Friday, April 18, 2025

Alaska Alaska lawmaker: Controversial reorganization of NOAA threatens management of pollock, cod, other fisheries A shakeup at NOAA has the seafood industry concerned about upcoming trawl surveys and other data needed for commercial openers. Intrafish by Rachel Sapin - April 16, 2025 Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan said Tuesday that he needs more information on why the Trump administration is considering the controversial proposal to transfer the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) fisheries service functions to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. https://www.intrafish.com/fisheries/alaska-lawmaker-controversial-reorganization-of-noaa-threatens-management-of-pollock-cod-other-fisheries/2-1-1808273 Bank of America: 'People are right to feel more optimistic' about upcoming Alaska salmon season There has been a remarkable switch from previous years when buyers could be picky. Intrafish by Rachel Sapin - April 16, 2025 This year's Alaska salmon fishing season appears to be starting off with something the industry hasn't felt for some time: a hint of optimism. https://www.intrafish.com/markets/bank-of-america-people-are-right-to-feel-more-optimistic-about-upcoming-alaska-salmon-season/2-1-1808562 National NOAA prioritizing 2025 research surveys in Gulf of Alaska but can't confirm which ones KMXT by Davis Hovey - April 17, 2025  Amid proposed budget cuts, mass firings and incentives to resign, signals are mixed from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, about its plans to complete its usual fisheries surveys and research in the Gulf of Alaska this summer. https://www.kmxt.org/news/2025-04-17/noaa-prioritizing-2025-research-surveys-in-gulf-of-alaska-but-cant-confirm-which-ones Trump signs executive order aiming to 'restore American seafood competitiveness 'The new order follows a similar one signed in his first administration. Intrafish by Rachel Sapin and Drew Cherry - April 17, 2025 This story is breaking news.US President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order aiming to "restore American seafood competitiveness" by calling for reduced regulatory burdens on fishing and aquaculture and cutting back on "unfair trade practices." https://www.intrafish.com/legal/trump-signs-executive-order-aiming-to-restore-american-seafood-competitiveness/2-1-1808860 NOAA Alaska 2025 research priorities call for doing more with less Cordova Times by Margaret Bauman - April 17, 2025 Researchers at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center – mandated to produce information critical for sustainable management of federal fisheries in Alaska – will be doing more with less in 2025 to produce the data needed by federal fisheries managers.  https://thecordovatimes.com/2025/04/17/noaa-alaska-research-priorities/ Federal Register Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Recreational Fishing for Chinook Salmon in the Cook Inlet Exclusive Economic Zone Area A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 04/17/2025 NMFS is prohibiting recreational fishing for Chinook salmon in the Cook Inlet exclusive economic zone (EEZ) Area. This action is necessary for the conservation of Cook Inlet Chinook salmon stocks that continue to be in a low state of abundance as assessed in the NMFS 2025 stock assessment and fisheries evaluation (SAFE) report and the 2025 State of Alaska forecasts of very low run strength. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/17/2025-06623/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-recreational-fishing-for-chinook-salmon-in-the Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Vessels Using Jig Gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 04/17/2025 NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using jig gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2025 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod by vessels using jig gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/17/2025-06622/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-pacific-cod-by-vessels-using-jig-gear-in-the Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Recreational Fishing for Chinook Salmon in the Cook Inlet Exclusive Economic Zone Area A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 04/17/2025 NMFS is prohibiting recreational fishing for Chinook salmon in the Cook Inlet exclusive economic zone (EEZ) Area. This action is necessary for the conservation of Cook Inlet Chinook salmon stocks that continue to be in a low state of abundance as assessed in the NMFS 2025 stock assessment and fisheries evaluation (SAFE) report and the 2025 State of Alaska forecasts of very low run strength. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/17/2025-06623/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-recreational-fishing-for-chinook-salmon-in-the Fisheries Off West Coast States; Modification of the West Coast Salmon Fisheries; Inseason Action #19 A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 04/17/2025 NMFS announces one inseason action for the 2025 portion of the 2024-2025 ocean salmon fishery season. This inseason action modifies the commercial salmon fisheries in the area from Humbug Mountain, Oregon, to the Oregon/California border. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/17/2025-06584/fisheries-off-west-coast-states-modification-of-the-west-coast-salmon-fisheries-inseason-action-19 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; North Pacific Halibut and Sablefish Individual Fishing Quota Cost Recovery Program A Notice by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 04/18/2025 NMFS is correcting the 2024 Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Cost Recovery Fee Notice. The published ex-vessel fishery value and actual fee percentage were incorrect. The original document was published in the Federal Register on December 26, 2024, and all other information remains unchanged and will not be repeated in this document. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/18/2025-06673/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-north-pacific-halibut-and-sablefish-individual Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Shortraker Rockfish in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 04/18/2025 NMFS is prohibiting retention of shortraker rockfish in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) except by catcher/processors checked-in to the Central GOA Rockfish Program who are fishing with a rockfish cooperative quota permit. This action is necessary because the 2025 total allowable catch of shortraker rockfish for vessels other than these catcher/processors has been reached. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/18/2025-06761/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-shortraker-rockfish-in-the-central-regulatory FYI’sTwo seafood companies among winners of Whole Foods' top suppliers award Winners were recognized for excellence in quality, innovation, value, reliability and sustainability. Intrafish by John Fiorillo - April 17, 2025 Two seafood companies are among 16 food suppliers named as recipients of Whole Foods Market’s 2024 Supplier All-Star Awards, which recognize brands for excellence in quality, innovation, value, reliability and sustainability. https://www.intrafish.com/markets/two-seafood-companies-among-winners-of-whole-foods-top-suppliers-award/2-1-1808845

Pacific Seafood Processors Association 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-Friday8:00 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.