Politics
At election forum, Bristol Bay candidates face questions about borough policies KDLG by Isabelle Ross - October 29, 2019 Bristol Bay Borough is heading to the polls for its local general election on November 5. Students from the Bristol Bay Borough School District hosted an election forum on Monday, featuring the three candidates running for two open seats on the borough assembly. Both seats are three-year terms. Pete Caruso and Shelby Boothe are up for re-election. Gene Sanderson is a newcomer to borough politics. https://www.kdlg.org/post/election-forum-bristol-bay-candidates-face-questions-about-borough-policies#stream/0 International International expedition answers troubling questions about B.C. salmon runs The ocean is changing, but not to the benefit of sockeye, coho and chinook. Vancouver Sun by Randy Shore - October 30, 2019 Buried in the doom-and-gloom headlines about depleted salmon stocks and disastrous spawning returns is this nugget of truth: There are more salmon in the Pacific Ocean than at any time since 1925. https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/international-expedition-answers-troubling-questions-about-b-c-salmon-runs Environment/Science Can crab and fish in Alaska adapt to more acidic oceans? Scientists aim to find out. KFSK by Joe Viechnicki - October 31, 2019 Researchers are looking for ways that crab and fish in Alaska may be able to adapt to more acidic ocean water. With carbon dioxide levels rising on the planet, ocean water absorbs some of that CO2 and water becomes more acidic. That change is already impacting a variety of sea creatures. https://www.alaskapublic.org/2019/10/31/can-crab-and-fish-in-alaska-adapt-to-more-acidic-oceans-scientists-aim-to-find-out/ Federal Register Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Proposed Rule To Designate Critical Habitat for the Central America, Mexico, and Western North Pacific Distinct Population Segments of Humpback Whales and Proposed Rule To Revise Critical Habitat for the Southern Resident Killer Whale Distinct Population Segment, Public Hearings A Proposed Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 10/17/2019 We, NMFS, will hold five public hearings related to our proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the Western North Pacific distinct population segment (DPS), the Central America DPS, and the Mexico DPS of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We will also hold three public hearings related to our proposed rule to revise the critical habitat designation for the Southern Resident killer whale DPS (Orcinus orca) under the ESA. Three of the public hearings will be joint hearings that address both of these proposed rules. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/10/17/2019-22445/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-proposed-rule-to-designate-critical-habitat-for-the FYI’s Cordova Chronicles: The legacy of a 60-year-old boat Cordova Times by Dick Shellhorn - October 25, 2019 Wandering about today’s Cordova boat harbor, one would be hard pressed to find a wooden craft. The growth of the gillnet and seine fleet is astonishing in both size and efficiency, and 99 percent of the boats now in the harbor are either aluminum or fiberglass. https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2019/10/25/cordova-chronicles-the-legacy-of-a-60-year-old-boat/ PFMC: Groundfish Stock Assessment Process Review Webinar to be Held Friday, 12/13/2019 Pacific Fishery Management Council - October 30, 2019 The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council: Participants in the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Pacific Council’s) 2019 groundfish stock assessment process will hold a meeting via webinar to review and evaluate the 2019 stock assessment review (STAR) process. The webinar will be held on Friday, December 13, 2019 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time) or until business for the day has been completed. The goal of the webinar is to solicit process improvements to recommend for future groundfish stock assessments and STAR panel reviews. Process recommendations will be provided to the Pacific Council at their March 2020 meeting in Rohnert Park, California. https://www.savingseafood.org/news/council-actions/pfmc-groundfish-stock-assessment-process-review-webinar-to-be-held-friday-12-13-2019/ Fishermen Want Coast Guard Communications Channel Fixed Fishermen's News - October 30, 2019 Commercial fishermen in Southeast Alaska say there is a critical breakdown in reliability of the Coast Guard channel they rely upon for updated weather reports and mayday calls, and they want it fixed. http://fnonlinenews.blogspot.com/2019/10/fishermen-want-coast-guard.html 2019 November Council Coordination Committee Meeting NOAA Fisheries - November 1, 2019 The Council Coordination Committee meets twice each year to discuss issues relevant to all councils, including issues related to the implementation of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/event/2019-november-council-coordination-committee-meeting Associate Member News The following press release was provided by an associate member. From time to time our associate members ask us to publish press releases, and we are happy to accommodate these requests. An exciting display of advanced fish processing technology in Seattle Marel will host Demo Days at its Pier 91 facility in Seattle, Washington, 20-22 November 2019. Marel - October 28, 2019 This open-house event for fish processors features demonstrations of the latest technology from Marel. A wide range of equipment and software will be on display including filleting, pinboning, portion cutting, slicing, grading, batching, end-of-line and key technology solutions. https://marel.com/articles/an-exciting-display-of-advanced-fish-processing-technology-in-seattle/
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.