Alaska/Pacific Coast
An international airplane feud could crimp one of Alaska’s most lucrative fisheries KTOO by Nat Herz - May 1, 2019 A new twist in a decade-long trade war over airplanes could crimp one of Alaska’s most lucrative fisheries: The European Union is threatening new import taxes on Alaska pollock. https://www.ktoo.org/2019/05/01/an-international-airplane-feud-could-crimp-one-of-alaskas-most-lucrative-fisheries/ Emerging mariculture industry seeks to streamline permitting Alaska Journal of Commerce by Elizabeth Earl - May 1, 2019 Alaska may be famous for its wild fish, but some are working to make room in the state’s waters for more shellfish, kelp and crabs on aquatic farms. http://www.alaskajournal.com/2019-05-01/emerging-mariculture-industry-seeks-streamline-permitting Politics Alaska Congressman Don Young Introduces ‘Keep Fin Fish Free Act,’ Groups Applaud Bill Urner Barry by Amanda Buckle - May 3, 2019 On Thursday Alaska Congressman Don Young introduced the “Keep Fin Fish Free Act,” legislation that prohibits the Secretary of Interior and the Secretary of Commerce from authorizing commercial finfish aquaculture operations in the Federal Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) unless specifically authorized by Congress. The new bill is being applauded by a broad range of groups. “The seafood industry is critical to Alaska’s economy, and we must be doing all we can to protect the health and integrity of our state’s wild fish stock,” Congressman Young said. “If not properly managed, industrial aquaculture operations threaten Alaska’s unique ecosystem with non-native and genetically modified fish species. My legislation takes needed steps to prevent the unchecked spread of aquaculture operations by reigning in the federal bureaucracy, and empowering Congress to determine where new aquaculture projects should be conducted. It’s up to us to ensure that our oceans are healthy and pristine, and I urge my friends on both sides of the aisle to join me in this important effort.” A number of organizations are backing Congressman Young. You can read their statements below: Noah Oppenheim, Executive Director of Institute for Fisheries Resources: “The United States is simply not prepared to manage offshore net pen fin fish aquaculture in the Exclusive Economic Zone. Without the relevant legal mandates and adequate environmental and economic scoping, Interior and Commerce are managing offshore fish farms in a legal gray area, enabling significant harm to wild capture fisheries and West Coast fishing communities. Thank you Congressman Young for introducing this sensible bill." Shannon Eldredge, Board President for the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance: "Factory farms have no place in the ocean or on land. NAMA supports the Keep Fin Fish Free Act because raising fish in massive cages in federal waters is completely against the public interest and will not solve our food system crisis. These large-scale operations are toxic and harmful to human health, the environment and our fishing industry." Wenonah Haunter, Executive Director of Food & Water Watch: "We cannot allow massive factory fish farms into federal waters, but we know that agribusiness giants are working hard to do just that. This bill would protect our federal waters from factory fish farms and make sure that our public ocean resources are not given away to another polluting industry." Cynthia Sarthou, Executive Director of Healthy Gulf: "Factory fish farms threaten our food security and the health of our oceans. The environmental risks are almost too numerous to mention: disease transfer to wild fish, more antibiotics in our waterways, the depletion of important forage fish species, increased nutrient pollution in areas already prone to algae blooms, and more. Industrial fish farming is also an inefficient practice that produces expensive and poor-quality fish. It replaces fisherman-owned small businesses with capital-intensive corporations. If we instead focus on taking care of our oceans, we can continue to enjoy one of nature's last renewable and abundant sources of food: wild fish." George Naylor, Former President of the National Family Farm Coalition: "I've been growing soybeans in Iowa for 42 years. Agribusinesses claim that aquaculture will increase demand for soybeans which will boost prices and, thus, be good for family farmers. The truth is family farmers are stuck in a system where global supply will always outstrip demand. Soybeans from around the world are already used to feed hogs, cattle, and chickens in unsustainable factory farms. It would be a shame to add fish to this unhappy picture." Marianne Cufone, Executive Director of the Recirculating Farms Coalition: "Globally, marine water fin fish aquaculture is associated with too many problems. That is why more than ten years ago, Congress rejected multiple bills to permit this industry in U.S. waters. Responsible fin fish farming has moved out of the ocean, to better protect wildlife, habitat, and coastal communities. It makes no sense that our current administration keeps trying to develop the industry under laws not meant to regulate aquaculture. More sustainable alternatives, like land-based recirculating fish farms, are the smart path forward, if the U.S. wants to supplement wild caught seafood. This bill sends an important message." Hallie Templeton, Senior Oceans Campaigner with Friends of the Earth: "This legislation will help protect our oceans and communities from industrial ocean fish farming. NOAA is pushing to permit this disastrous industry at the expense of the environment and coastal communities, and has no authority to do so. We applaud Congressman Young for fighting against floating factory farms and protecting our waterways and wild fish stocks." https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1140280/Alaska-Congressman-Don-Young-Introduces-Keep-Fin-Fish-Free-Act-Groups-Applaud-Bill National Selling more seafood: Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee floats idea of national seafood marketing effort for US Seafood Source by Chris Chase - May 2, 2019 Over 30 years ago, in 1986, the U.S. Fish and Seafood Promotion Act was enacted to do exactly what its title implies: Promote the consumption of the country's domestically harvested seafood by establishing Seafood Marketing Councils. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/supply-trade/selling-more-seafood-marine-fisheries-advisory-committee-floats-idea-of-national-seafood-marketing-effort Federal Register North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting A Notice by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 05/03/2019 The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Fishery Monitoring Advisory Committee will meet May 20, 2019 through May 21, 2019. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/05/03/2019-09070/north-pacific-fishery-management-council-public-meeting FYI’s New book packed with history of Southeast salmon canneries KFSK by Joe Viechnicki - April 29, 2019 Around a century and a half of history told through the ups and downs of the salmon canning industry in Southeast Alaska is the focus of a new book due to be released in May. https://www.kfsk.org/2019/04/29/new-book-packed-with-history-of-southeast-salmon-canneries/
Ann Owens Pacific Seafood Processors Association Office Manager 1900 W Emerson Place Suite 205, Seattle, WA 98119 Phone: 206.281.1667 E-mail: admin@pspafish.net; 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.