UFA Update

UFA Update

March 17, 2009

At-large election approaching
Elections for four UFA At-Large board seats will be conducted by mail during the month of May. Deadline for nominations is April 15. Nomination forms are going out in the mail this week to paid individual and lifetime members, with results from our March 3-5 board meeting.

UFA 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 UFA group.
To find your group’s representatives see http://www.ufa-fish.org/mo.htm
For membership forms and to pay dues online see http://www.ufa-fish.org/members.htm .
Or call our office to join by phone at 907-586-2820.

Table of Contents
1. ADF&G Book: Sustaining Alaska's Fisheries: Fifty Years of Statehood
2. Board of Fisheries preliminary results from SE Finfish (Sitka) meeting
3. Governor Names Fishery Council Nominees
4. NPFMC agenda and items for the March 30 - April 7 meeting
5. Deadline April 30 for Coastal Impact Assistance Program Competitive Grants
6. PWSRCAC calls for continued two vessel escort on double hull tankers
7. Rep. Young Cosponsors, Votes for Water Quality Act
8. Removal of fuel from Mar-Gun continues near St. George
9. Environmental groups want better shipping, safety rules
10. New rules enacted for fishing guides
11. KwikPak to monitor fish supplies
12. Trident Seafoods tops in Symphony of Seafood awards
13. Cost of (MSC) certifications to fall to private fishing industry
14. Iceland to certify own sustainable fisheries
15. Arctic research ship aims to benefit from stimulus money
16. Alaska Air Cargo Enhances Seafood Shipment Services
17. Bypass mail rate increase reduced
18. Pebble development debate continues before Legislature
19. Renewable Resources Coalition Town Hall Meeting - Anchorage, March 19
20. Southeast harvester (Bloom) is rising star in Alaska fisheries
21. Climate change and the oceans: bleak for fish (except AK, Nor. & Greenland?)
22. Comfish celebrates 50 years of Alaska fishing, April 23-25
23. Row over UN's call for increased fish farming
24. What do you think about aquaculture – Online survey for stakeholders’
25. Judge says Columbia salmon recovery plan is 'very close'
26. MMRC: Putting a Price Tag on Habitat Conservation
27. Laine Welch's Fish Radio –topics from this week
28. Fishermen’s Fund Public meeting April 1 – 3, Juneau
29. NOAA posts GHL for guided sport halibut in areas 2C and 3A
30. NMFS posts 2009-2010 GOA & BSAI Groundfish specifications
31. CIE Peer Review for AK Sablefish stock assessment, March 17-19, Juneau
32. NMFS to hold hearings on IUU fishing – Seattle, April 14
33. Deadline April 13 for BLM Resource Advisory Council nominations
34. NOAA: “Observer Programs' Info That Can Be Gathered Only Through Questions”
35. MMS extends comment period on OCS 5 year plan - to September 21, 2009
36. Draft Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2007
37. Comment deadline April 13 on Columbia River Hatcheries EIS scope expansion
38. Appeals court upholds feds' salmon hatchery policy
39. Deadline March 31 for USDA Rural Business Opportunity Grants
40. Global Food Alaska 2009, June 10-12, 2009 Soldotna, Alaska
41. IPHC notifies industry of halibut sales in 2009 and seeks buyers
42. ADF&G draft Community Subsistence Information System ( CSIS ).
43. Air Force and the MMPA
44. Repeat item: IRS documents for EVOS Tax Treatment
45. Smartgear competition deadline June 30

1. ADF&G Book: Sustaining Alaska's Fisheries: Fifty Years of Statehood
Sustaining Alaska’s Fisheries: Fifty Years of Statehood was created by ADF&G as part of Alaska’s 2009 Statehood Celebration. This engaging story of our commercial fishery management heritage was written by Bob King, writer, former fisheries industry journalist, and former press secretary to an Alaska governor
http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/pubs/50years/50years.php

Congratulations to fishermen and Alaska’s leaders who put into place the safeguards necessary for sustainable commercial fishing. The controversial limiting of entry in fisheries, and the institution of real time management where fisheries can open or close immediately, rather than after damage is done, are the unique essential components that has provided the state with continued commercial fisheries that sustain our coastal communities and provide revenue and benefits to all of Alaska.
The question remains – will Alaska take the necessary similar steps to ensure that our fish stocks are not threatened by unlimited growth of consumption based tourism fisheries?

2. Board of Fisheries preliminary results from SE Finfish (Sitka) meeting
http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/fishinfo/meetsum/2008-2009
/sitka/presumm-se-finfish09.pdf

3. Governor Names Fishery Council Nominees
March 10, 2009, Juneau, Alaska – Governor Sarah Palin today forwarded her nominations of Robert “Ed” Dersham and Dan Hull to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce for appointment to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. Dersham currently serves on the council and is being nominated for a second term. Hull has been an active public participant at council meetings and has served on council committees…
http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1698

UFA salutes the outstanding work of Gerry Merrigan in his service on the NPFMC.

4. NPFMC agenda and items for the March 30 - April 7 meeting
Draft Agenda: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/Agendas/409Agenda.pdf
Items posted:
BS Chinook bycatch outreach report 4/09
Fixed Gear Recency 4/09
Salmon bycatch ICA from pollock industry cooperatives
Alternative ICA approach
ICA proposals assessment
Proposed Bristol Bay Trawl Closure and Walrus interactions
Modifying AM80 coop formation criteria (AM 93)
GOA Salmon and Crab bycatch discussion paper
&
Northern Bering Sea Research Area Presentation: Thursday, April 2, 2009 5:30pm -7pm Hilton Hotel, Anchorage Dillingham/Katmai Room FLIER

The above items are online at the NPFMC home page at: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/

NPFMC Pacific Northwest Crab Industry Advisory Committee (PNCIAC) meets, Seattle March 23
…The meeting will be held at the Leif Erikson Hall, 2247 NW
57th Street, Suite 403, Seattle, WA 98107 (in Ballard); telephone:
(206) 769-3474…
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-5104.htm

5. Deadline April 30 for Coastal Impact Assistance Program Competitive Grants
DCOM is now soliciting projects to fund through CIAP. Applicant eligibility requirements are listed in the Application Information and Instructions. The submittal deadline is 5:00 PM April 30, 2009. Links to the application and instructions are provided below.
Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) home page: http://dnr.alaska.gov/coastal/CIAP/ciap.htm. “

More federal funds have become available and the program has opened to funding of a wide range of fish-related topics. Non profit trade associations (AS 10.20) will be eligible to apply. Eligible fundings include Habitat, Marine debris, Fish data, Preparation for climate change, etc.

6. PWSRCAC calls for continued two vessel escort on double hull tankers
Council seeing progress in oil tanker precautions
…The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 required phasing out single-hulled tankers by 2015. It is estimated the Exxon Valdez spill would have been reduced by 60 percent had the ship been double-hulled.
The transition of the PWS tanker fleet is almost complete, with just one single-hull ship still operating.
The law requires escort for only single-hulled tankers. PWSRCAC is calling for maintaining the tug escort system for double-hulled tankers…
http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/?pid=19&id=7327
&
Spill anniversary teaches lessons of history, by John Devens
http://www.thecordovatimes.com/news/show/5016
&
HJR 19 / SJR 11 - “Recognizing the 20th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill and supporting the continued practice of accompanying each oil tanker through Prince William Sound with at least a two vessel escort.”
http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill.asp?bill=
HJR%2019&session=26

UFA supports HJR 19.

7. Rep. Young Cosponsors, Votes for Water Quality Act
Washington, D.C. – Alaskan Congressman Don Young voted yes today on H.R. 1262, the Water Quality Investment Act of 2009. Rep. Young is also an original cosponsor of this bipartisan piece of legislation. This bill would amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize appropriations for State water pollution control revolving funds and provides $18.7 billion over five years to the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund. This allows states to grant low interest loans to communities that don’t have enough funds to make improvements to wastewater infrastructure.
“This is a good piece of legislation and especially for Alaska,” said Rep. Young. “There are many communities who need to make major investments to their publicly owned wastewater utilities such as North Pole, Palmer, Kenai, Kodiak, and Wasilla to name a few…
Alaska’s share of funding from H.R. 1262 will be $82,387,173 for the life of the bill.

Rep. Young Press release: http://donyoung.house.gov/Press
R elease.aspx?NewsID=1970
&
NBC: House Passes Water Quality Investment Act
http://www.nbc26.com/Global/story.asp?S=9998351

8. Removal of fuel from Mar-Gun continues near St. George
Officials issue advice to avoid potential health risks from subsistence harvests
Responders continue to work during daylight hours to remove the fuel from the fishing vessel Mar-Gun grounded on the north end of St. George Island. Ten thousand six hundred and five gallons of diesel has been removed so far.

Crews are working Wednesday to continue the removal of diesel and to effect repairs to the small breach in the engine room. Once the breach is patched the engine room can be dewatered. This will allow access to the engine manifold which is necessary to lighter the 668 gallons of lube oil…
http://www.uscgalaska.com/go/doc/780/260365/

9. Environmental groups want better shipping, safety rules
…Conservation groups pointed to the second grounding in the Aleutian Chain as another sign of the increasing need for better shipping safety and oil spill prevention tactics.
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/031309/fis_
img_fish001.shtml

10. New rules enacted for fishing guides
Juneau Empire
ANCHORAGE - The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has enacted new rules for Southcentral Alaska saltwater fishing guides and crews.
They will be banned from keeping any fish on their own fishing licenses while clients are on their boats… http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/031209/reg_40
8288440.shtml

11. KwikPak to monitor fish supplies
KwikPak Fisheries LLC of Emmonak has contracted with Trace Register in Seattle for access to the firm's Web-based software to promote the traceability of its Yukon River salmon through the supply chain…
Kwik'Pak spokesman Jack Schultheis said the supply chain traceability "will help ensure that the Yup'ik fishermen who supply our company are getting a well-deserved premium for their efforts and their superior salmon…
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/031309/fis_
fish002.shtml

12. Trident Seafoods tops in Symphony of Seafood awards
A wild Alaska sesame teriyaki keta salmon fillet won Trident Seafoods the grand prize at the 2009 Symphony of Seafood gala in Anchorage Feb. 19. With the win came a ticket to the International Boston Seafood Show to promote the company's new value-added seafood product…
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/022709/loc_img_
local002.shtml

13. Cost of (MSC) certifications to fall to private fishing industry
Managing fisheries for sustained yield is a mandate Alaska fisheries officials intend to keep honoring. But the price of proving that sustainability to the Marine Stewardship Council is a cost state fisheries managers say must be shared more fully within the industry, as the state of Alaska will cease in October to be the client paying all costs of the certification process…
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/031309/fis_img_
fish_4001.shtml

14. Iceland to certify own sustainable fisheries
(Seafood Source)
The Icelandic Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture will unveil a program to certify the nation's fisheries as sustainable at next week's International Boston Seafood Show…
http://www.seafoodsource.com/newsarticledetail.aspx?id=2804

15. Arctic research ship aims to benefit from stimulus money
A planned multi-million dollar federal fisheries research vessel to be used in Alaska waters looks likely to get a $55 million funding boost from President Barack Obama's stimulus package, which has now been approved by Congress…
The new 236-foot ice-capable vessel to support research in high latitudes will be owned by the NSF and operated by the University of Alaska School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences out of its facilities in Seward. It will replace a retired research vessel, the Alpha Helix, which also was based out of Seward…
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/031309/loc_img
_local002.shtml

16. Alaska Air Cargo Enhances Seafood Shipment Services
Alaska Airlines implements system wide cool chain training program
SEATTLE — Prized wild seafood from the state of Alaska will arrive as fresh as possible at grocery stores and restaurants across the nation, thanks in part to a new quality control program at Alaska Air Cargo designed to keep seafood shipments cold. Alaska Air Cargo is one of the first air carriers to implement a special training program for employees who handle perishables such as fresh Alaska seafood…
http://www.alaskasworld.com/newsroom/asnews/asstories
/AS_20090314_090547.asp

17. Bypass mail rate increase reduced
Rural Alaskans who depend on the U.S. Postal Service's bypass mail system will still see an increase in shipping rates, but it won't be as high as they feared.
Prices will still go up as much as 12 to 17 percent as part of an overall U.S. Postal Service rate hike, but it's not as high as the 40 percent increases that shippers -- and consumers -- could have faced had the post office not decided to tweak the bypass mail program…
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/rural/story
/725278.html

18. Pebble development debate continues before Legislature
Developers of the Pebble copper-gold-molybdenum deposit in Southwest Alaska are a least a year away from submitting permits for a large-scale mine project, but the state's regulatory process is already being called into question by some lawmakers and vocal mine opponents.
During a state Senate Resources Committee hearing held in late February, Pebble developers gave a brief overview of the advanced exploration project, followed by a Department of Natural Resources presentation describing the regulatory permitting process. State legislators also took testimony from several opponents who claim a mine at Pebble could damage the Bristol Bay salmon fishery…
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/031309/loc_img
_local001.shtml

19. Renewable Resources Coalition Town Hall Meeting - Anchorage, March 19
The Renewable Resources Coalition wants to hear your thoughts on how we can protect Bristol Bay and the world’s largest wild sockeye salmon fishery.
The remaining scheduled meeting:
Thursday, March 19th, 2009
Tanglewood Chalet
11801 Brayton Dr., South Anchorage
TIME: 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
http://www.renewableresourcescoalition.org/

20. Southeast harvester (Bloom) is rising star in Alaska fisheries
It's still a man's world out there in the raucous Bristol Bay salmon fishery. But among the roughly 1,800 vessels jockeying for position, Southeast Alaska Capt. Lindsey Bloom holds her own aboard the 32-foot drift boat Erika Leigh.

"I really feel like fishing chose me," she said. "There wasn't much choice when my dad called and said, 'You're coming up to be permit holder on the Erika Leigh.'"…
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/031309/fis_img
_fish_9001.shtml

21. Climate change and the oceans: bleak prospects for the fish (except AK, Norway & Greenland?)
Climate change is starting to have profound effects on marine ecosystems, according to a session at this year's AAAS meeting. Species are being driven into higher latitudes and deeper waters, which is bad news for countries like Chile and China…
Practically, this means local extinctions in traditional fishing areas (already being witnessed in the Bering Sea), and species invasion into others. Countries are going to lose fish stocks to their neighbors, something we're already seeing with jumbo squid and salmon. Cheung predicts that Norway, Greenland, and Alaska are going to be the biggest winners, with China, the mainland US, Indonesia, and Chile losing the most…
http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2009/03/climate-
change-and-the-oceans-bleak-prospects-for-the-fish.ars

22. Comfish celebrates 50 years of Alaska fishing, April 23-25
ComFish, Kodiak's annual spring fisheries policy forum and trade show, will celebrate Alaska's 50 years of involvement in commercial fishing and processing.

The schedule, set for April 23-25, is still in flux for fisheries forums and related events at Kodiak's new convention center. Current plans are shaping up for a gala seafood dinner April 23, in celebration of 50 years of statehood and the Alaska seafood industry.

AK Journal of Commerce story: http://www.alaskajournal.com
/stories/031309/fis_fish001.shtml

Comfish home page: http://www.comfishalaska.com/

23. Row over UN's call for increased fish farming
Campaign groups criticise as "simplistic" the UN's call for a big expansion in fish farming to protect wild stocks
Seafood-lovers are being urged to eat more "vegetarian" species, including tilapia and carp, as the United Nations calls for a big expansion in fish farming to protect wild stocks…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/mar/02
/un-fish-farming

24. What do you think about aquaculture – Online survey for stakeholders’ perception on aquaculture (estimated 25 minutes)
(Survey extended due to lack of response from fishermen)
The University of Rhode Island is conducting an important survey about the stakeholders' perception of aquaculture in the US and the future of this sector. So far, we got good responses from government officials, fish farmers and researchers. But we only got 30 fisherman's responses. We need more fishing industry management leader's participation. As a person who is concerned about the development and direction of US aquaculture, we think this survey will be of considerable interest to you. We hope you will take the time to respond.
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.

25. Judge says Columbia salmon recovery plan is 'very close'
A federal judge had some kind words today for the federal government's strategy to balance operations of its power-generating dams with the needs of endangered salmon they harm.
"I think it is very close," said U.S. District Court Judge James Redden after spending a day grilling government, tribal and environmental attorneys in a downtown Portland courtroom…
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/
2009/03/judge_says_columbia_salmon_rec.html
&
Seattle Times: Federal judge faults plan in NW salmon dispute
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/
2008823428_aporsalmondams1stldwritethru.html

26. MMRC: Putting a Price Tag on Habitat Conservation
Consortium researchers recently developed a method to evaluate the economic costs of habitat-driven fishery closures. By taking spatial considerations and environmental variables into account, they came up with a relevant approach to determining the financial cost of habitat conservation….
http://www.marinemammal.org/2009/berman.php
Marine Mammal research Consortium home page: http://www.marinemammal.org/

27. Laine Welch's Fish Radio –topics from this week
Tuesday 3/17/09 St. Patrick’s Day fish story
Monday 3/16/09 Consumers by far prefer Alaska seafood
Friday 3/13/09 Deckhand labor data project forms industry advisory panel
Thursday 3/12/09 Fish price drivers in a global recession
Wednesday 3/11/09 Halibut faces tough market in 2009

Listen Online at: http://www.marineconservationalliance.org
/fishradio.htm
& also see Laine Welch's Fish Factor at http://www.kinyradio.com/fishfactor.html

28. Fishermen’s Fund Public meeting April 1 – 3, Juneau
The Alaska Commercial Fishermen’s Fund Advisory & Appeals Council will conduct a full council meeting April 1-3, 2009.
This meeting will begin at 9:00am each day. The meeting will be held at the following location:
Admiralty Room, Ste. 204, Goldbelt Hotel, Juneau.

The agenda consists of the regular business of the Advisory & Appeals Council and the Fishermen’s Fund, consisting of but not limited to: Discussion or approval of changes to the regulations regarding the Fishermen’s Fund, 8 AAC 55, pursuant to AS 23.35.050; discussion of the Fund’s annual performance and other business reports from the agency; prescription of forms; and other business as necessary and useful. A copy of the full agenda will be made available upon request.
http://notes4.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/cc52605f7c156e7
a8925672a0060a91b/358a5fe726b36e4c8925756f00018a
59?OpenDocument

UFA supports increasing the Fishermen’s Fund maximum claim limit from the current $2500 to $5000 (This will require an act of the Alaska Legislature).

29. NOAA posts GHL for guided sport halibut in areas 2C and 3A
NMFS provides notice of Pacific halibut guideline harvest levels (GHLs) for the guided sport charter vessel fishery in the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) regulatory areas 2C and 3A. The GHLs are benchmark harvest levels for participants in the charter vessel fishery for halibut in each area. This notice is necessary to meet the management and regulatory requirements for the GHLs and to inform the public about the 2009 GHLs for the charter halibut fishery…
The corresponding GHLs are 788,000 lb (357.4 mt) in Area 2C, and 3,650,000 lb (1,655.6 mt) in Area 3A. The GHL in Area 2C has been reduced from the 2008 level of
931,000 lb (422.3 mt). The GHL for Area 3A did not change.
Federal Register Notice: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-3922.htm

NOAA Guided Sport Halibut Management page: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/s
ustainablefisheries/halibut/charters.htm

30. NMFS posts 2009-2010 GOA & BSAI Groundfish specifications
NMFS announces 2009 and 2010 final harvest specifications, reserves and apportionments thereof, Pacific halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) limits, and associated management measures for the groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) (and BSAI).

GOA - Federal Register Notice: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-3295.htm
GOA correction: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/Z9-3295.htm
BSAI - Federal Register Notice: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-3297.htm

NOAA Fisheries 2009 - 2010 Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specification Tables are online at: http://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries
/2009_10hrvstspecs.htm

31. CIE Peer Review for AK Sablefish (Black Cod) stock assessment, March 17-19, Juneau
NMFS has requested the Center for Independent Experts (CIE) to conduct a peer review of the agency's stock assessment of Alaskan sablefish. CIE is a group affiliated with the University of Miami that provides independent peer reviews of NMFS science nationwide, including reviews of stock assessments for fish and marine mammals. The Alaska sablefish stock assessment is an area-wide model that includes the Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea and the Aleutian Islands. The CIE review will examine whether the assessment incorporates the best available scientific information and provides a reasonable approach to understanding the population dynamics and stock status of sablefish in Alaska. The public is invited to attend and observe the presentations and discussions between the CIE panel and the NMFS scientists who collected and processed the data, and designed the underlying model.

DATES: The review will be held on March 17 through March 19, 2009, from
9 AM to 5 PM Alaska Daylight Time.

ADDRESSES: The review will be held at the NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science
Center, Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute, 17109 Pt. Lena Loop Rd,
Juneau, AK 99801.
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-4022.htm

32. NMFS to hold hearings on IUU fishing – Seattle, April 14
NMFS published a proposed rule for developing identification and certification procedures to address illegal, unreported, or unregulated (IUU) fishing activities and bycatch of protected living marine resources (PLMRs) pursuant to the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act (Moratorium Protection Act). This notice is to announce five public hearings and to discuss and collect comments on the issues described in the proposed rule.

DATES: Written comments must be received no later than 5:00 pm Eastern time on May 14, 2009. Public hearings will be held in March, April, and May of 2009…

The hearing closest to Alaska is in Seattle, April 14th:
Tuesday, April 14, 2009, 4:00-6:00 p.m., NMFS Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Auditorium, Seattle, WA 98112; phone 206-860-3200. Proof of identification will be required for entry…
Federal register Notice: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-4478.htm

Correction posted to Silver Spring, MD meeting location: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-5483.htm

33. Deadline April 13 for BLM Resource Advisory Council nominations
The purpose of this notice is to request public nominations for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Resource Advisory Councils (RACs) that have member terms expiring this year. The RACs provide advice and recommendations to the BLM on land use planning and management of the National System of Public Lands within their
geographic areas…
DATE: Send all nominations to the appropriate BLM state office no later than April 13, 2009.
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-4260.htm

Alaska BLM RAC home page for info & nomination form
http://www.blm.gov/ak/st/en/res/rac.html

34. NOAA: Comment by May 4 on “Observer Programs' Information That Can Be Gathered Only Through Questions”
Federal Register notice: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-4522.htm
NOAA Observer programs home page: http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/st4/nop/index.html

35. MMS extends comment period on OCS 5 year plan - comment deadline September 21, 2009
Extension of Comment Period on the Draft Proposed 5-Year Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2010-2015 (DPP) and Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Proposed 5-Year Program…
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-4581.htm

36. Draft Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2007
Per an announcement in the Federal Register (FR) [FRL-8778-8], the draft 1990-2007 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory is now available for public comment. To ensure your comments are considered for the final version of the document, please submit your comments by April 9, 2009.
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions
/usinventoryreport.html

37. Comment deadline April 13 on Columbia River Hatcheries EIS scope expansion
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces its decision to expand the scope of the Mitchell Act Hatchery Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to include analysis of the environmental effects of hatchery programs in a way that will inform future NMFS decisions about Endangered Species Act compliance for all Columbia River hatchery programs. Our previous notice of intent to prepare an EIS on the funding and operation of Columbia River hatcheries under the Mitchell Act was published on September 3, 2004. We are opening a 30-day comment period on our decision to expand the scope.
DATES: Written or electronic comments from all interested parties are
encouraged and must be received no later than 5 p.m. Pacific Standard
Time April 13, 2009.
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-5383.htm

38. Appeals court upholds feds' salmon hatchery policy
GRANTS PASS, Ore. - A federal appeals court Monday upheld the federal government's discretion to use salmon raised in hatcheries to bolster wild runs, but not as a substitute that would lift Endangered Species Act protections…
Jan Hasselman, a lawyer for Earthjustice, which represented the conservation groups, said the good news was that the appeals court recognized that the objective of the Endangered Species Act was to restore wild salmon, not just replace them with fish raised in hatcheries.

"The building industry and Pacific Legal Foundation have engaged in a 10-year effort to reduce protections for wild salmon based on numbers of hatchery fish," he said from Seattle. "That effort is conclusively a failure. The people that supported it within the government are gone. It has been rejected across the board by numerous courts. And wild salmon remain protected. Let's move on to restoring their habitat and put this chapter behind us."
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/ap_alaska/story/
725314.html

39. Deadline March 31 for USDA Rural Business Opportunity Grants
The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), an Agency within the Rural Development mission area, announces the availability of grants of up to $50,000 per application from the Rural Business Opportunity Grant (RBOG) program for fiscal year (FY) 2009, to be competitively awarded…
The deadline for the receipt of applications in the Rural Development State Office is March 31, 2009…

Alaska - USDA Rural Development State Office, 800 West Evergreen, Suite 201,
Palmer, AK 99645-6539, (907) 761-7705 /TDD (907) 761-8905.
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ak/

Federal Register Notice:
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-5407.htm

40. Global Food Alaska 2009, June 10-12, 2009 Soldotna, Alaska
Commercial Buyers of Food, Beverage, Agri-Products Commercial Buyers for Retail, Restaurant, Manufacturing, Gift, Food Service, Convenience. Registration is FREE for those who have pre-registered by April 1, 2009. (Professional identification required at door please.)
http://www.globalfoodcollaborative.com/global-
food-alaska-2009.html

41. IPHC notifies industry of halibut sales in 2009 and seeks buyers interested in IPHC research fish
The International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) will be conducting research operations off Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska during 2009 and will be selling halibut caught during the operations to offset costs associated with conducting the survey. This news release is intended to notify the industry of the IPHC plan to sell fish and seeks offers for fish sales arrangements from interested buyers…
http://www.iphc.washington.edu/halcom/newsrel
/2009/nr20090306.htm

42. ADF&G draft Community Subsistence Information System ( CSIS ).
The link to this public review draft is at:
http://www.subsistence.adfg.state.ak.us/CSIS/

43. Air Force and the MMPA
Incidental Take of Marine Mammals; Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Conducting Precision Strike Weapons Testing and Training by Eglin Air Force Base in the Gulf of Mexico…
Federal register Notice: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-5079.pdf

44. Repeat item: 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

45. Smartgear - Call is out for fishing gear that helps fishermen be smarter
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

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