| UFA Update February 16, 2009 The next UFA Board meeting is March 3 – 5, in Juneau. All members are invited to attend. Membership drive in progress. Contact your gear or area group’s UFA representatives to be sure your new or rejoining membership is credited to your group. For membership forms and to pay dues online see http://www.ufa-fish.org/members.htm . To find your group’s representatives see http://www.ufa-fish.org/mo.htm What have we done for you lately? EVOS settlement recipients benefiting by $60 million+ in Senator Murkowski/UFA/Oiled Fishermen EVOS tax treatment act through exemption from self employment tax…and that’s not including retirement tax savings… Please help support our work through individual (permit holder) and crew/supporter dues (for non-permit holders). Table of Contents 1. Before you file your taxes - IRS documents for EVOS Tax Treatment 2. Judge approves another round of Exxon Valdez payments 3. Commercial fisheries pack a $6 billion impact in Alaska 4. Fishing groups seeking nontaxable status from the IRS 5. Groups pitch in to feed struggling Western Alaska residents 6. Broughton bands file suit over salmon farming impacts 7. Columbia salmon plan goes before judge for third try 8. DCCED Coastal Impact Assistance Competitive Grants – comment by Feb 27 9. Cruise ship pollution rule reconsidered with introduction of HB 134 10. Legislative Fish Caucus Starts Weekly Meetings 11. Kake elder takes herring concern to lawmakers 12. Activists push for offshore energy drilling ban 13. Protecting the Arctic marine ecosystem – Boston Globe on NPFMC Arctic closure 14. NPFMC posts Items from the February meeting: 15. Arctic fishing ban report places pressure on Canada 17. MMRC: Does time of year affect sea lion recovery from nutritional stress? 18. Some worry about plan for Gulf of Mexico fish farms 19. Marine debris information now on Google Earth 20. Lower Yukon processors remodel during lull in salmon runs 21. Smartgear - Call is out for fishing gear that helps anglers be smarter 22. Chitina dip net harvest drops 23. Links for Board of Fisheries Southeast Finfish – Sitka, Feb 17- 26 24. Laine Welch's Fish Radio –Topics from this week 25. Comment deadline on Federal Fisheries Disaster Regs extended to April 20 26. NPFMC Scallop Plan Team meets Feb 20-21, Anchorage 27. Comment by March 13 on Catalog of Anadromous Waters 28. Items added to March BOF meeting 29. Deadline Feb 27 for ADF&G Sablefish Pot Survey bids 30. IPHC Requests Bids for 2009 Stock Assessment Charters – by March 11. 31. Deadline June 29 for IPHC Scholarship applications 32. NOAA to Transfer Ownership of John N. Cobb to Seattle Maritime Academy 33. TWIC Centers Extend Hours to as Deadlines Approach 34. Deadline June 1 for four F/V Comfish Safety Advisory Committee (CFIVSAC) seats 35. CFIVSAC meets in Florida March 3-5 36. NOAA 2008 Status of U.S. Fisheries - Fourth Quarter Update 37. Simon Fraser Centre for Coastal studies Speaking for the Salmon reports posted 38. Comment by March 16 on C/P non AFA groundfish MRAs 39. Subsistence Wildlife Regulations withdrawn for lack of administration review 40. Alaska Seafood Processing Advisory Council Meeting Sunday, February 22, Portland 41. Earn More Money Working Overseas Try Alaskan Fishing Jobs (Crab jobs) 42. Pebble Partnership files Exploration Application 43. MSN Pundit picks Pebble in top 5 stock picks under $5. Past items still timely for comment: 44. Comment deadline Feb 17 on NOAA Fishery Disaster regulations 45. Comment by March 23 on NMFS notice of intent – Salmon Bycatch EA or EIS 46. NOAA Fisheries Extends Public Comment on Salmon Bycatch Document to Feb 23 47. USCG proposed Commercial Diving Regs – comment by March 9. 48. Alaska Board Of Fisheries 2009 Call For Proposals – deadline April 10, 2009 & 49. Fisheries related legislation in Alaska State Legislature 1. Before you file your taxes - IRS documents for EVOS Tax Treatment 2008 IRS Publication 525 – Taxable and Non-taxable Income http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p525.pdf ( See page 32 for EVOS filing info) 2008 Instructions for Schedule J – Income Averaging for Fishermen and Farmers http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040sj.pdf 2008 Schedule J -– Income Averaging for Fishermen and Farmers http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040sj.pdf & Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Litigation Update January 20, 2009 http://www.faegre.com/showarticle.aspx?Show=2881Judge Holland response – decision no sooner than Feb 9. http://community.adn.com/sites/community.adn.com/files/Holland _order_on_second_payout.pdf 2. Judge approves another round of Exxon Valdez payments Plaintiffs in the Exxon Valdez oil spill case should expect to see some more money come their way. A federal judge approved a second round of punitive damage payments to commercial fishermen and Native subsistence fishermen harmed in the 1989 spill. This new round of payments total $62.5 million, paid to more than 5,300 people. A time line for the payout was not specified. http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=9847544 3. Commercial fisheries pack a $6 billion impact in Alaska By Margaret Bauman, Alaska Journal of Commerce Alaska's seafood industry packs a walloping $5.8 billion economic impact in the state, a major economics firm concludes in a new report prepared for the Marine Conservation Alliance and two ma jor processor interests. http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/013009/fis_img_1001.shtml Report: The Seafood Industry in Alaska's Economy http://www.marineconservationalliance.org/docs/SIAE_Jan09.pdf Executive Summary: The Seafood Industry in Alaska's Economy http://www.marineconservationalliance.org/docs/SIAE_ Jan2009_ES.pdf 4. Fishing groups seeking nontaxable status from the IRS Six community development quota groups invested in the harvest of millions of pounds of seafood in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands are moving to have their nonprofit status codified by the Internal Revenue Service… http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/021309/fis_ fisheries001.shtml 5. Groups pitch in to feed struggling Western Alaska residents Hunger problems in Western Alaska villages, hard hit by high fuel prices and a poor fishing season, have touched the hearts and wallets of hundreds of people, whose donations of food and money are now reaching village residents… http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/021309/loc_ local_16001.shtml 6. Broughton bands file suit over salmon farming impacts The salmon-farming industry has been the subject of long-standing concerns related to such issues as transmission of sea lice and disease to wild stocks, as well as pollution, and the escape of non-native Atlantic salmon to the wild… http://www.canada.com/Broughton+bands+file+suit+over+ salmon+farming+impacts/1258723/story.html 7. Columbia salmon plan goes before judge for third try Perhaps no person has more control over the fate of Columbia River salmon and dams today than a 79-year-old Red Sox fan who doesn't fish or much care for the taste of salmon. U.S. District Judge James Redden is expected to rule as early as next month in the long-running case over whether dams on the Columbia River system are doing enough to protect endangered fish… http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008 727079_redden10m.html 8. DCCED Coastal Impact Assistance program Competitive Grants – comment by Feb 27. The Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 3 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with the Coastal Impact Assistance Program Competitive Grants, including the following:Chapter 196 is being added under 3 AAC regarding the Coastal Impact Assistance Program Competitive Grant Program. The new chapter establishes procedures which apply, subject to the availability of appropriations, to the allocation and distribution by the department of funds for competitive grants through the Coastal Impact Assistance Program.You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to Sally Russell Cox at the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, Division of Community and Regional Affairs, 550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 1770, Anchorage, Alaska 99501. The comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on February 27, 2009. http://notes5.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/cc52605f7c156e7a892 5672a0060a91b/f8b4a314adb658088925754e000c4042?Open Document 9. Cruise ship pollution rule reconsidered with introduction of HB 134 By ELIZABETH BLUEMINK, Anchorage Daily News A quarter of the members of the state House are co-sponsoring a bill to repeal a water-pollution provision in the cruise-ship law that voters approved in 2006. Rep. John Harris, R-Valdez and 10 co-sponsors introduced legislation that would remove a provision from the cruise law that prevents state regulators from granting mixing zones to cruise ships. Mixing zones are areas in a water body where a pollution discharge can exceed state standards. No other industry in Alaska is banned from using mixing zones, and the state routinely approves them for sewage plants, seafood companies and mines… http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/692310.htmlHB 134 Tracking and bill text: http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill.asp?bill= HB%20134&session=26 10. Legislative Fish Caucus Starts Weekly Meetings By: Joe Nicks 2/6/2009 Lawmakers with interests in the commercial fishing industry are in the process of educating other legislators about the fishing industry through a new Fisheries Caucus. It met for the first time on Thursday. This caucus is led by State Representative Alan Austerman of Kodiak. The first person to speak in front of the caucus was Chris McDowell of the McDowell Group… http://www.ksrm.com/ksrm/news.asp?newsID=6584For Fishery related bills see bottom of this update 11. Kake elder takes herring concern to lawmakers JUNEAU, Alaska - Kake elder Clarence Jackson and others told lawmakers that herring stocks in Southeast are in trouble from past overfishing and predation. Jackson sent lawmakers at a House special committee meeting this week the following message: The state is not doing enough to help herring recover… Herring sac roe fisherman Chip Treinen said commercial fishermen shouldn't be blamed for any declines because they haven't fished depressed areas such as Lynn Canal for years… http://newsminer.com/news/2009/feb/12/kake-elder-takes- herring-concern-lawmakers/ NOAA - ESA SE Alaska and Lynn Canal Herring home page: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/protectedresources/herring/default.htm 12. Activists push for offshore energy drilling ban WASHINGTON (AP) — Environmental advocates urged Congress on Wednesday to reinstate the broad moratorium on offshore oil drilling, but a key congressman said on that issue "the ship may have already sailed." Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, said the political reality is that the broad moratorium across 85 percent of the country's Outer Continental Shelf — lifted by Congress last fall — is unlikely to be reimposed. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gB6bi0Ey TozdEPy0KGisTQNaS2PQD969KP580 & Statement of U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall, II Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources Oversight Hearing on "Offshore Drilling: Environmental and Commercial Perspectives" February 11, 2009 First, the United States does drill, and we drill a lot…. Second, the vast majority of oil and natural gas in our Outer Continental Shelf is in those areas that are already being leased… Third, no reputable economist believes that increasing the amount of drilling we do in the OCS will have any real impact on energy prices… Fourth, we cannot drill our way to energy independence.. http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/index.php?option=com _content&task=view&id=502&Itemid=1 U.S. House Resources Committee home page: http://resourcescommittee.house.govUFA Press release and scoping comments on North Aleutian Basin oil and gas development are online at http://www.ufa-fish.org/positions.htm 13. Protecting the Arctic marine ecosystem – Boston Globe on NPFMC Arctic closure SOME of the most fragile and productive fishing grounds in America received a possible respite earlier this month in a precedent-setting development that could prove critical to the United States and the world. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council, a decision-making body that helps manage fisheries in federal waters off the coast of Alaska, took a major first step to protect the Arctic from the onslaught of global climate change http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/ articles/2009/02/16/protecting_the_arctic_marine_ecosystem/ 14. NPFMC posts Items from the February meeting: BSAI Crab emergency exemption from regional landing requirements motion http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/crab/Crab EmegExempt209motion.pdfCentral GOA Rockfish Program motion http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/groundfish/ Rockfishmotion209.pdf Arctic FMP motion http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/Arctic/ ArcticFMP209motion.pdf Alts for AI Pcod Processing Sideboards 2/09 http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/pcod /AIpcod_sideboards_alts209.pdf BSAI Pcod Parallel State waters fishery Motion http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/pcod/ ParallelwatersMotion209.pdfNPFMC Home page: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/ 15. Arctic fishing ban report places pressure on Canada A U.S. report urging a moratorium on Arctic Ocean fisheries north of Alaska is putting pressure on Canada to produce its own sustainable, long-term strategy for managing what scientists believe could become a major new resource in the polar region's warming waters… http://www.canada.com/Arctic+fishing+report+places+ pressure+Canada/1292718/story.html 16. Juneau fisheries historian Bob King joins Begich team in D.C. Long-time Alaskan and fisheries historian Bob King is heading to Washington, D.C. as Senator Mark Begich's point person on fisheries and several other capacities. "My specific job responsibilities include staffing Sen.Begich on his appointment to the Commerce Committee, which includes a number of things that are really important to Alaska, such as fisheries, the Arctic and the Coast Guard," King said in a phone interview from Juneau… http://www.capitalcityweekly.com/stories/012809/bus _382479039.shtml 17. MMRC: Does time of year affect sea lion recovery from nutritional stress? Winter in the North Pacific Ocean is considered the most difficult time of year for Steller sea lions, largely due to the amount of energy they must spend foraging and keeping warm in rough winter seas. But the summer breeding season has its own unique metabolic demands on sea lions, and a critical change in food supply in either season could have dire consequences… http://www.marinemammal.org/2009/dudot.php Marine Mammal Research Consortium home page http://www.marinemammal.org/ 18. Some worry about plan for Gulf of Mexico fish farms Regional fishery managers have a plan to open the Gulf to the first industrial-scale fish farms in federal waters.The proposal — intended to help reduce the nation’s reliance on imported seafood — calls for raising millions of pounds of amberjack, red snapper and other Gulf species each year in submerged pens three miles to 200 miles off the coast.But the plan has raised concerns from environmental and fishing interests about how to protect the Gulf’s wild fish stock and waters from disease, pollution and other threats that have troubled fish farms in other countries.What’s more, some of the plan’s critics contend that the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, which is responsible for the Gulf’s fish population, shouldn’t act before Congress establishes federal regulations for the emerging industry… http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hotstories/6233794.html Gulf Council Draft Aquaculture Plan (440 ppg) http://www.gulfcouncil.org/Beta/GMFMCWeb/Aquaculture/ Aquaculture%20FMP%20DPEIS%209-3-08.pdfGulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council home page: http://www.gulfcouncil.org/ 19. Marine debris information now on Google Earth Information on marine debris cleanup efforts in Alaska - past and present - has been compiled by the Marine Conservation Alliance Foundation into a Google Earth-based database that is now accessible over the Internet… http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/021309/loc_local_17001.shtml 20. Lower Yukon processors remodel during lull in salmon runs By Margaret Bauman, Alaska Journal of Commerce Two Lower Yukon fish processors hard hit by a failed commercial king salmon run in 2008 say plant and fleet efficiency continues to be their key to survival. Spokesmen Randy Crawford of Boreal Fisheries at St. Marys and Jack Schultheis of Kwik'Pak Fisheries at Emmonak said they have upgraded operations aimed at allowing crews to process salmon more efficiently. The improvements include plant revisions to reduce fish handling and greater efficiencies in refrigeration and tendering… http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/021309/fis_fish_14001.shtml 21. Smartgear - Call is out for fishing gear that helps anglers be smarter By Laine Welch, Alaska Journal of Commerce The call is out again for new ideas for fishing gears that help fishermen "fish smarter." The International Smart Gear competition, launched by the World Wildlife Fund in 2004, aims to inspire gear innovations that help fishermen retain their target catch while letting marine mammals, turtles, birds or small fish swim away… Deadline to enter is June 30. Find the easy entry forms at www.smartgear.org . http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/020609/ fis_fish_opinon001.shtml 22. Chitina dip net harvest drops By Tim Mowry, Fairbanks News Miner As expected from the grumblings of disappointed dip-netters last summer, the salmon harvest in the Copper River personal-use fishery at Chitina was the lowest in almost 20 years… Fearing restrictions because of low returns, the Chitina Dipnetters Association and Alaska Outdoor Council filed a suit last month against the Department of Fish and Game and Alaska Board of Fisheries to have the personal-use fishery reclassified as a subsistence fishery. If classified as subsistence fishermen, dip-netters would have a higher priority to Copper River salmon stocks than commercial or sport fishermen…. http://newsminer.com/news/2009/feb/12/chitina-dip- net-harvest-drops/ The lawsuit is online courtesy of Alaska Outdoor Council at http://www.alaskaoutdoorcouncil.org/pdfs/Complaint-%20Chitina%20Fishery%20Jan.%202009.pdf 23. Links for Board of Fisheries Southeast Finfish – Sitka, Feb 17- 26 Agenda http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/fishinfo/meetinfo/2008-2009/ Sitka/fin-agenda09.pdf Roadmap http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/fishinfo/meetinfo/2008-2009/ Sitka/fin-roadmap09.pdf Dept. Comments (11 MB) http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/fishinfo/meetinfo/2008-2009/ RIR-1J-2008-24.pdf Dept. Reports http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/fishinfo/meetinfo/2008-2009/ deprep08-09.php Ontime Comments http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/archive/bof/farch.php BOF Home page: http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/fishinfo/ index.php 24. Laine Welch's Fish Radio –topics from this week Monday 2/16/09 Fish love beer, Eat Invasives, Jellyfish and joints Friday 2/13/09 A Friday the 13th look at maritime superstitions Thursday 2/12/09 Herring roe makes a comeback in Japan; Salmon roe prices through the roof Wednesday 2/11/09 Snow crab finds market footing Tuesday 2/10/09 Re-energized Fish Caucus aims to bring fisheries off the sidelinesListen Online at: http://www.marineconservationalliance.org/fishradio.htm & also see Laine Welch's Fish Factor at http://www.kinyradio.com/fishfactor.html 25. Comment deadline on Federal Fisheries Disaster Regs extended to April 20 NMFS extends the public comment period on the proposed rule to govern the requests for determinations of fishery resource disasters as a basis for acquiring potential disaster assistance. The comment period of the January 15, 2009 (74 FR 2467) rule is extended from February 17, 2009, to April 20, 2009… Federal register Feb 6: .http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-2 587.htmFederal Register Notice January 15 – Proposed Regulations: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-810.htm NOAA press release: http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2009/20090115_disaster.html 26. NPFMC Scallop Plan Team meets Feb 20-21, Anchorage The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Scallop Plan Team will meet February 20-21, 2009, in Anchorage, AK. DATES: The meeting will be held on February 20, 2009, from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and February 21, 2009, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Anchorage Hilton Hotel, 500 West 3rd Avenue, Fireweed Room, Anchorage, AK. Council address: North Pacific Fishery Management Council, 605 W. 4th Ave., Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99501-2252. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diana Stram, Council staff, telephone: (907) 271-2809. Federal Register Notice: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/ E9-2057.htm NPFMC Home page: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/ Scallop plan page: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/fmp/scallop/scallop.htm 27. Comment by March 13 on Catalog of Anadromous Waters The Atlas to the Catalog of Waters Important for the Spawning, Rearing, or Migration of Anadromous Fishes and Catalog of Waters Important for the Spawning, Rearing, or Migration of Anadromous Fishes (Atlas and Catalog), which are adopted by reference in 5 AAC 95.011, will be revised and updated…. comments must be received no later than March 13, 2009 http://notes5.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/cc52605f7c156e7a89 25672a0060a91b/04d39f903be6627a89257555007a1e06?Open Document 28. Items added to March BOF meeting Third Supplemental Notice of Proposed Changes in the Regulations of the Alaska Board of Fisheries- …The following additional topics will be addressed at the board’s Statewide Dungeness Crab, Shrimp, Miscellaneous Shellfish, and Supplemental Issues meeting scheduled for March 16-20, 2009 at the Egan Center, 555 West 5th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska: In the parallel groundfish fisheries statewide, reporting requirements. (5 AAC 28.075, 5 AAC 28.087) In the Prince William Sound Pot Shrimp Fishery, establish a commercial shrimp pot fishery management plan; and require exclusive registration for sport or commercial spot shrimp fishing. (5 AAC 31.260; 5 AAC 31.206; and 5 AAC 55.022)In the Cook Inlet Area salmon fishery and related hatchery cost recovery fishing, repeal all provisions of the Bear Lake Management Plan (5 AAC 21.375) and adopt new Trail Lakes Hatchery Management Plan. Also, board consideration of the Upper Cook Inlet Area Central District Drift Gillnet Fishery Management Plan (5 AAC 21.353), which had been scheduled for March 16-20, 2009, has been rescheduled to the next regularly scheduled Upper Cook Inlet Finfish meeting, approximately February 2011… Public Notice: http://notes5.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/cc52605f7c156e7a89 25672a0060a91b/f890e8e9bf78f35a8925755b006dabdc?Open Document 29. Deadline Feb 27 for ADF&G Sablefish Pot Survey bids The Alaska Dept. Of Fish and Game is requesting bids from qualified bidders to perform the Northern Southeast Alaska Sablefish Pot Survey. Interested bidders may download the invitation to bid… Bids are due in the Juneau ADFG Procurement Office no later than 2:30 PM on 2/27/2009 http://notes5.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/cc52605f7c156e7a89 25672a0060a91b/1f5a8751c5bafe5689257553006b41f9?Open Document 30. IPHC Requests Bids for 2009 Stock Assessment Charters – by March 11. The International Pacific Halibut Commission is seeking commercial longline vessels to conduct survey fishing in 2009… Bids must be received at the IPHC office in Seattle by 12:00 p.m. (Pacific Daylight Time) on Wednesday, March 11th, 2009… http://www.iphc.washington.edu/halcom/newsrel/2009/n r20090212.htm 31. Deadline June 29 for IPHC Scholarship applications The scholarships for 2009 will be available for educational entrance or continuation in Fall 2009… applications must be received by June 29, 2009… http://www.iphc.washington.edu/halcom/newsrel/2009/nr 20090206.htm 32. NOAA to Transfer Ownership of John N. Cobb to Seattle Maritime Academy The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Marine and Aviation Operations propose to donate NOAA Ship John N. Cobb to Seattle Central Community College: Seattle Maritime Academy under the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980… Comments must be received by March 6, 2009. Also, there will be a public meeting held to obtain public comments at the Marine Operations Center-Pacific at 1800, February 17, 2009. http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-2374.htm 33. TWIC Centers Extend Hours to Increase Enrollments and Activations as Deadlines Approach JUNEAU, Alaska -- Alaska's Transportation Workers Identification Credential (TWIC) Enrollment Centers have extended their hours of operations through Feb. 27 to accommodate enrollments and activations as deadlines approach. Workers in Alaska's ports will be required to have a TWIC on Feb. 12 if they access secure or restricted areas at facilities regulated by the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002. In addition to port workers, mariners holding U.S. Coast Guard licenses or merchant mariners documents are required to obtain a TWIC by April 15, 2009… http://www.uscgalaska.com/go/doc/780/251967/ 34. Deadline June 1 for 4 Fishing Vessel Safety Advisory Committee CFIVSAC Comfish seats The Coast Guard seeks applications for membership on the Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Advisory Committee (CFIVSAC). The CFIVSAC provides advice and makes recommendations to the Coast Guard for improving commercial fishing industry safety practices.DATES: Completed application forms should reach the Coast Guard at the address below on or before June 1, 2009. http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-2497.htm 35. CFIVSAC meets in Florida March 3-5 The Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Advisory Committee (CFIVSAC) will meet in Jacksonville, FL to discuss various issues relating to commercial vessel safety in the fishing industry. This meeting will be open to the public. DATES: The Committee will meet on March 3-5, 2009, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-3157.htm& National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee teleconference February 26, 2009, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. EST… http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-3299.htm 36. NOAA 2008 Status of U.S. Fisheries - Fourth Quarter Update http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/statusoffisheries/SOSmain.htm 37. Simon Fraser Centre for Coastal studies Speaking for the Salmon reports posted The Centre for Coastal Studies and Continuing Studies in Science at Simon Fraser University are pleased to provide the following update:Speaking for the Salmon reports published in 2008: (http://www.sfu.ca/cstudies/science/salmon.htm ) 1. Encouraging Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Salmon Aquaculture - Proceedings from a workshop at the Wosk Centre for Dialogue, SFU 2. Proceedings from a Think Tank on Transferable Shares in the Salmon Industry - report from a think tank at SFU Vancouver.Other resources posted in 2008: 1. Vod/pod cast of Canada Ocean Lecture: Lament for a Nation's Oceans presented by Dr. Jeff Hutchings, Canada Research Chair in Conservation and Biodiversity, Dalhousie University, presented at the Wosk Centre for Dialogue, SFU. (http://www.sfu.ca/cstudies/science - under news and events)Coming soon: Report from - Salmon and Nutrients - A seminar on science and policy, SFU Proceedings from - The Haig Brown Symposium on Sustaining Wild Salmon: Moving from Words to Action, Campbell River, BC 38. Comment by March 16 on C/P non AFA groundfish MRAs NMFS proposes to amend regulations to change the time at which the amount of retained groundfish must be calculated to comply with the maximum retainable amounts (MRAs) of selected groundfish species caught by trawl catcher/processors (C/Ps) that are not eligible under the American Fisheries Act (AFA) to participate in directed fishing for pollock. This proposed action would apply to MRAs for yellowfin sole, rock sole, flathead sole, ``other flatfish,'' arrowtooth flounder, Pacific cod, and Atka mackerel in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) and for Pacific ocean perch in the Aleutian Islands (AI)… Written comments must be received by March 16, 2009… http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-3184.htm 39. Subsistence Wildlife Regulations withdrawn for lack of administration review We are withdrawing this rule because publication did not follow the requirements set forth in a January 20, 2009, memorandum signed by the President's Chief of Staff. That memorandum requires Administration appointees to review rules prior to publication. This rule did not receive complete Administration review. Federal register Feb 6: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-2608.htm P revious federal register regulations Jan 29: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-1593.htm 40. Alaska Seafood Processing Advisory Council Meeting Sunday, February 22, Portland Time: 2:30-3:30 PM Alaska time, 3:30-4:30 PM Pacific time Location: The Pacific Fisheries Technologists Conference held in the Downtown Hilton Hotel, located at 1231 Market Street, Portland, Oregon. Interested participants may attend in person, or participate telephonically using the call-in number: 1-800-315-6338 Pin: 2121Agenda: • Old Business: Labeling Requirements under 18 AAC 34.110. • New Business: Sharing internal test results. • AdjournIf you have questions, please call Randall Pfeuffer at 907-269-7505, or visit our website at http://www.dec.state.ak.us/eh/fss/seafood/aspac.htm . 41. Earn More Money Working Overseas Try Alaskan Fishing Jobs (Crab jobs) “…if you’re looking to make as much money as possible working overseas in the shortest possible time, working in Alaska onboard a crab boat may be an option that you should consider! Pay rates for work in king crab fishing start at around GBP 90.00 per day for “greenhorns” or new starters, and increase as more time is spent on the boat until the point when you are considered a deckhand. Deckhands usually receive 8-10% of the catch value after the boat owner and captain have taken their share. So, working overseas in the Alaskan fishing industry as a king crab fisherman could net you around GBP 25,000.00 for just 3 to 4 weeks work! Not bad, and we are beginning to understand the appeal despite the risk! “ http://www.shelteroffshore.com/index.php/living/more/earn- money-working-overseas-alaskan-fishing-jobs/ 42. Pebble Partnership files Exploration Application http://notes5.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/cc52605f7c156e7a892 5672a0060a91b/be387491fd84184d8925753a00045da6?Open Document DNR Pebble page: http://dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/mining/largemine/pebble/ I did not find any news items about this. 43. MSN Pundit picks Pebble in top 5 stock picks under $5.
45. Comment by March 23 on NMFS notice of intent – Salmon Bycatch EA or EIS 46. NOAA Fisheries Extends Public Comment Period on Salmon Bycatch Document – Feb 23 47. USCG proposed Commercial Diving Regs – comment by March 9. 48. Alaska Board Of Fisheries 2009 Call For Proposals – deadline April 10, 2009 49. Fisheries related legislation in Alaska State Legislature:HCR 6 Recreating the Cook Inlet Salmon Task Force as a joint legislative task force UFA dues for Alaska commercial fishermen are $150 and we also welcome crew/supporter nonvoting members at $50 per year. To support UFA see http://www.ufa-fish.org/members.htm |