/ UFA Health Care paper & Press release: http://www.ufa-fish.org/press/2007-3%20Fishermen_%20Healthcare.pdf Fishermen: You can make a difference to Alaska Fishermen’s health care by serving on Fishermen’s Fund Appeals Board - see Item #75 below. 8. ISER Research Matters No. 26. No Health Insurance: How Do Alaskans Cope? December 4, 2007 Summary:
http://www.iser.uaa.alaska.edu/Publications/researchsumm/ Full Report:
http://www.iser.uaa.alaska.edu/Home/ResearchAreas/ 9. Stevens Praises FCC Program to Improve Telemedicine in Alaska Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Vice Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today praised a new pilot program implemented by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to improve telemedicine in Alaska and across the nation. The new initiative would support the creation of a nationwide interoperable health information technology infrastructure to improve the quality of health care. Participants in the pilot program are eligible for universal service funding to support up to 85 percent of the costs associated with the design, engineering and construction of their broadband health care networks. Pursuant to the FCC order, the Alaska Native Health Consortium will receive up to $10.4 million in funding assistance to improve telemedicine in rural Alaska.
http://stevens.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction= 10. Total pollock catch nearly 3 billion pounds - Frank Kelty For The Dutch Harbor Fisherman Pollock B season wrapped up two weeks ago, and the final catch figures are in for the 2007 season that closed on Nov. 1. Total harvest was 1.321 million metric tons from an allocation of 1.358 million metric tons by all four harvesting sectors. Therefore, 97 percent of the 2007 pollock total allowable catch was harvested. The total catch would come out as 2.9 billion pounds of pollock for an ex-vessel value of the fishery at $377 million, based on an average price of 13 cents per pound and the state revenue figure from 2006… http://thedutchharborfisherman.com/news/show/869 11. 2007 salmon harvest nets fourth largest in history Alaska's 2007 salmon harvest of 212 million fish appears to be the fourth largest catch on record, with pink and sockeye salmon substantially above preseason forecasts, but chum, coho and Chinook catches significantly below their respective projections. The preliminary end-of-season report issued by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game said the catch had an estimated value of $374 million…
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/120207/fis_ & ADN: Commercial fishing: Sizzling salmon season was 4th largest
http://community.adn.com/mini_apps/assetDisplay/?ref= 12. Strong sales may mean bonuses for salmon fishermen Alaska fishermen could be getting some nice retro payments for their 2007 salmon catches. The prices advanced this summer at the docks were for the most part disappointing, but fishermen who receive bonuses based on salmon sales should soon see some extra cash… http://thetundradrums.com/news/story/882 13. PWSAC projects surplus of $1.5 million A bountiful return of hatchery salmon stocks in 2007 proved to be a boon for both the Prince William Sound commercial fishing fleet and the Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corp. In an executive committee meeting held on Monday, Nov. 5, Dave Reggiani, the president of PSWAC, reported that revenue projections for fiscal year 2008 could wind up close to $1.5 million… http://thecordovatimes.com/news/show/866 14. Forecast: Pink salmon numbers are likely to plummet next year Industry advocates want commercial seine fleet reduced The number of pink salmon in 2008 is expected to drop dramatically, according to a state forecast. Industry advocates say that's all the more reason to reduce the commercial seine fleet by buying back permits…
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/112707/sta_ 15. Report: Most fishermen in Alaska have other salary jobs Alaska's waters attract a cross-section of residents - both Alaskans and those from the Lower 48 - who take leave of their regular jobs to fish commercially, according to a report featured in the November edition of Alaska Economic Trends, a publication of the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development…
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/111807/fis_ Alaska Economic Trends is online at http://labor.state.ak.us/trends/ (See November Issue for article) 16. State plans to begin collecting crew data By Margaret Bauman, Alaska Journal of Commerce Alaska fisheries officials say it's time to carefully document harvest data that will give a clear picture on the economic impact of crewmembers' work on the state economy and the communities they live in… Good data on crew participation would allow for more complete analysis of the economic importance of commercial fishing to the state economy, Geron Bruce, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's assistant director of commercial fisheries, told participants at the Pacific Marine Expo 2007 on Nov. 17…
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/120207/hom_ 17. Seafood workers needed – Homer News Through December, seafood processing companies are recruiting for more than 300 Alaska workers needed for the winter seafood season, which includes Pollock, opilio crab and Pacific cod. Processing is expected to begin in early January at shore-based plants and on large at-sea processing ships, according to the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Work will continue through mid-March or mid-May or longer. In-person interviews will be held Dec. 3-19. Successful applicants must pass a pre-employment physical, drug screening and criminal background check for some jobs. For more information, visit the Web at www.jobs.alaska.gov , click on "ALEXsys," the Alaska Labor Exchange System. Homer News article: http://homernews.com/stories/11282007/news_3_002.shtml 18. Ice to heat up Bristol Bay sockeye market – BB RSDA Fishermen believe they have a magic bullet to help turn Bristol Bay sockeye salmon into a more profitable fishery. It's called ice. They now have nearly $2 million in their coffers and the first goal is to chill every fish caught by the drift fleet -- including the many older, smaller boats that can't accommodate or afford fancy refrigeration systems…
http://www.adn.com/money/industries/fishing/story/ 19. Man who let fish rot sentenced Three years ago, Jeremy Oliver swept into the summer fishing community of Ekuk to take over a newly vacated cannery, assuring dozens of families that he would be a reliable buyer and processor of their wild salmon. But by mid-season, 400 tons of Bristol Bay sockeye had rotted so badly the state declared the area an environmental catastrophe. None of the fishermen or cannery workers were ever compensated for the loss. On Monday, a magistrate in Dillingham ordered Oliver to pay them a total of $50,000 in restitution and spend 40 days in jail for one misdemeanor for violating Alaska's Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act… http://www.adn.com/money/industries/fishing/story/9481387p-9392582c.html 20. ADN: Seafood merger won't affect Alaska The state will take no action to try to block or modify a merger of two Japanese seafood companies with major operations in Alaska, said an assistant attorney general who investigated the deal. While some people raised worries about the merger, the investigation found no antitrust violation in the coupling of Maruha and Nichiro. http://www.adn.com/money/industries/fishing/story/9478426p-9389571c.html 21. Young's earmark helps three fishing companies Three companies headed by people who made substantial political contributions to U.S. Rep. Don Young, have benefited from his insertion of an article into an update of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the nation's principal ocean fisheries law, that passed in Congress last December…
http://www.adn.com/money/industries/fishing/story/ 22. Sales value for salmon, halibut hits high side The sales value of fresh Alaska salmon, headed and gutted, increased to $81 million, up 22 percent. The value of salmon roe jumped to $61 million, up 32 percent. For fresh and frozen salmon fillets, the sales value soared to $39 million, up 50 percent… http://www.adn.com/money/industries/fishing/story/9460183p-9371404c.html 23. 'Deadliest Catch' skipper to hawk Russian crab SEATTLE -- Global Fishing, the largest U.S. importer of Russian king crab, has sought out some unlikely promoters for the product: the Alaska skippers who gained fame in the Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch," a hit reality series about crab fishing. …Hansen, in a telephone interview from his boat in the Bering Sea, said he hoped the endorsement would help overall marketing of all king crab products by spurring sales and driving up prices. He said other endorsements are in the works that would feature only Alaska products… http://www.adn.com/money/industries/fishing/story/9452706p-9364225c.html 24. California Supreme Court will hear consumers' complaint that grocery chains aren't obeying the law on labeling. …Although federal and state laws require suppliers to clearly label salmon containing dye, officials from the Food and Drug Administration and the California Department of Public Health acknowledge that because of limited resources, they don't actively enforce the rule. Kanter and others went to court three years ago, contending that they should have the right to sue the markets to ensure better labeling on salmon when authorities fail to do so. The California Supreme Court has scheduled arguments for next week… http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-salmon30nov30,1,4384001.story?coll=la-headlines-business Court Case online:
http://appellatecases.courtinfo.ca.gov/search/case/ 25. Trident Pollock Roe is MSC milestone 1000th seafood item Green Hot Alaska Pollock Roe by Trident Seafoods is the latest product to merit an eco-label by the international Marine Stewardship Council. The roe item, set to hit supermarket shelves throughout Japan, also marks an amazing milestone - it is the 1,000th seafood item to earn that eco-distinction. http://www.sitnews.us/LaineWelch/112707_fish_factor.html 26. MSC eco-label sought for Pacific cod fisheries Seattle, 21 November 2007 - Full assessment against the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) [1] standard for sustainable fisheries has been initiated by the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation (AFDF) [2] for the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands (BSAI) and Gulf of Alaska (GoA) Pacific cod fisheries. The assessment will include four gear types (longline, trawl, pot and jig) - in both the BSAI and GoA management areas. Currently, only a portion of the freezer longline fleet in the Bering Sea is certified to the MSC standard.
http://www.fishupdate.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/9250/ 27. MSC. 1st annual surveillance report for the North Pacific Halibut fishery
http://www.msc.org/assets/docs/AK_halibut_and_ 28. South Korean seafood expo draws world's fish traders By Bob Tkacz, for the Alaska Journal of Commerce BUSAN, South Korea - As Atlantic Coast and international fishmongers exhibiting at the fifth annual Busan International Fisheries and Seafood Exposition found welcoming markets, the state of Alaska is deciding whether to return to active participation in the event after a two-year absence…
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/120207/hom_ 29. Inouye Leads Commerce Committee Approval of Climate Change and Ocean Acidification Legislation … “The Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act provides for a coordinated federal research program on ocean acidification. The Global Climate Change Research Improvement Act improves the basic research and products that the federal government develops on climate change and its impacts. The third bill, the Climate Change Adaptation Act, calls for the federal government to develop a strategic plan for dealing with the effects of climate change. “The time has come for the United States to show the world that it is serious about curbing the effects of global climate change.”…
http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction= & Stevens: Sound Science is Necessary to Understand Climate Change
http://stevens.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction= 30. My turn: Alaskans deserve truth about Stevens (11/28) by Bob Thorstenson Jr. Alaskans deserve truth about Sen. Ted Stevens, and they surely won't find it in the sham Web site the Alaska Democratic Party put together. I am a current member of the Alaska Fisheries Marketing Board. We meet again in Anchorage on Dec. 19. I have counted at least two dozen inferences, untruths and intentional lies on the Alaska Democratic Party's Web site regarding our board and its operations. The AFMB was put together with Saltonstahl-Kennedy funds that were supposed to be in a dedicated marketing account.
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/112807/opi_ 31. Senate Commerce Committee Approves Measure to Deal With Increased Ocean Acidification The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today approved the “Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Management Act of 2007” (S.1581) which is cosponsored by Committee Vice Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska). Ocean acidification, which is caused by rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, could negatively alter marine ecosystems and affect fisheries. S.1581 would authorize an interagency committee to develop a comprehensive research and implementation plan to deal with the emerging problem of ocean acidification. “Ocean acidification threatens our fisheries and other marine resources,” said Senator Stevens. “It is important that we understand the effects of ocean acidification and implement management strategies that will help protect the oceans and the creatures that live within them.”
http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAc 32. Hogarth to leave NMFS Bill Hogarth is leaving as head of the National Marine Fisheries Service to take a university job in Florida… http://community.adn.com/adn/node/113549 33. Groups ask judge to order rules for salmon-killing pesticides Salmon advocates filed a lawsuit Nov. 5 to force the Bush administration to obey a 5-year-old court order requiring it to make permanent rules to keep agricultural pesticides from killing salmon. Filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle, the lawsuit asks a judge to order NOAA Fisheries, the agency in charge of protecting salmon, to formally consult with the Environmental Protection Agency over the use of 37 pesticides. Several are commonly found in rivers around the country and can kill salmon at minute concentrations…
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/111107/fis_ 34. Chile's Flourishing Fish Farms Prompt Fears for Ecosystem Methods of Salmon Industry Threaten The Very Purity It Vaunts, Critics Say… Spurred partly by a U.S. appetite for salmon that has quadrupled in the past decade, the massive growth of the local salmon industry now has some fearing that its best marketing tool -- that fabled Patagonian purity -- isn't quite what it used to be. "The irony is that the same thing that caused the salmon producers to come here in the first place -- the pristine quality of the lakes -- is now being lost because of the production of salmon," said Jorge Le¿n-Mu¿oz, who co-wrote a World Wildlife Fund report detailing some of the industry's effects on the environment…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/01/AR2007120100763. 35. Salmon campaigners urge US board to reject organic bid THE Pure Salmon Campaign yesterday reiterated its call for the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prohibit fish raised in open net cages from carrying its organic label. At an organic aquaculture symposium hosted by the USDA's National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), the organisation presented a paper that it claims provides, for the first time, an international inventory of reported escapes from open net cage salmon farms…
http://www.fishupdate.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/ Pure Salmon Campaign
Paper:
http://www.ams.usda.gov/nosb/MeetingAgendas/ 36. My Turn: Creating rural jobs while saving the Alaska soul by Roger Painter … This slow death of a once vibrant community is likely to be repeated many times in the coming decades, as energy costs skyrocket, commercial fishing opportunities shrink and global warming takes its toll. As these slices of frontier life die the Alaska soul will wither…
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/120407/ 37. Alaskan Steller Sea Lion Count Reported NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries Service) scientists have completed their analysis of 2007 aerial surveys of Steller sea lions from Cape Saint Elias into the Aleutian Islands. This year’s count of the endangered western stock of Alaska’s Steller sea lions was incomplete: weather and mechanical problems prevented researchers from flying over the western-most portions of the survey area. “Looking at western stock trends since 2004, our surveys show mixed results--increases here and decreases there--but the overall picture indicates that the Steller sea lion population west of Cape Saint Elias in 2007 was similar in size to the population in 2004,” said Director of NOAA Fisheries Service’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Doug DeMaster. “This year’s count, while incomplete, supports that big-picture impression.”
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/newsreleases/2007/ See AK Fisheries Science Center report online at:
http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/nmml/pdf/SSLNon- & AK Journal of Commerce: Initial figures indicate sea lion population is holding steady
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/112507/fis_ 38. MMRC Steller Research: Decisions at Depth In the daily search for food, diving marine mammals must make the best use of the oxygen in a single breath of air. Their need to breathe air is a well-documented limitation on foraging. But new research suggests that competing demands for metabolic energy – acquiring prey, digesting prey and staying warm – are also important considerations in the study of foraging behavior… http://www.marinemammal.org/2007/decisions.php Marine mammal research Consortium home page: http://www.marinemammal.org/ 39. NOAA Renews Partnership with The Nature Conservancy for Habitat Works with Northwest Communities to Restore Coastal Habitats NOAA has teamed up once again with The Nature Conservancy to preserve America’s valuable coastal resources. The new three-year partnership will build on past successes protecting coastal and marine habitat, while engaging local communities through volunteer and educational opportunities. NOAA’s Restoration Center has awarded $800,000 nationally in the first year to fund the restoration of fish and shellfish habitat in 14 innovative projects that stretch from the California shores to the oyster beds of New England and Florida… Alaska Projects include Colter Creek and Fubar Creek
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/newsreleases/2007/ & Colter Creek Fish Habitat Restoration Funded The NOAA Restoration Center and The Nature Conservancy recently committed $63,538 to restore juvenile fish passage, improve stream function, and enhance fish habitat on Colter Creek in south-central Alaska… http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/newsreleases/2007/colter111307.htm AK Journal of Commerce:
Funding secured for Colter Creek salmon and fish habitat
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/112507/fis_ 40. State Supreme Court affirms – AK Trademark Shellfish not to recover expenses … ATS claimed that because the state had promised ATS that it could harvest wild geoducks, the state was obligated to reimburse ATS for its expenses in seeking the permits. The superior court rejected this claim because it concluded that the state defendants were entitled to immunity. Because we conclude that no evidence would permit an inference that the state actually promised ATS that it could harvest wild geoducks, we affirm… http://www.state.ak.us/courts/ops/sp-6204.pdf 41. National Fisherman: Bush Red Drum & Striped Bass order is Out of Order A government of laws, we’re taught, not of men. But that’s not true: In late October, one man, President George W. Bush, essentially dismissed the Magnuson Act, to say nothing of the U.S. commercial fishing industry. He did this by means of an executive order prohibiting the sale of redfish and striped bass caught in federal waters. Bush made it clear that he’d like the states to follow suit and ban commercial harvests of the species in their waters. “One such way,” he said, “is to use the state designation of gamefish where appropriate.” It is not clear to me how the federal ban will come to pass, because the president has directed the departments of Commerce and the Interior to work with the regional fishery management councils in its implementation. And under Magnuson, the councils are obliged to allocate fish and the pain of conserving them equally. But what is clear to me is that Bush has little regard for the tens of thousands of commercial fishermen in this country, their families or their communities.
http://www.nationalfisherman.com/top_news.asp? 42. SF Bay oil spill: Litigation compounds disaster Notes from a survivor of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, Riki Ott The oil spill in San Francisco Bay also hit people in my hometown of Cordova, the native village of Chenega, Port Graham, Kodiak, Chignik - and all other of the 22 Alaskan communities directly affected by the Exxon Valdez spill more than 18 years ago… Besides wishing to extend my sympathy to those harmed by the Cosco Busan spill, I hope to share some of what we in Alaska learned the hard way, so that survivors might avoid our mistakes… http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/12/02/INLSTJV46.DTL California Resident Fishermen – we urge you to contact your senators and ask them to support S.552, the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Tax relief Act. The Alaska delegation will surely be there for you if you have to wait 18 years for recompense. 43. EU: Oceana publishes damning shark report Conservation grouping Oceana,today contended that some EU fishermen are going global to catch sharks in defiance of EU rules .
http://www.fishupdate.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/ End of the Line?, shark fishing report by Oceana and WildAid: http://www.oceana.org/sharks/shark-report 44. EU fish policy: More holes than a trawlerman's net EUROPE'S entire fisheries policy which was given a drubbing yesterday by its own auditors has been described as a mockery by the UK Independence Party (UKIP). According to UKIP, the European Court of Auditors bluntly said that nothing in the present policy worked at all…
http://www.fishupdate.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/ 45. Laine Welch's Fish Radio –Topics from this week Wednesday 12/5/07 Most popular states & species for U.S. sportfishing Tuesday 12/4/07 Training/travel offered for future leaders in AK seafood processing. Deadline to apply Dec. 15 Monday 12/3/07 Bristol Bay RSDA aims to chill all fish Friday 11/30/07 Pay up time for halibut/sablefish IFQ holders; feds peg lower values Thursday 11/29/07 AK awards commercial fisheries workers - wants more of them! Online at http://www.marineconservationalliance.org/fishradio.htm & also see Laine Welch's Fish Factor at http://www.kinyradio.com/fishfactor.html 46. NOAA and USDA Accepting Public Comment on Aquaculture Feeds - Feb 29 NOAA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are soliciting information and ideas on ways to lessen dependence on fish-based feeds in the aquaculture industry. This comment period is the first step of a broad, year-long program that will include research projects, scientific consultations and a national workshop aimed at developing new and effective ingredients for aqua-feed. The issue of feed ingredients is a challenge facing the expanding global aquaculture industry because fish meal fish are under increasing pressure as a commercial fishery worldwide. The cost of fish meal has risen steeply as farming operations have increased. In 2002, 46 percent of fishmeal went to aquaculture uses, while 22 percent went to poultry and 24 percent went to pigs. The amount of available fish meal and fish oil is not likely to increase, so producers must find other sources of feed protein as the aquaculture industry continues to grow. To submit a question, idea, or recommendation on alternative feeds for aquaculture, stakeholders should send an e-mail to: noaa.aquaculture@noaa.gov; send a fax to: 301-713-9108; or, send a letter to: NOAA Aquaculture Program, Alternative Feeds Initiative, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13117, Silver Spring, MD 20910. The deadline for comments is Feb. 29, 2008.
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/ NOAA – USDA Aquaculture Feeds Initiative home page http://aquaculture.noaa.gov/news/feeds.html 47. NMFS Comment deadline Jan 14 on Aleutian Islands Habitat Conservation boundaries The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 88 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, Amendment 23 to the FMP for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs, Amendment 12 to the FMP for the Scallop Fishery Off Alaska, and Amendment 9 to the FMP for Salmon Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone Off the Coast of Alaska. These amendments, if approved, would revise the boundaries of the Aleutian Islands Habitat Conservation Area (AIHCA) described in each FMP. … DATES: Comments on the amendments must be received by close of business on January 14, 2008…
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/ 48. Comment deadline Jan 7 on AIHCA coral and sponge habitat NMFS issues a proposed rule that would implement Amendment 88 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area. This amendment, if approved, would revise the Aleutian Islands Habitat Conservation Area (AIHCA) boundary to allow nonpelagic trawling in an area historically fished and to prohibit nonpelagic trawling in an area of known coral and sponge occurrence. This action is necessary to ensure the AIHCA protects areas of coral and sponge habitat from the potential effects of nonpelagic trawling and allow nonpelagic trawling in areas historically fished and without evidence of coral and sponge occurrence. DATES: Written comments must be received by January 7, 2008.
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/30nov20071800/ 49. Comment deadline Dec 14 on Halibut & Sablefish IFQ flexibility NMFS proposes regulations to modify the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program for the fixed-gear commercial Pacific halibut fishery and sablefish fishery by revising regulations governing use of commercial halibut quota share (QS) and processing of non-IFQ species when processed halibut is onboard a vessel. This action would amend current regulations to allow persons holding category A halibut QS to process IFQ regardless of whether a QS holder with unused category B, C, or D halibut QS is onboard the vessel. This action also would allow catcher/processor vessels to process non-IFQ species regardless of whether any processed IFQ species is onboard the vessel. This action is necessary to improve the efficiency of fishermen fishing on catcher/processor vessels. The intended effect of this action is to allow halibut QS holders greater flexibility in using their QS, allow use of crew who hold unused category B, C, or D halibut QS while onboard a category A halibut QS vessel, and increase the product quality of non-IFQ species harvested incidentally to IFQ halibut… DATES: Comments must be received no later than December 14, 2007.
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan2007 50. NMFS posts final MMPA List of Fisheries for 2008 The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is publishing its final List of Fisheries (LOF) for 2008, as required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The final LOF for 2008 reflects new information on interactions between commercial fisheries and marine mammals…
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan2007 51. NMFS workshop on new groundfish observer protocols – Dec 11, Seattle NMFS will present a public workshop on the implementation of new Alaska groundfish observer sampling protocols for fishery participants and other interested parties. At the workshop, NMFS will provide an overview of the changes to observer sampling protocols, discuss alterations made in the observer electronic data submission and communications system, and answer questions. NMFS is conducting this public workshop to provide assistance to fishery participants in understanding the sampling protocols which will be used by groundfish observers in 2008 and beyond. DATES: The workshop will be held on Tuesday, December 11, 2007, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pacific standard time. ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at the Nordic Heritage Museum, 3014 NW 67th Street, Seattle, WA 98117.
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/ 52. NPFMC Crab Advisory Committee meets Dec 17-18, Anchorage The North Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Crab Committee will meet December 17-18, 2007, in Anchorage, AK. The meeting will be held on December 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on December 18, from 8:30 a.m. until 12 noon.
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800 53. Deadline Feb 11 for Nominations for the 2008 Annual Sustainable Fisheries Leadership Awards SUMMARY: In 2006, NOAA established the Sustainable Fisheries Leadership Awards Program to annually recognize outstanding performances, achievements and leadership by industries, organizations and individuals who promote best stewardship practices for the sustainable use of living marine resources and ecosystems, and who have fostered change and inspired a stewardship ethic within their community. This notice solicits nominations of qualified individuals for the third annual Sustainable Fisheries Leadership Awards in six award categories listed in this Notice. NMFS has partnered with the Fish for the Future Foundation for this awards program.
DATES: Nomination forms and required supporting materials must be received on or before February 11, 2008.
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/ 54. IPHC Staff Preliminary Catch Limit Recommendations posted for 2008: Regulatory Area 2007 Fishery Catch Limit 2008 IPHC Staff Recommended Fishery Catch Limit: 2007 Limit 2008 Staff Recommendation 2A 1.34 1.00 2B 11.47 8.06 2C 8.51 6.21 3A 26.20 24.22 3B 9.22 10.90 4A 2.89 3.10 4B 1.44 1.86 4CDE 4.10 3.89 Total 65.17 59.24
http://www.iphc.washington.edu/halcom/newsrel/ 55. IFQ Cost Recovery (Fee) Program payments due January 31, 2008 The 2007 cost recovery percentage is 1.2 percent. Fee summaries were mailed to IFQ permit holders late November 2007 . Payments are due by January 31, 2008. http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/ram/ifqfees.htm 56. Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee Latest Recommendations: Selecting Sites for the National System, Plans for Effective Management, Incentives for Participation, Regional Approaches… 65 page report (Nov 19) online at Latest Recommendations from the http://mpa.gov/pdf/fac/fac_recommend2noaadoi_nov07.pdf MPA Home page: http://mpa.gov/ 57. NOAA
Fisheries Seeks Public Input on Fisheries Disaster Assistance by January 4,
2008. NOAA
Fisheries is seeking public comment on proposed definitions, procedures and
provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Act relating to
Fisheries Disaster Assistance and plans to issue new regulations to
implement those provisions. Specifically, NOAA Fisheries is looking for
input from the general public, fishing industry, scientific community,
coastal communities and Federal and State resource agencies on aspects of
Fisheries Disaster Assistance. Input is sought on definitions of terms
related to disaster assistance, parameters of type and duration of various
assistance programs and other issues that may impact the way fisheries
disaster assistance is provided by the federal government. Comments or
information in response to this notice must be received no later than 5 PM
on January 4, 2008. NOAA Fisheries OMB Fisheries Disasters home page: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/mb/financial_services/disaster.htm 58. Coast Guard Centralizes Mariner Licensing Program The U.S. Coast Guard National Maritime Center (NMC) reached a milestone in a major restructuring and centralizing project. In December 2007, the NMC will move into a new specially designed credential-production facility in Martinsburg, WV. Since 2005, the NMC has been managing a project to consolidate the functions of 17 independently operating Regional Exam Centers (REC) into one credential-processing facility. The goal of this effort is to improve customer service, decrease credential processing time, and improve the consistency of Coast Guard products and services… https://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/786/183713/ 59. CFEC Notice to Fishermen paying 2008 fees by credit or debit cards – include expiration date! 2008 Permit and/or Vessel Renewal Forms sent by mail did not include lines asking for the credit card expiration date. Please write the expiration date in the payment section by your credit card number. Commercial Fishery Entry Commission home page: http://www.cfec.state.ak.us/ 60. Federal Subsistence Board meets in Anchorage Dec 11-13. The Federal Subsistence Board will meet Dec.11-13 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at the Egan Civic and Convention Center, 555 W. 5th Ave., Anchorage. The public is welcome at this meeting. The Board will consider 18 proposals to change Federal subsistence fishing regulations for the 2008-2009 regulatory year, including proposals to reduce the mesh size and depth of salmon fishing nets on the Yukon River; to allow salmon dipnet fishing from shore in the Moose Range Meadows area of the Kenai River; and to allow the temporary use of a fish wheel on the Kenai River and Kasilof River for the subsistence harvest of salmon. Link to Meeting Materials is online at: http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/deadline.cfm 61. Comment Period on Draft Customary and Traditional Use Policy Extended to December 7, 2007 The Federal Subsistence Board has extended the deadline for written comments on a draft policy on implementation of Customary and Traditional Use determinations to 5 p.m. Alaska Time, December 7, 2007. The draft policy can be found under the “Issues in Depth” section of the Federal Subsistence Management Program Website, http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/home.html or a copy can be obtained by contacting the Office of Subsistence Management at (800) 478-1456 or (907) 786-3888. See Nov 30 Office of Subsistence Management press release at http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/news.cfm?gnr=1 62. January 11, 2008 is Deadline for Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Council Nominations, Applications The Office of Subsistence Management is accepting applications and nominations to fill seats on the 10 Regional Advisory Councils that advise the Federal Subsistence Board. The deadline to submit applications is January 11, 2008. See December 3 Press release at http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/news.cfm?gnr=1 63. Comment deadline January 10 on Draft Statewide Long Range Transportation Policy Plan Update “2030 Let’s Get Moving.” The Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities invites public review and comment on the Draft Statewide Long Range Transportation Policy Plan Update “2030 Let’s Get Moving.” The draft plan document is available for a 45-day public review period ending January 10, 2008. The draft plan document is available for download from the project website http://dot.alaska.gov/2030
http://notes5.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/cc52605f7c 64. Don Young on Transportation and AK press: Setting the Record Straight …Unfortunately it has become the trend to write articles that focus on raising circulation numbers rather than reporting on the truth. The hope is that with the vast number of resources available at all of our fingertips, those that actually seek accuracy will find it… http://donyoung.house.gov/PressRelease.aspx?NewsID=1864 65. ADF&G Call for Proposals – PCSRF priority information issues – Deadline Jan 15 The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is issuing a Call for Proposals for projects supporting priority information issues/needs related to salmon sustainability in Southeast Alaska. These calls will result in allocation of federal Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Funds (PCSRF) administered by the ADF&G. The Sustainable Salmon Strategy Framework that this Call for Proposals addresses includes Habitat, Wild Stocks, and Salmon Management Systems goals. No economic enhancement projects will be funded under this call. Information on the Southeast Call for Proposal is available at http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/special/sssf/sssf.php. Questions may be directed to Sue Aspelund, PCSRF program manager, at 907.465.6139 or sue.aspelund@alaska.gov. Proposal submission deadline is 5 p.m., January 15, 2007. Online Notice:
http://notes5.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/cc52605f7c1 & Previous item: Deadline Dec 31, 2007 for Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Funds Calls for Proposals – West of Cape Suckling
http://notes5.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/cc52605f7c156e 66. ADF&G Report: Biological and Fishery-Related Aspects of Overescapement in Alaskan Sockeye Salmon …From a fishery standpoint, better forecasts of salmon runs and improved inseason management could reduce the incidence of overescapement in highly exploited stocks.. From report Recommendations… online at http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/fishinfo/meetinfo/2008-2009/ucioverescap.pdf 67. Review of Salmon Escapement Goals in Upper Cook Inlet, Alaska 2007 http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/fishinfo/meetinfo/2008-2009/uciescapgoalre.pdf 68. Post-Season Stock Composition Analysis of Upper Cook Inlet Sockeye Salmon Harvest, 2005-2007 - (LARGE PDF 1,675 KB) http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/FedAidPDFs/fms07-07.pdf 69. Board of Fisheries meeting dates:
http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/fishinfo/meetinfo/2007 70. Wild Seafood Exchange - February 21st, 2008, Seattle Presented by Fishermen’s News, is the only annual conference aimed at the independent commercial fishing vessel owner/operator. The largest conference of its type, Wild Seafood Exchange offers independent commercial fishermen access to restaurants and high-end retailers, marketing expertise, distribution resources and funding and grant resources in an affordable, day-long interactive panel discussion format… Program, registration and sponsorship information: www.WildSeafoodExchange.com 71. Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory program Fish Entrepreneur newsletter for Fall 07 Lead story: "Preparing for an Onboard DEC Inspection," by Torie Baker, Cordova MAP agent. As captain of a small vessel processing your own fish onboard, your boat is now practically and legally a food processing facility, and you’re the plant manager. You will need to prepare for an Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) inspection… online at: http://seagrant.uaf.edu/map/fishbiz/fishentrepreneur/index.html Previous items, still timely: 72. Comment Deadline December 10 on Lynn Canal-Auke Bay Herring ESA petition
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/protectedresources/herring/ 73. NOAA Advisory Committee Seeks Comments on a Vision for the Future of U.S. Marine Fisheries ** Comment period extended until 12/10/07 on Vision 20-20 document. See notice and links on MAFAC home page below. 74. Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC) meets Dec 18-20, Miami Agenda will be posted when available at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ocs/mafac/ 75. 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 76. Comment by December 28 on North Pacific Right Whale ESA Endangered listing and critical habitat
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/ 77. Alaska Marine Science 2008 Symposium, January 20-23, 2008, Anchorage The 2008 Symposium will be held January 21-23, 2008 at the Hotel Captain Cook, starting with a kick-off reception Sunday evening, January 20. ... http://www.alaskamarinescience.org/index.htm 78. APOC announces Ethics Training courses, Anchorage, Juneau and online
http://www.state.ak.us/local/akpages/ADMIN/apoc/ 79. Alaska Young Fishermen’s Summit December 10-12, Anchorage A 2 day professional development opportunity for new or young fishermen focusing on business, marketing, policy and management and leadership. 80. Alaska Seafood Processing Leadership Institute 2008 calendar & seminars ASPLI is three intensive training modules focusing on seafood processing, global seafood markets, the business of seafood processing, regulatory and personnel issues, leadership and work with a professional mentor in your plant. It also includes a 5 day tour of the International Boston Seafood Show and other plants in the Northeast. See also Laine Welch’s Fish radio above at item # 45 for funding availability |
