Alaska/Pacific Coast
Council approves tighter halibut charter rules for 2020 Alaska Journal of Commerce by Elizabeth Earl - February 5, 2020 A tough season may be ahead for the halibut charter fleet in Southcentral and Southeast Alaska as managers look to reduce the overall catch of Pacific halibut. https://www.alaskajournal.com/2020-02-05/council-approves-tighter-halibut-charter-rules-2020 King crab and closures: Alaska proposes $1 million in commercial fisheries cuts National Fisherman by Laine Welch - February 4, 2020 Alaska’s commercial fisheries division operates on a nearly $67 million budget, of which $36 million comes from state general funds. Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposed budget for FY2021 calls for a nearly $1 million reduction. https://www.nationalfisherman.com/alaska/king-crab-and-closures-alaska-proposes-1-million-in-commercial-fisheries-cuts/ International New survey shows little consumer preference between farmed and wild seafood Seafood Source by Jason Holland - February 4, 2020 More than half of seafood consumers in key markets don’t have a preference between wild and farmed fish, but they do want products that take a responsible approach to protecting both planet and people, a new survey conducted on behalf of the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) found. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/environment-sustainability/new-survey-shows-little-consumer-preference-between-farmed-and-wild-seafood Environment/Science NOAA Releases Ecosystem Status Reports Fishermen's News - February 5, 2020 NOAA Fisheries has released its 2019 ecosystem status reports for the Gulf of Alaska and the Eastern Bering Sea, citing unusually warm conditions for the past year and predicting more of the same. http://fnonlinenews.blogspot.com/2020/02/noaa-releases-ecosystem-status-reports.html Federal Register North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting A Notice by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 02/05/2020 The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Scallop Plan Team will meet on February 19, 2020, in Kodiak, AK. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/02/05/2020-02165/north-pacific-fishery-management-council-public-meeting Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Modifying Seasonal Allocations of Pollock and Pacific Cod for Trawl Catcher Vessels in the Central and Western Gulf of Alaska A Proposed Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 02/06/2020 The North Pacific Fishery Management Council submitted Amendment 109 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA FMP) to the Secretary of Commerce for review. If approved, Amendment 109 would reduce operational and management inefficiencies in the Central Gulf of Alaska and Western Gulf of Alaska trawl catcher vessel Pacific cod fisheries by changing seasonal Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod apportionments to allow greater harvest opportunities earlier in the year. Amendment 109 is necessary to provide participants in the fisheries an opportunity to more fully harvest the total allowable catch of Pacific cod, increase management flexibility, and potentially decrease prohibited species catch while not redistributing fishing opportunities between management areas or harvesting sectors. Amendment 109 is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the GOA FMP, and other applicable laws. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/02/06/2020-02372/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-modifying-seasonal-allocations-of-pollock-and Pacific Halibut Fisheries; Catch Sharing Plan A Proposed Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 02/06/2020 NMFS proposes to approve changes to the Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan for the International Pacific Halibut Commission's regulatory Area 2A off Washington, Oregon, and California. In addition, NMFS proposes to implement the portions of the Plan and management measures that are not implemented through the International Pacific Halibut Commission. These measures include the recreational fishery seasons and allocations and management measures for Area 2A. These actions are intended to conserve Pacific halibut and provide angler opportunity where available. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/02/06/2020-02229/pacific-halibut-fisheries-catch-sharing-plan
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.