Alaska/Pacific Coast
2019 Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program Awards NOAA Fisheries - October 21, 2019 More than $2.3 million will go to partners to support innovative bycatch reduction research projects. NOAA Fisheries has awarded more than $2.3 million to partners around the country to support innovative bycatch reduction research projects through its Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/2019-bycatch-reduction-engineering-program-awards Organizations Push to Boost Grants for Fishing Safety Fishermen's News - October 23, 2019 Instructors with the Alaska Marine Safety Education Association (AMSEA) will provide fishing vessel drill conductor classes from Unalaska to Maine through April 2020, thanks in part to a two-year federal grant totaling $650,000. http://fnonlinenews.blogspot.com/2019/10/organizations-push-to-boost-grants-for.html Bristol Bay red king crab fishery off to a bumpy start Bristol Bay Times by Jim Paulin - October 22, 2019 The Bristol Bay red king crab fishery is starting off with an abundance of drama, a near stand-down and tales of a drone scandal, and a paucity of male crab which keep getting bigger and bigger without a baby boom in the water and are the biggest on average in the history of the fishery. http://www.thedutchharborfisherman.com/article/1943bristol_bay_red_king_crab_fishery_off_to_a Ocean Wise Seafood Program keeps on growing Canada.com by Rita DeMontis - October 23, 2019 The Ocean Wise Seafood Program, which began with a single Vancouver restaurant partner in January 2005, now boasts more than 750 partners including retailers, restaurants, and seafood suppliers. https://o.canada.com/life/food/1023ggoceonwise/wcm/8130ff95-2138-4064-99b2-07100ecb7ffc Efforts underway to streamline fisheries disaster relief Alaska Journal of Commerce by Elizabeth Earl - October 23, 2019 With an increasing number of fisheries disaster requests coming from all over the United States, members of Congress and the federal government are looking for ways to improve the relief process. https://www.alaskajournal.com/2019-10-23/efforts-underway-streamline-fisheries-disaster-relief Politics Legislation Calls for Core Salmon Conservation Areas Fishermen's News - October 23, 2019 Legislation before the US House calls for protection of designated salmon conservation areas, to ensure that future federal government actions do not adversely impact these lands. http://fnonlinenews.blogspot.com/2019/10/legislation-calls-for-core-salmon.html Environment/Science Miners vs. fishermen: Alaska’s Pebble Mine risks wild salmon for gold Los Angeles Times by Richard Read, Seattle Bureau Chief - October 23, 2019 ILIAMNA, Alaska — A brown bear loped across rolling green tundra as Charles Weimer set down a light, single-engine helicopter on a remote hilltop. Spooked, the big grizzly vanished into alder thickets above a valley braided with creeks and falls. Weimer’s blue eyes scanned warily for more bears. He warned his passenger, Mike Heatwole, to sit tight as the blades spun to a halt, ruffling red, purple and yellow alpine flowers. https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2019-07-24/pebble-mine-alaska-salmon Board of Fish directs focus toward ocean acidification Arctic Sounder by Laine Welch - October 22, 2019 Risks to Alaska shellfish, salmon will be discussed at upcoming meeting Hundreds of fishery stakeholders and scientists will gather in Anchorage next week as the state Board of Fisheries (BOF) begins its annual meeting cycle with a two-day work session. http://www.thearcticsounder.com/article/1943board_of_fish_directs_focus_toward_ocean FISH FACTOR: Kelp harvest rules under review; salmon summaries roll out Alaska Journal of Commerce by Laine Welch - October 23, 2019 As more Alaskans eye the lucrative opportunities in growing kelp, many others are heading to beaches at Lower Cook Inlet to commercially harvest the detached bunches that wash ashore. That practice is now getting a closer look by state managers and scientists and could result in new regulations by year’s end. https://www.alaskajournal.com/2019-10-23/fish-factor-kelp-harvest-rules-under-review-salmon-summaries-roll-out Federal Register Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; IFQ Program; Modify Medical and Beneficiary Transfer Provisions A Proposed Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 10/24/2019 NMFS proposes regulations to modify the medical and beneficiary transfer provisions of the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program for the fixed-gear commercial Pacific halibut and sablefish fisheries. This proposed rule is intended to simplify administration of the medical and beneficiary transfer provisions while promoting the long-standing objective of maintaining an owner-operated IFQ fishery. This proposed rule would also make minor technical corrections to regulations for improved accuracy and clarity. This proposed rule is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the IFQ Program, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982, and other applicable laws. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/10/24/2019-23028/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-ifq-program-modify-medical-and-beneficiary
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.