Alaska/Pacific Coast
MSC suspends certification of GOA Pacific cod Fishery meets criteria to remain certified under ASMI’s RFM program Cordova Times by Margaret Bauman - March 18, 2020 Marine Stewardship Council officials have suspended their certification of Pacific cod stocks in the Gulf of Alaska region effective April 5 due to depressed stocks in the Gulf caused by a marine heat wave. https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2020/03/18/msc-suspends-certification-of-goa-pacific-cod/ FISH FACTOR: More non-seafood ‘seafood’ proliferates in market Alaska Journal of Commerce by Laine Welch - March 18, 2020 Genetically tweaked salmon that grows three times faster than normal fish…fillets grown in labs from fish cells…now plant-based seafoods such as “vegan shrimp,” or “Toona” are gaining footholds in the marketplace — and confusing customers. https://www.alaskajournal.com/2020-03-18/fish-factor-more-non-seafood-%E2%80%98seafood%E2%80%99-proliferates-market Trident Seafoods Restricts Access To Largest Plant In North America KUCB by Caroline Lester - March 18, 2020 Trident Seafoods has restricted access between its Akutan plant and the local town in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus. https://www.kucb.org/post/trident-seafoods-restricts-access-largest-plant-north-america Strange weather in Bering Sea slows boats Bristol Bay Times by Jim Paulin - March 19, 2020 Strange weather in the Bering Sea, both near shore and way offshore, has prolonged two commercial fishing seasons, small boat state water pot cod and big boat distant waters snow crab. http://www.thedutchharborfisherman.com/article/2012strange_weather_in_bering_sea_slows_boats Politics Senator calls Pebble Mine a threat to Pacific salmon Seafood Source by Brian Hagenbuch - March 16, 2020 Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) called the proposed Pebble Mine in Alaska “a major threat to Pacific salmon” at a hearing in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, 11 March. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/business-finance/senator-calls-pebble-mine-a-threat-to-pacific-salmon International Seawatch: Seafood industry feels impact from coronavirus Homer News by Cristy Fry - March 19, 2020 As the global pandemic of the novel coronavirus disrupts all sorts of industries around the world, the seafood industry is already feeling the impact. https://www.homernews.com/news/seawatch-seafood-industry-feels-impact-from-coronavirus/ Federal Register Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings A Notice by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 03/18/2020 The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) and its advisory entities will hold public meetings. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/03/18/2020-05618/pacific-fishery-management-council-public-meetings Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 03/18/2020 NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2020 total allowable catch of pollock in the West Yakutat District of the GOA. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/03/18/2020-05597/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-pollock-in-the-west-yakutat-district-of-the-gulf Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Area 610 in the Gulf of Alaska A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 03/18/2020 NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 610 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the B season allowance of the 2020 total allowable catch of pollock for Statistical Area 610 in the GOA. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/03/18/2020-05598/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-pollock-in-statistical-area-610-in-the-gulf-of FYI’s PUBLIC ENCOURAGED TO UTILIZE ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME ONLINE RESOURCES ADF&G - March 17, 2020 The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is encouraging the public to practice social distancing methods by calling ADF&G staff and/or using online resources for fishery registrations, permitting, and other commercial fishery inquiries rather than visiting ADF&G offices in person. This is in an effort to minimize the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19). https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/fishing/pdfs/commercial/online_resources_AA_2020.03.17.pdf
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