Alaska/Pacific Coast
Chignik fishermen applaud Board of Fish changes to Cape Igvak plan KDLG by Isabelle Ross - January 21, 2020 In a major change, the board voted to halve Kodiak's allocation of Chignik sockeye in Cape Igvak, shortened fishing time, and doubled the minimum harvest required to open fishing in the Igvak section. https://www.kdlg.org/post/chignik-fishermen-applaud-board-fish-changes-cape-igvak-plan International Stock abundance on the rise UW led study concludes fisheries abundance is increasing in many places Cordova Times by Margaret Bauman - January 22, 2020 Results of a newly released project led by the University of Washington says that thanks to effective management nearly half of the fish caught worldwide are at sustainable levels or successfully rebuilding. https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2020/01/22/stock-abundance-on-the-rise/ Alaska pollock industry officials travel to China to meet seafood importers SeafoodSource by Ben Fisher - January 22, 2020 A group of Alaskan pollock industry officials, in China for a 10-day trade visit to explore opportunities in the country, met with senior U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service officials at the United States’ Embassy in Beijing last week. The tour, sponsored in large part by a grant from the Emerging Market Department of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service, also included stops in Qingdao and Shanghai. “We were honored to have concluded our trip with a visit to the U.S. embassy to share with agricultural trade leadership the insights we gathered on the importance of this market to Wild Alaska pollock,” GAPP Chief Executive Officer Craig Morris said. “[Agricultural Minister] Counselor [Bobby] Richey and his team spent significant time with our leaders discussing the changing Chinese consumer, seafood consumption, and our desire to build more demand for wild Alaska pollock in the Chinese market, immediately. In meeting after meeting this week we heard passionately from our customers their desire to source wild Alaska pollock because of its superior consistency and quality. We have loyal, excited customers who want our help in growing demand for our fish here in China, and as we told FAS staff, we just have to help level the playing field for them to thrive.” The industry leaders met with customers such as Ding Wei Tai, China’s biggest surimi seafood products producer, and Beiyang Jiamei, one of the country’s biggest seafood importers. China consumes more surimi seafood products than any other country in the world, but at the same time, consumes only a tenth of the per capita amount that Korean and Japanese consumers do. The group of industry representatives discussed how they could introduce Alaskan pollock brands to consumers in the country and build a recognizable brand for the product. “It is hard to overstate the potential for our industry in China,” Morris said. “I know we are all leaving here full of knowledge but more importantly enthusiasm to raise awareness and demand for wild Alaska pollock in China. I’m excited to get home, roll up my sleeves, and look to make headway in that market, today.” https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/supply-trade/alaskan-pollock-industry-officials-travel-to-china-to-meet-seafood-importers Federal Register Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits A Notice by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 01/22/2020 The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an application submitted by the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance to revise an existing Exempted Fishing Permit contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. The revised Exempted Fishing Permit would allow two commercial fishing vessels participating in an electronic monitoring program to fish with benthic longline gear in portions of the Cashes Ledge Closure Area. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this notice to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed Exempted Fishing Permits. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/01/22/2020-00887/magnuson-stevens-act-provisions-general-provisions-for-domestic-fisheries-application-for-exempted FYI’s Coast Guard notes communications dead zones in Southeast KFSK by Joe Viechnicki - January 20, 2020 The U.S. Coast Guard has released a list of communications towers in Alaska that may not be receiving VHF radio broadcasts and is warning mariners to bring back up communications systems. https://www.kfsk.org/2020/01/20/coast-guard-notes-communications-dead-zones-in-southeast/ Alaska Marine Science Symposium Opens Jan. 27 in Anchorage Fishermen's News - January 22, 2020 The annual Alaska Marine Science Symposium, which brings together scientists, educators, resource managers and others, opens Jan. 27, with presentations about the latest research in Alaska’s marine ecosystems. http://fnonlinenews.blogspot.com/2020/01/alaska-marine-science-symposium-opens.html Fishing Vessel Drill Conductor Training Coming to Petersburg, Alaska Fishermen's News - January 22, 2020 Commercial fishermen in Southeast Alaska can learn or refresh their skills in fishing vessel safety with a fishing vessel drill conductor class being offered in Petersburg on Feb. 10 at the Tides Inn. http://fnonlinenews.blogspot.com/2020/01/fishing-vessel-drill-conductor-training.html
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.