UFA Update
Sept. 22, 2008
The UFA Board of Directors meets September 24-26 at the Hilton in downtown Anchorage. All UFA members are invited.
A reception will be held at the Captain Cook on the evening of Sept 24, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. All Anchorage area commercial fishermen are invited to attend.
UFA will participate in Pacific Marine Expo November 20-22 in Seattle. For more information see www.pacificmarineexpo.com
Please go online and fill out the Marine Advisory Program Fuel Survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/seagrantfuel . Your response will help guide our efforts.
Table of Contents
1. Marine Advisory Program Fishermen’s Fuel Survey
2. Alaska-style fisheries management earns praise
3. Sharing the catch is good for fishermen -- and fish -- study shows
4. How to Save Fish –NY Times on Catch Shares report By John Tierney
5. Charter Halibut – NMFS withdraws one fish limit per temporary restraining order
6. Governor Palin Speaks Out in Support of OCS Drilling
7. MMS – Aleutian Oil & Gas scoping comments deadline October 17
8. MMS Gov't officials probed about illicit sex, gifts
9. Seafood industry takes big hits from fuel costs - ADN comment by David M. Reume
10. Palin Calls for a Halt to Offshore Fish Farm Proposal
11. Online survey for stakeholder perception on aquaculture (estimated 25 minutes)
12. High-Seas Enforcement Operations Continue with Seizure of Chinese Fishing Vessel 13. Photos needed of EVOS Humpy Dump for film project
14. Pollution in lower Kenai River diminishes – Thanks to new outboard regs.
15. NPFMC. Items for the October 1-7 Meeting.
16. ACR Comment deadline Sept 24 for BOF Meeting October 8-10
17. Laine Welch's Fish Radio –Topics from this week
18. USCG Safety Alert: Counterfeit Emergency Escape Breathing Devices (Eebds)
19. Fishlines –the newsletter of Alaska Sea Grant
20. Subsistence RAC Meetings Schedule
1. Marine Advisory Program Fishermen’s Fuel Survey
Anchorage, Alaska—Alaska fishermen facing record high fuel prices for their boats are taking steps both large and small to improve their bottom line.
To learn how high fuel costs have affected fishermen, and to help fishermen exchange ideas about ways to improve efficiencies, the Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program has joined with the United Fishermen of Alaska to launch an online survey of fishermen across the state.
Take the survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/seagrantfuel
Press release: http://www.sfos.uaf.edu/index.html
2. Alaska-style fisheries management earns praise
While local fishermen are often mired in the bitter fights over allocation, Outside scientists laud the Alaska halibut fishery as an example for everybody else.
"You guys are way ahead of the rest of the country," said scientist Steven Gaines. "Way ahead."
In today's edition of Science, a new study finds that managing fisheries with individual fishing quotas, as Alaska has done since 1995, can reverse fisheries collapses.
http://juneauempire.com/stories/091908/sta_334251431.shtml
3. Sharing the catch is good for fishermen -- and fish -- study shows
By Kenneth R. Weiss, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
Scientists report on an alternative to cutthroat competition, finding that a quota system giving fishermen exclusive rights to a portion of the catch can preserve fisheries and help stocks recover…
"It's good for the fish, it's good for the fishermen, but it's not so good for TV shows," said Steven D. Gaines, a marine ecologist at UC Santa Barbara.
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-na-fish19-
2008sep19,0,5053095.story
4. How to Save Fish –NY Times on Catch Shares report By John Tierney
There’s great news for both fish and fishermen in the forthcoming issue of Science, as my colleague Cory Dean reports. A global survey of more than 11,000 fisheries points to a profitable system to protect fisheries from collapsing. The bad news is that this system, called catch-shares, is used in only 1 percent of the world’s fisheries and is still controversial, but the researchers hope the new evidence of its success will win over some opponents — a group has included both local fishermen and some environmentalists…
http://tierneylab.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/18/how-to-save-fish/
5. Charter Halibut – NMFS withdraws one fish limit per temporary restraining order
NMFS withdraws regulations that placed limits on charter vessel anglers, including a one-halibut daily bag limit in International Pacific Halibut Commission Area 2C. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a Temporary Restraining Order
(TRO) on June 10, 2008 (amended on June 13, 2008), and a Preliminary Injunction (PI) on June 20, 2008, enjoining and restraining NMFS from giving any effect to or otherwise taking any action to enforce the one-halibut daily bag limit restriction for charter vessel anglers…
Federal Register Sept 11, 2008 http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-21131.htm
Hard quotas don’t work when undermined by exploding growth of another business sector fishing on the same stocks! After this year’s lawsuit stopped the one fish bag reduction, it’s clear that charter operators intend to continue to grow their catch, without regard to sustainaility harvest levels and at the expense of commercial harvesters.
The deadline for comment for the NPFMC is Wednesday 9/24.
Send your letter to:
Eric Olson, Chair, North Pacific Fishery Management Council
605 West 4th, Suite 306, Anchorage, Alaska 99501-2252
Fax: (907) 271-2817
6. Governor Palin Speaks Out in Support of OCS Drilling
Governor Sarah Palin submitted the state of Alaska’s comments to the federal Minerals Management Service (MMS) on the preparation of a new five-year Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program. Governor Palin praised the MMS for embarking on this effort to update the five-year leasing program, and confirmed the state’s support for the proposed oil and gas leasing programs in the Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea, and limited areas in the North Aleutian Basin, as well as for the special interest sales for the Cook Inlet planning areas…
Included in Governor Palin’s letter is her support for MMS to work closely with residents and local governments within the leasing regions, oil and gas companies, and other stakeholders to minimize conflicts, especially with subsistence activities, fishing activities, and fish and wildlife resources.
http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1454
7. MMS – Aleutian Oil & Gas scoping comments deadline October 17
The MMS has extended the deadline for submission of written scoping comments for the EIS to October 17, 2008…
Federal register Notice:
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-18709.htm
MMS Alaska home page: http://www.mms.gov/alaska/
8. MMS Gov't officials probed about illicit sex, gifts
WASHINGTON (AP) — Government officials handling billions of dollars in oil royalties engaged in illicit sex with employees of energy companies they were dealing with and received numerous gifts from them, federal investigators said Wednesday…
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iKt4CePAt-tJqdPld
1mZxbC4nsXwD93418R01
Reports are posted at http://www.doioig.gov/ :
9. Seafood industry takes big hits from fuel costs - ADN comment by David M. Reaume
Now what do we do with the notion of sustainable economic development? With crude oil prices at about $100 per barrel and no analyst looking for a return to much below $70 to $80 per barrel, the once much-touted notion that Alaska should put the highest priority on "sustainable" economic development is taking it in the chops, or, should I say, in the gills.
With fuel prices near all-time highs, many of Alaska's seafood harvesters and processors are hurting. The United Fishermen of Alaska are already seeking tax credits and waivers in an effort to alleviate the problem. I suspect that some might soon find it very difficult to stay in business…
http://www.adn.com/money/story/525459.html
10. Palin Calls for a Halt to Offshore Fish Farm Proposal
Governor Sarah Palin expressed her administration’s objections to elements of the federal government’s proposal to allow decommissioned oil and gas platforms in federal waters to be used for fish farming and other forms of aquaculture.
“Alaska’s natural wild fisheries have been well managed on a sustainable basis for years, and are critically important to our state’s economy, especially in our coastal communities,” said Palin. “Disease, parasites, and escapement of non-native stocks from fish farms are just some elements of the threat that aquaculture can pose to wild fish stocks.”
http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1450
11. What do you think about aquaculture – Online survey for stakeholder perception on aquaculture (estimated 25 minutes)
https://ecustomeropinions.com/popup/survey.php?sid=660958134
Remember to consider shellfish aquaculture as well as Alaska’s salmon enhancement programs when filling out this survey, if your opinion on those differs from your opinion on fish farms and open ocean aquaculture.
12. Chinese, Canadian, U.S., High-Seas Law Enforcement Operations Continue with Seizure of Chinese Fishing Vessel Suspected of Illegal Drift Net Fishing
A People's Republic of China Fisheries Law Enforcement Command (FLEC) officer, in cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard, seized a Chinese fishing vessel suspected of illegal large-scale high-seas drift net fishing 460 miles east of Hokkaido, Japan.
http://www.uscgalaska.com/go/doc/780/225855/
13. Photos needed of EVOS Humpy Dump for film project
If anyone has footage or photos of the 1991 humpy dump, please contact Riki Ott at 323-3915
14. Pollution in lower Kenai River diminishes – Thanks to new outboard regs.
Water quality in the Kenai River improved over the summer with new anti-pollution measures in place, according to preliminary findings.
State water quality officials in 2006 listed the lower Kenai as an impaired waterway because of high hydrocarbon readings. Preliminary findings this summer indicate those hydrocarbon levels have fallen…
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/091508/sta_332515335.shtml
The article omitted the regulations that were put in place by the Alaska DNR this spring – see DNR Fact Sheet: http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/mlw/factsht/kenai_
river_boat_motor_regulations.pdf
15. NPFMC. Items for the October 1-7 Meeting.
Agenda: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/Agendas/1008agenda.pdf
AM80 Vessel Replacement Provisions Discussion Paper
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/analyses/Am80_arcticsole908.pdf
Revise the Crab Sideboard Exemptions for GOA pcod and pollock EA
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/analyses/GOAcrab_
Sideboards908.pdf
Adjusting 3rd qtr Halibut PSC sideboards for AM80 vessels EA
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/analyses/AM80PSCsid
eboards908%20.pdf
See NPFMC Home page for other meeting materials, schedules, etc at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/
16. ACR Comment deadline Sept 24 for BOF Meeting October 8-10
September 4, 2008 - Notice of Proposed Changes in Regulations and Additional Regulations Notice Information:
http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/fishinfo/meetinfo/2008-2009/notice-08-09.pdf
For ACRs, Legal Notice, Agenda, Roadmap, and Dept. Comments as these are posted, see BOF Calendar Oct 8-10 at http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/fishinfo/meetinfo/fcal.php
17. Laine Welch's Fish Radio –Topics from this week
Monday 9/22/08 AK salmon will soon face competition from FrankenFish - comments to FDA due Nov. 18
Friday 9/19/08 Tomorrow (9/20) is Int’l Coastal Cleanup Day & trash count
Thursday 9/18/08 Bristol Bay RSDA boosts paychecks for fishermen
Wednesday 9/17/08 Bristol Bay economy powered by salmon
Tuesday9/16/08 AK posts final in season catches for 2008 salmon season.
Listen Online at: http://www.marineconservationalliance.org/fishradio.htm
& also see Laine Welch's Fish Factor at http://www.kinyradio.com/fishfactor.html
18. USCG Safety Alert: Counterfeit Emergency Escape Breathing Devices (Eebds)
The U.S. Coast Guard has recently learned that counterfeit Unitor model UNISCAPE 15H EEBD Emergency Escape Breathing Devices (EEBDs) are being sold to ship operators and placed onboard commercial vessels. The U.S. Coast Guard strongly encourages that all vessel owners and operators with EEBDs onboard carefully and thoroughly inspect them for authenticity. If any doubt exists as to the authenticity, they should immediately contact their emergency equipment vendors and/ or the manufacturer for verification or replacement… http://www.hklaw.com/content/maritime/mardocs/SA_6.pdf
19. Fishlines –the newsletter of Alaska Sea Grant
This month’s topics:
Avoid Fishing Gear
COSEE Alaska Grant
Nest Guide, Second Edn.
Support for Unalaska MAP
Genetics Paper Award
Photograph Honored
Alaska Sea Grant MAP Fish Business Course
West Coast Agents
Johnson in Anchorage
http://seagrant.uaf.edu/news/fishlines/2008/september.html
20. Subsistence RAC Meetings Schedule
Meeting dates and locations are subject to change.
Meeting materials will be posted as they become available at: http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/deadline.cfml
Sep 23-24 Kodiak/Aleutians Subsistence Regional Advisory Council meets in Kodiak
Sep 23-25 Southeast Alaska Subsistence Regional Advisory Council meets in Juneau
Oct 2-3 Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Subsistence Regional Advisory Council meets in Bethel
Oct 2-3 Seward Peninsula Subsistence Regional Advisory Council meets in Nome
Oct 6 Bristol Bay Subsistence Regional Advisory Council meets in Naknek
Oct 7-9 Southcentral Alaska Subsistence Regional Advisory Council meets in Glennallen
Oct 14-15 Eastern Interior Alaska Subsistence Regional Advisory Council meets - location to be announced
Oct 16 Northwest Arctic Subsistence Regional Advisory Council meets in Kotzebue
Oct 28-29 Western Interior Alaska Subsistence Regional Advisory Council meets in McGrath
Jan 13-15 Federal Subsistence Board meets in Anchorage to consider proposed changes to subsistence fishing regulations
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