Friday, April 4, 2025

Alaska Internal memo outlines stark impacts of federal downsizing on Alaska regional fishery agency Understaffed federal offices supporting fishing regulators cut even further, as NOAA Fisheries works ‘to keep the lights on’ Alaska Beacon by Hal Bernton - April 3, 2025 The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has long struggled to compete with corporate America to recruit tech workers to maintain the complicated computer systems that track the federal seafood harvests off Alaska. https://alaskabeacon.com/2025/04/03/internal-memo-outlines-stark-impacts-of-federal-downsizing-on-alaska-regional-fishery-agency/ Chinook harvest limit down nearly 40 percent from last year KCAW by Katherine Rose - April 2, 2025 The harvest allocation for king salmon in Southeast Alaska is lower than the region’s commercial trollers expected. https://www.kcaw.org/2025/04/02/chinook-harvest-limit-down-nearly-40-percent-from-last-year/

Five options on the table to curb chum salmon bycatch

KNOM by Ben Townsend - April 3, 2025 

At Tuesday’s Seward Peninsula Subsistence Regional Advisory Council meeting, Chair Louis Green Jr. brought up one issue long on his mind: chum salmon bycatch, or salmon inadvertently caught while fishing for other seafoods like halibut or crab.

https://knom.org/2025/04/03/five-options-on-the-table-to-curb-chum-salmon-bycatch/

National US Democrats, experts lay out impact NOAA cuts are having on commercial fishers"We are losing an entire generation of scientists and leaders" Seafood Source by Nathan Strout - April 3, 2025 In an unofficial hearing hosted by U.S. Democrats on the House Natural Resources Committee, lawmakers and experts laid out how cuts the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump have made to NOAA and seafood-related funding are impacting the nation’s commercial fishers. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/environment-sustainability/democrats-experts-lay-out-impact-of-trump-musk-cuts-at-noaa-fisheries-on-commercial-fishers *Requires Subscription Federal Register Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Cook Inlet; Proposed 2025 Harvest Specifications for Salmon A Proposed Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 04/04/2025 NMFS proposes 2025 harvest specifications for the salmon fishery of the Cook Inlet exclusive economic zone (EEZ) Area. This action is necessary to establish harvest limits for salmon during the 2025 fishing year and to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Salmon Fisheries in the EEZ off Alaska (Salmon FMP). The intended effect of this action is to conserve and manage the salmon resources in Cook Inlet EEZ Area in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/04/2025-05764/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-cook-inlet-proposed-2025-harvest-specifications Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits A Notice by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 04/04/2025 The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) application contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. The EFP would allow a federally permitted fishing vessel to fish outside fishery regulations in support of exempted fishing activities proposed by the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI). Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed EFPs. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/04/2025-05844/magnuson-stevens-act-provisions-general-provisions-for-domestic-fisheries-application-for-exempted Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of Alaska; Final 2025 and 2026 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish; 2025 Rockfish Program Cooperative Allocations A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 04/03/2025 NMFS is providing notification of the Central Gulf of Alaska (GOA) Rockfish Program cooperative allocations that are based on final total allowable catch (TAC) limits in the final rule published on March 18, 2025, implementing the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications and prohibited species catch (PSC) limits for the groundfish fishery of the GOA. These allocations are necessary to provide the Rockfish Program cooperative amounts for 2025, thus allowing commercial fishermen to maximize their economic opportunities in this fishery, consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the GOA (FMP). https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/03/2025-05740/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-gulf-of-alaska-final-2025-and-2026-harvest Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Area 620 in the Gulf of Alaska A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 04/03/2025 NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 620 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2025 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock for Statistical Area 620 in the GOA. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/03/2025-05739/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-pollock-in-statistical-area-620-in-the-gulf-of Press Release Press Release: Murkowski, Kaine Introduce Legislation to Bolster Commercial Fishing Industry Murkowski.senate.gov - April 3, 2025 Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Tim Kaine (D-VA), introduced legislation vital to the fishing industry, the economy, and the food supply chain. The Save Our Seafood (SOS) Act would exempt fish processors from the H-2B visa caps in order to help the seafood industry meet workforce demands. https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-kaine-introduce-legislation-to-bolster-commercial-fishing-industry Press Release: Coast Guard commissions Coast Guard Cutter John Witherspoon (WPC 1158) in Kodiak, Alaska USCG News - District 17 Public Affairs - April 3, 2025 KODIAK, Alaska — The Coast Guard commissioned its newest cutter, Coast Guard Cutter John Witherspoon (WPC 1158) for official entry into its service fleet during a ceremony held in Kodiak, Thursday. https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4145482/coast-guard-commissions-coast-guard-cutter-john-witherspoon-wpc-1158-in-kodiak/

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