Alaska/Pacific Coast
Report details economic value of salmon hatcheries Anchorage Press by Tim Bradner - October 18, 2018 A new report shows that Alaska’s salmon hatcheries created one fourth of the economic value of the state’ total salmon harvest between 2012 and 2016 along with about 4,700 jobs statewide. https://www.anchoragepress.com/news/report-details-economic-value-of-salmon-hatcheries/article_71b73b10-d2f6-11e8-b991-f7856b7ade15.html Preliminary Sablefish TACs Don’t Necessarily Mean High Quotas for 2019 SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Peggy Parker - October 19, 2018 At the October North Pacific Council meeting, preliminary -- not final -- catch limits were adopted for about two dozen species in the Gulf of Alaska. There were a few changes in the table from last year, but the sablefish Allowable Biological Catch (ABC) and projected Total Allowable Catch (TAC) were not changed. The Council makes two-year projections as part of their guidance to industry, but stock assessments are done each year on sablefish. The surveys that feed the stock assessments are completed by the October meeting, but the modeling and stock assessments are not. The final 2019 sablefish catch numbers will be set at the December Council meeting. Before then, the new 2018 sablefish stock assessment will be reviewed by the Groundfish Plan Team in mid-November. At the December Council meeting, the industry-led Advisory Panel will weigh in on the numbers the scientists have recommended. And as always, there will be public testimony. Last year at the December AP meeting, many were concerned that the catch may show a high proportion of small fish. Informal recommendations were made for fleets to do their best to avoid those fish, allowing them to grow to spawning size and contribute to the population. This year, those concerns will be added to observations of declining recruitment (with the exception of the 2014 year class, which was large but it is unknown how much of that cohort will survive to market size), increased whale depredation, and other environmental concerns. Looking at last year’s grim projections for GOA pollock and cod, sablefish stood out as a bright spot with a preliminary TAC up 4,500 mt from 11,500 mt to a potential 16,200 mt in 2019. But another difficulty reaching that potential is the fact that only about 75 percent of this year’s TAC has been caught so far, and the season closes in a few weeks. Industry members are predicting 20-25 percent of the TAC will be left in the water this year, a situation that will add support for keeping next year’s TAC steady, with no increase for 2019. Unlike most other species in the Gulf, sablefish appeared not to be hurt by the warm ocean environment in 2014-16. They experienced a large year class in 2014. But overall population trends had been down in recent years. The spawning stock biomass is also trending downward, as is recruitment. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1120376/Preliminary-Sablefish-TACs-Dont-Necessarily-Mean-High-Quotas-for-2019 National Commerce Department Announces Appointments to 3 Regional Fishery Management Councils The Secretary announced the appointment of members to three regional fishery management councils NOAA Fisheries - October 12, 2018 The U.S. Commerce Department today announced the reappointment of one and appointment of two new members to three regional fishery management councils. The new members will fill at-large seats that were recently vacated on the Western Pacific and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils. These seats became vacant in July 2018. The new members will serve through August 10, 2020. For the Pacific Fishery Management Council, the tribal member will fill an obligatory seat that was made vacant after the expiration of the term on August 11, 2018. The reappointed member will serve through August 10, 2021. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/commerce-department-announces-appointments-3-regional-fishery-management-councils International Russian seafood market faces challenge of generational taste shift Seafood Source by Ivan Stupachenko - October 17, 2018 A new survey on Russian seafood consumption has outlined the challenges facing suppliers of the domestic market. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/supply-trade/russian-seafood-market-faces-challenge-of-generational-taste-shift Norway and Russia Reduce 2019 Barents Sea Cod Quota to 725,000 tons, a 7% Decrease over 2018 SEAFOODNEWS.COM by John Sackton - October 18, 2018 Norway and Russia, which jointly manage stocks in the Barents Sea, announced a 7% reduction in the cod quota for 2019. The TAC will be 725,000 tons. The quota is split equally between both countries. This is a 7% reduction from the 780,000 tons of quota in 2018. "After another round of constructive and good fisheries negotiations with Russia, I am pleased that we have reached an agreement for 2019, which means we can still harvest sustainably from our common fisheries resources in the Barents Sea," said Fisheries Minister Harald T. Nesvik. The haddock quota is also down to 172,000 tons, from just over 200,000 tons in 2018. Capelin catches will be suspended, as surveys showed a continued decline in capelin availability. In 2018, 205,000 tons of capelin were caught. The decline in cod stocks is thought be some to be connected with the continued reductions in capelin. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1120270/Norway-and-Russia-Reduce-2019-Barents-Sea-Cod-Quota-to-725000-tons-a-7-percent-Decrease-over-2018 Environment/Science 'Son of the blob': Unseasonably warm weather creating new anomaly off B.C. coast 'It just begs the question of how much of this is linked to climate change' CBC News by Liam Britten - October 18, 2018 The blob is back. A meteorologist says unseasonable conditions in B.C. are likely once again causing a large area of the Pacific Ocean to heat up, emulating a phenomenon from past years called the "blob." https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/blob-pacific-ocean-bc-1.4867674 Labeling and Marketing Update on ASMI programs set for Oct. 29-31 Cordova Times - October 18, 2018 An update on domestic and international marketing programs of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute at its annual All Hands meeting is set for Oct. 29-31 at the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage. https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2018/10/18/update-on-asmi-programs-set-for-oct-29-31/ Federal Register Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Pacific Halibut and Sablefish Individual Fishing Quota Program; Community Development Quota Program; Modifications to Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 10/18/2018 NMFS issues a final rule that modifies regulations governing the Halibut and Sablefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program. This rule includes three actions. The first action allows Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) groups to lease (to receive by transfer) halibut IFQ in IFQ regulatory areas 4B, 4C, and 4D in years of extremely low halibut commercial catch limits. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/10/18/2018-22687/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-pacific-halibut-and-sablefish-individual-fishing FYI’s More evidence shows seafood may help you stay healthier as you age Eating fish may improve not just longevity, but the quality of life in old age. TODAY by A. Pawlowski - October 18, 2018 There’s a difference between living a long life and living a long healthy life — not just surviving, but thriving in old age without any major illness or disability. https://www.today.com/health/fish-seafood-provides-omega-3-healthy-aging-longevity-t140000 Sea Lion Shuttle Service Not A Substitute For Lethal Removal At Willamette Falls OPB by Cassandra Profita - October 16, 2018 Wildlife managers have asked for permission to kill sea lions at Willamette Falls to save threatened fish. Their attempt to relocate the animals have not solved the problem. https://www.opb.org/news/article/sea-lions-steelhead-willamette-falls-oregon-coast/
Ann Owens Pacific Seafood Processors Association Office Manager 1900 W Emerson Place Suite 205, Seattle, WA 98119 Phone: 206.281.1667 E-mail: pspafish@gmail.com; Website: www.pspafish.net Our office days/hours are Monday-Friday 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. *Inclusion of a news article, report, or other document in this email does not imply PSPA support or endorsement of the information or opinion expressed in the document.