Alaska
Residents vow to keep COVID-19 out of Bristol Bay Governor asked to consider closing down 2020 salmon fishery in bay Cordova Times by Margaret Bauman - April 10, 2020 Bristol Bay residents determined to keep the pandemic at bay have put in place their own COVID-19 health response plan and are asking the state to consider closure of the famed commercial salmon fishery in 2020. https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2020/04/10/residents-vow-to-keep-covid-19-out-of-bristol-bay/ Copper River salmon fishery nears without travel restrictions from Cordova City Council KTUU by Grant Robinson - April 13, 2020 ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - While coastal communities across Alaska grapple with the questions of if and how they should allow commercial fishing and processing operations in their communities this summer, the time table for deciding how to move forward is running short in Cordova. https://www.ktuu.com/content/news/Copper-River-salmon-fishery-nears-without-travel-restriction-from-Cordova-City-Council-569617731.html Unalaska Partners With Fish Processors For Unique Quarantine Facility KUCB by Caroline Lester - April 14, 2020 In Unalaska, fish processors have joined forces with the city to create an isolation and quarantine facility, designed partly to serve the transient fishermen who pass through the town. According to the organizers, this model—a partnership between a city and a private company—might be unique in the country. https://www.kucb.org/post/unalaska-partners-fish-processors-unique-quarantine-facility PWS sablefish fishery begins April 15 The Cordova Times - April 14, 2020 The sablefish fishery for the Prince William Sound will be open April 15 through Aug. 31 in the Inside District only, with a guideline harvest level of 167,000 pounds. https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2020/04/14/pws-sablefish-fishery-begins-april-15/ Alaska trade group provides seafood industry updates on COVID-19 protocols, new benefits for fishermen Anchorage Daily News by Laine Welch - April 14, 2020 How can fishermen be sure their vessels are clean of coronavirus contamination? Where can they find out about relief funds that are newly available for fishermen? https://www.adn.com/business-economy/2020/04/14/alaska-trade-group-provides-seafood-industry-updates-on-covid-19-protocols-new-benefits-for-fishermen/ Environment/Science Hope for the oceans in a time of COVID-19 Environmental Defense Fund by Doug Rader - April 14, 2020 The global COVID-19 pandemic gives us all pause about what the future holds. Our focus and attention are on all those hurt by this terrible disease. But for many of us, this is also a time of deep reflection about society and the world we’ll inhabit when this scourge is over. So for me, it’s also a moment to reflect on the prospects for the ocean, one of the planet’s fundamental life-support systems — making it vital to human health and well-being. http://blogs.edf.org/edfish/2020/04/14/hope-for-the-oceans-in-a-time-of-covid-19/ Federal Register Pacific Halibut Fisheries; Revisions to Catch Sharing Plan and Domestic Management Measures in Alaska A Proposed Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 04/14/2020 NMFS proposes regulations that would implement a “fish up” provision in the halibut and sablefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program to allow Community Quota Entities (CQEs) located in IFQ regulatory Area 3A (Southcentral Alaska) holding category D halibut quota share (QS) (i.e., for use on catcher vessel less than or equal to 35 ft (10.7 m) length overall) to have the associated IFQ harvested on category C vessels (catcher vessels less than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) length overall) beginning August 15 of each IFQ fishing season. This action would also make a minor change to regulations implementing the IFQ Program to consolidate temporary IFQ transfer forms. This proposed rule is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 and other applicable laws. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/04/14/2020-07097/pacific-halibut-fisheries-revisions-to-catch-sharing-plan-and-domestic-management-measures-in-alaska
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