Alaska
Alaska Air confusion complicates early season for traveling fishermen KDLG News by Sage Smiley - June 27, 2020 When Ravn PenAir filed for bankruptcy in early April, rural communities across Alaska were left with cuts in service. Bristol Bay was left with no commercial service at all. http://www.thebristolbaytimes.com/article/2026alaska_air_confusion_complicates_early_season CRS opens Anchorage cold storage facility Blake: The bottom line is to create jobs in Alaska and keep them in Alaska Cordova Times by Margaret Bauman - June 28, 2020 From its early days in Cordova as a new seafood processing company bent marketing their oil-rich salmon to the world, the goal of Copper River Seafoods has been to create as much local economic opportunity as possible. https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2020/06/28/crs-opens-anchorage-cold-storage-facility/ Koplin: Amidst the crisis, Alaska’s world-class fisheries remain strong, healthy and sustainable Cordova Times by Clay Koplin - June 29, 2020 Sustainable salmon runs are the lifeblood of communities across Alaska. More than 50 years ago, Alaska’s nonprofit hatcheries set out to preserve and protect our salmon runs and keep them strong, healthy and sustainable for generations to come. By partnering with local fishermen, communities and state agencies, we’ve enhanced returns for all users — all while ensuring wild stocks remain strong. https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2020/06/29/koplin-amidst-the-crisis-alaskas-world-class-fisheries-remain-strong-healthy-and-sustainable/ Fish Factor: COVID-19 derailed relief payments for cod crash Cordova Times by Laine Welch - June 29, 2020 Unexpected upheavals stemming from the coronavirus have slowed the process of getting relief payments into the hands of fishermen and communities hurt by the 2018 Gulf of Alaska cod crash. https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2020/06/29/fish-factor-covid-19-derailed-relief-payments-for-cod-crash/ International Russian Pollock Producers May Significantly Strengthen Their Positions in Domestic Market This Year SeafoodNews.com by Eugene Gerden - June 30, 2020 Russian pollock producers may significantly strengthen their positions in the domestic market this year due to expected reduction of supplies of some imported fish species, according to recent statements, made by representatives of some Russian fish industry associations and local analysts. As German Zverev, head of the Russian Association of Fish Producers (VARPE) told in an interview with the Far East business portal Tvoy Dalny Vostok, due to the pandemic, the volume of production of tilapia and pangasius (and products from them) at fish factories in Southeast Asia has significantly declined. According to his estimates, that may lead to the reduction of imports of these fish species to Russia in the equivalent of 40,000 tonnes. That may provide an opportunity to Russian pollock producers to replace these fish imports by their own supplies. As Zverev also added, these fish species, which are primarily supplied to Russia from China and Vietnam, are direct competitors to Russian pollock, which means that this gap can be filled by Russian fish producers and processors. Local analysts believe Russian pollock processors have all the needed conditions for implementation of these plans. That will be also due to the recent commissioning of at least 5 new large-scale fish processing plants in the last 2 years in the Russian Sakhalin and Kamchatka regions, which focus on the production of pollock fillets. According to experts, the increase of supplies to the domestic market will allow both Russian pollock producers and processors to compensate at least part of their losses, associated with the pandemic and associated with it quarantine measures. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1174850/Russian-Pollock-Producers-May-Significantly-Strengthen-Their-Positions-in-Domestic-Market-This-Year Environment/Science Scientists still aren’t sure what’s killing hundreds of gray whales along the West Coast Alaska Public Media by Kavitha George - June 27, 2020 A gray whale stranded in Twentymile River near Girdwood over Memorial Day weekend was reported dead in Cook Inlet earlier this month. The young male whale was first spotted by boaters a mile upstream from the Seward Highway bridge on May 25. https://www.ktoo.org/2020/06/27/scientists-still-arent-sure-whats-killing-hundreds-of-gray-whales-along-the-west-coast/ FYI’s Department of Commerce Announces 2020 Appointments to the Regional Fishery Management Councils NOAA Fisheries - June 22, 2020 The U.S. Department of Commerce today announced the appointment of 22 members to the regional fishery management councils that partner with NOAA Fisheries to manage marine fishery resources. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/department-commerce-announces-2020-appointments-regional-fishery-management-councils IPHC Media Release 2020-016 Pacific Halibut Sales In 2020 - Seeking Interested Buyers IPHC - June 25, 2020 SEATTLE - The International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) will be selling Pacific halibut caught and sampled during its Fishery-Independent Setline Survey (FISS) to offset costs associated with conducting the FISS, in accordance with the Convention between Canada and the United States of America. Interested buyers are requested to submit the attached form indicating their interest to be notified and to receive a request for tender when these sales are being made in select ports. https://www.iphc.int/library/documents/post/iphc-media-release-2020-016-pacific-halibut-sales-in-2020-seeking-interested-buyers
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