Alaska/Pacific Coast
Alaska Fishing Towns Would Forfeit $28M In Fish Taxes Under Dunleavy Budget KUCB by Laura Kraegel & Jacob Resneck - February 18, 2019 Gov. Mike Dunleavy's proposals for balancing the state's budget include a plan to stop sharing millions of dollars in taxes on commercial fishing with coastal communities. https://www.kucb.org/post/alaska-fishing-towns-would-forfeit-28m-fish-taxes-under-dunleavy-budget#stream/0 Restrictions set for Kenai, Kasilof early-run king salmon The Associated Press - February 15, 2019 ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Early-run king salmon in the Kenai River can be caught but not kept this summer. https://vancouversun.com/pmn/news-pmn/restrictions-set-for-kenai-kasilof-early-run-king-salmon/wcm/9f0c191b-94e5-4e8d-a5c3-9958f58291dd Politics Alaska Delegation Leads Bipartisan Support for Young Fishermen's Development Act in New Congress SeafoodNews.com by Peggy Parker - February 19, 2019 Alaska’s Congressional delegation are spearheading a bipartisan effort in Congress to enact the Young Fishermen's Development Act, legislation to benefit the nation’s fishing communities by establishing the first national program to support young men and women entering the commercial fishing industry. Representative Don Young (R-AK), along with Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Jared Golden (D-ME), and Amata Radewagen (R-American Samoa) co-authored HR 1240, the House bill. Senator’s Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Lisa Murkowski (Rllivan-AK), along with Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and SusanCollins (R-ME) introduced the Senate bill, S.496. First introduced in 2017, the Young Fishermen’s Development Act (YFDA) is modeled after the USDA’s successful Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, which is credited with preparing hundreds of young farmers and ranchers for rewarding careers. Young fishermen representing FCC members from every U.S. coast have traveled to Washington, D.C., to urge legislators to support the initiative. The strong show of bipartisan support early in the 116th Congress indicates positive momentum for the initiative, which is backed by the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association (ALFA), a member of the national Fishing Communities Coaltion (FCC). “Ensuring new generations of Alaskans fill the ranks is vitally important to our fishing economy, which employs more in our state than any other industry,” said Senator Sullivan. “I’m excited to again sponsor legislation that will help lower the high barriers to entry with training opportunities, new grants, and an apprenticeship program that will connect seasoned fishermen with determined newcomers.” “Fishing is important not only to Alaskan culture but is central to our rich history. Our legislation is about supporting the livelihoods of fishing communities across the nation by making the next generation aware of the opportunities available in the commercial fishing industry. I’m proud to stand with our young fishermen by introducing this important piece of legislation,” said Representative Young. “Young fishermen face enormous challenges, yet there is currently no federal program to support education and training for the next generation of commercial fishermen,” said Linda Behnken, Executive Director of ALFA. “To excel, the next generation of commercial fishermen must develop a broad range of skills. They must be proficient in navigation, business management, hydraulics, diesel mechanics, fisheries management - and, of course, they need to know how to catch fish! Alaska’s fishing communities are grateful to Congressman Young for introducing and shepherding this important legislation through the House and to Senators Sullivan and Murkowski for their leadership in the Senate.” FCC produced a video “A Future on the Water”, featuring small-boat commercial fishermen who who note how important the YFDA is to the sustainability of the nation’s fishing fleets. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1132532/Alaska-Delegation-Leads-Bipartisan-Support-for-Young-Fishermens-Development-Act-in-New-Congress National FishChoice, Sustainable Fisheries Partnership to cross-list companies disclosing sourcing info Seafood Source by Cliff White - February 8, 2019 A new collaboration between the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership and the environmental nonprofit FishChoice will result in members of its supplier program becoming Ocean Disclosure Project participants. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/environment-sustainability/fishchoice-sustainable-fisheries-partnership-to-cross-list-companies-disclosing-sourcing-info?utm_source=marketo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_content=newsletter&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiWkRrM00yWXpZamMyWmpsayIsInQiOiJ5SUZ2blAyeUlUWmNsbHpaQzNmVXlCMERtQ1lEbktJclwvb2FPblBFYm9pZVE3dnVhdU56REtDQllzWjcwbEVpbmE1Q2lEb1BFT0JVcGJsSzJTckNiUlVIM2l0TUM5bEtqZ0RVMHg3S1M5VnphUW84NjR6STVwWEdHNWtyRHVoVmIifQ%3D%3D Environment/Science B.C. government provides $75,000 towards salmon study Study looks at abundance and health of Pacific salmon in Gulf of Alaska Columbia Valley Pioneer by Nina Grossman - February 17, 2019 The provincial government is putting $75,000 into the first-ever study of Pacific salmon in the Gulf of Alaska. https://www.columbiavalleypioneer.com/news/b-c-government-provides-75000-towards-salmon-study/ FYI’s Oil spills workshop set for Feb. 20-21 The Cordova Times - February 15, 2019 Alaska Sea Grant will host a workshop at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage Feb. 20-21 on learning from environmental spills such as the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil disaster and how to prepare for such incidents in future years. https://thecordovatimes.com/2019/02/15/oil-spills-workshop-set-for-feb-20-21/
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.