Alaska Trident Seafoods completes sale of Petersburg facility to EC Phillips & Son Seafood Source by Cliff White - April 4, 2024 Ketchikan, Alaska, U.S.A.-based E.C. Phillips & Son has completed its purchase of a processing plant, bunkhouse, galley, and two housing units in Petersburg, Alaska, previously owned by Trident Seafoods. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/processing-equipment/trident-seafoods-completes-sale-of-petersburg-facility-to-ec-phillips-son Aboard the Oscar Dyson, NOAA to pursue new research near Kodiak KMXT by Brian Venua - April 3, 2024 The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research vessel Oscar Dyson left its homeport in Kodiak on April 1. The boat mostly provides insight into Alaska’s fish populations, from the Gulf of Alaska to the Bering Sea. https://kmxt.org/2024/04/aboard-the-oscar-dyson-noaa-to-pursue-new-research-near-kodiak/ ADF&G Announces 2024 Southeast Alaska Chinook Salmon All-Gear Catch Limit Alaska Native News by ADF&G Press Release - April 4, 2024(Anchorage) – Under the management provisions of the Pacific Salmon Treaty (treaty), the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) announced last week that the preseason all-gear catch limit for Southeast Alaska (SEAK) is 211,400 treaty Chinook salmon for 2024. The ADF&G target will be 207,150 Chinook salmon. This year’s target includes a 2% reduction from the treaty catch limit that will serve as a buffer to avoid exceeding the all-gear limit and payback provisions of the treaty. https://alaska-native-news.com/adfg-announces-2024-southeast-alaska-chinook-salmon-all-gear-catch-limit/73330/ Legislature passed to expand benefits for fishing medical claims National Fishermen - April 3, 2024 Senate Bill 93, which increases the limits on payouts from the Alaska Fisherman’s Fund for commercial fishing illnesses and injuries, passed the Alaska House 39 – 1 on Thursday. The bill, sponsored by the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee, better ensures fishing crew members’ medical costs from fishing related incidents are covered. “I think it’s crucial that we support hard working Alaskans, especially when they’ve become ill or injured on the job and need money from funds that they have…https://www.nationalfisherman.com/alaska/legislature-passed-to-expand-benefits-for-fishing-medical-claims *Requires Subscription Silver Bay Seafoods and Peter Pan Seafood Reach Deal For Valdez Plant Urner Barry by Amanda Buckle - April 5, 2024 After months of talks, Silver Bay Seafoods and Peter Pan Seafood have finally come to an agreement. The companies announced in a joint press on Thursday that Silver Bay will acquire Peter Pan’s Valdez processing plant. In addition, Silver Bay will also operate Peter Pan’s facilities in Port Moller and Dillingham for the upcoming salmon season.Peter Pan’s Valdez plant, which operates from April through September, is the only fresh/frozen/cannery operation in the area. The operation employs 350 workers who process salmon, as well as halibut and black cod. The Port Moller facility will begin operating in May and is open through September. That facility, which during peak production employs a crew of 140, is a remote salmon processing (freezing) plant that primarily processes sockeye, but also produces small amounts of king, coho and chum salmon. The Dillingham plant is Peter Pan’s oldest facility and operates April through August, producing a variety of fresh and frozen salmon products. That facility employs approximately 320 people.“Peter Pan’s decision to pursue selling the Valdez plant and combine Alaska operations with Silver Bay came from our commitment to put our fleets, employees and communities first,” said Peter Pan Chief Operating Officer Travis Roenfanz. “When there are inefficiencies in this industry, it affects the livelihoods of our fleet, and we have a responsibility to maintain those livelihoods. We’re excited about this acquisition and what it will do for this fishery.”For Peter Pan, the deal with Silver Bay comes a few months after the company made a tough decision to close its King Cove plant for the winter cod, whitefish and crab fisheries. The facility is Peter Pan’s largest processing plant in Alaska. Rodger May, one of the company’s owners, told the Northern Journal at the time that the decision was a difficult one. “It’s just a devastating time for the industry…You can’t keep on going to work producing product and selling it at a loss.”Meanwhile, Silver Bay Seafoods has been on a path of growth over the past few years. In January 2023 the company purchased Seattle-based Orca Bay Foods. Just last month Silver Bay was revealed to be in the final stages of acquiring Trident Seafoods’ Ketchikan processing facility. Some reports say that Silver Bay is also in talks to acquire Trident’s False Pass plant as well. Today Silver Bay has six facilities: False Pass, Naknek, Kodiak, Valdez, Sitka and Craig.“Silver Bay is adapting our operations and thoughtfully advancing our Alaska programs to ensure we continue to bring the most value to our fishermen partners and remain resilient in changing markets,” commented Silver Bay Seafoods President and CEO Cora Campbell. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1275237/Silver-Bay-Seafoods-and-Peter-Pan-Seafood-Reach-Deal-For-Valdez-Plant Federal Register North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting A Notice by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 04/04/2024 The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) is holding three pre-workshop discussion meetings in preparation for the Climate Scenario Workshop. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/04/04/2024-07187/north-pacific-fishery-management-council-public-meeting Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Amendment 113 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program Adjustments A Proposed Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 04/04/2024 The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) submitted to the Secretary of Commerce for review, Amendment 113 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). If approved, Amendment 113 would modify specific provisions of the Central Gulf of Alaska (CGOA) Rockfish Program (RP) to change the season start date, remove the catcher vessel (CV) cooperative holding cap, and revise the processing and harvesting caps implemented in the RP. This action is necessary to provide increased flexibility and efficiency, and better ensure the rockfish species total allowable catch (TAC) is fully harvested and landed in Kodiak while still maintaining the intent of the RP. Amendment 113 is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the FMP, and other applicable laws. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/04/04/2024-07115/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-amendment-113-to-the-fishery-management-plan-for Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Individual Fishing Quotas for Pacific Halibut and Sablefish in the Alaska Fisheries A Notice by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 04/05/2024 The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/04/05/2024-07239/agency-information-collection-activities-submission-to-the-office-of-management-and-budget-omb-for 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 04/05/2024 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 A season allowance of the 2024 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock for Statistical Area 610 in the GOA. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/04/05/2024-07252/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-pollock-in-statistical-area-610-in-the-gulf-of
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