Alaska PWS Economic Development District convenes group to discuss processing solutions The Cordova Times by Kinsey Brown - August 15, 2024 The Prince William Sound Economic Development District (PWSEDD) convened a group of community stakeholders on July 30 to discuss the possibility of creating a multi-use cold storage facility. The facility could alleviate some of the struggles faced by commercial food producers in Cordova by providing space for processing, packaging, and storing seafood products and more. The discussion was facilitated by Alaska based consultants McKinley Research Group. https://thecordovatimes.com/2024/08/15/pws-economic-development-district-convenes-group-to-discuss-processing-solutions/ Prince William Sound salmon catch hits 8.7m despite statewide pink salmon decline National Fisherman by Carli Stewart - August 14, 2024 The commercial salmon catch in Prince William Sound (PWS) has increased to 8.7 million fish overall. Cordova biologists compiled the most recent harvest data from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), showing increased harvest. At the same time, the statewide deliveries to processors climbed to 64.5 million salmon. The PWS management area includes all coastal waters and inland drainages entering the Gulf of Alaska between Cape Suckling and Cape Fairfield. The complex coastline in the… https://www.nationalfisherman.com/salmon-catch-hits-8-7-million-statewide-pink-decline * Requires Subscription NOAA and State of Alaska Release Summary Report for Aquaculture Opportunity Area Spatial Planning Workshops Summary report presents key outputs from a two-part workshop series focused on Aquaculture Opportunity Area spatial planning in Alaska state waters. NOAA Fisheries - August 14, 2024 NOAA and the State of Alaska released the Summary Report for the Alaska Aquaculture Opportunity Area Spatial Planning Workshops. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/noaa-and-state-alaska-release-summary-report-aquaculture-opportunity-area-spatial Alaska Salmon Season Shaping Up to Be Worst in Several Decades SeafoodNews.com by Peggy Parker - August 15, 2024 The most recent cumulative state landings on Alaska salmon show 83.9 million salmon harvested, compared to a preseason forecasted annual harvest of 135.7 million. Looking at the calendar -- there are only a few weeks left in the season -- and following the catch trajectory, 2024 could be the lowest salmon catch on record since 1988, when annual landings reached 100 million salmon.The bulk of current landings are made up of 40.5 million sockeye and 29.6 million pink salmon. Sockeye landings dovetail almost exactly with forecasts of 39.5 million. Statewide pink salmon landings, however, are far from the 69 million forecasted earlier this year.Other salmon species — all performing at lower levels than expected — include a current total of 217,000 Chinook caught statewide, 12.9 million chum (53% of the pre-season forecast of 24.3 million), and 551,000 coho salmon. The pre-season forecast harvest for cohos, a season underway now and through September in some parts of the state, is 2.6 million fish.The good news is escapement in most areas has been achieved or exceeded, ensuring the next generation. There are two general exceptions to that, both involving relatively small numbers. They are in Southeast Alaska for Chinook and along the South Peninsula in Western Alaska for pink and chum salmon.Southeast AlaskaIn Southeast, the pink salmon season was expected to be average, with an estimated catch of 19 million fish, putting it below the 10-year average harvest of 21 million pink salmon.But on August 9, ADF&G reported that “The Southeast Alaska pink salmon run is at its historical peak run timing. The estimated pink salmon harvest to date is in excess of 9 million fish. In-season estimates for total pink salmon harvest have been higher than the preseason forecast of 19.2 million fish and are currently at 25 million fish.” As of yesterday, the SE AK pink catch has reached 14.7 million fish, or nearly 60% of ADF&G’s new in-season forecast.Bristol BayThe Bristol Bay sockeye fishery once again outperformed with landings of 31.2 million salmon after a pre-season estimate of 25 million sockeye catch.All districts produced more than expected with Nushagak leading the way — 11.85 million salmon landed there despite a forecast of only 8.3 million. Naknek-Kvichak delivered 9.2 million sockeye, compared to 8 million predicted. Egegik exceeded its forecasted catch by almost a million fish with 5.28 million sockeyes landed. Ugashik produced 4.3 million with a 3.7 million forecast and even the Togiak District landed over 570,000 reds, about 50,000 more than expected.Copper River/Prince William SoundIn Central Alaska, the Copper River gill net fleet landed 1.4 million sockeye in the Copper River, just exceeding the 1.3 million forecasted. That forecast was 46% above the 10-year average. Another 1.2 million sockeyes were landed in Eshamy (Prince William Sound), for a total of 3.1 million.So far, 8.1 million pink salmon have been landed, mostly by the seine fleet in Prince William Sound. This is about 40% of the potential commercial harvest of 20.53 million pinks.ADF&G salmon managers predict harvests from estimates of total returns. The Prince William Sound total pink run was forecasted at 32.18 million fish, allowing for a potential commercial harvest of 20.53 million.The total forecasted run in PWS is made up of 6.45 million wild-stock pinks, 15.53 million Valdez Fisheries Development Association (VFDA) hatchery fish, and 10.20 million Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation (PWSAC) hatchery fish.Much like escapement is taken off the top of the wild salmon run to determine what the fleets can catch, removals that are sold for cost recovery and fish that are taken for next year’s broodstock are taken off before commercial catch of hatchery fish can be forecast. For the VFDA, about 4.45 million (29%) of their projected pink salmon return is calculated for cost recovery and broodstock, leaving 11.08 million pinks is left for commercial harvest. About 6.42 million (63%) of the projected pink salmon run to the PWSAC hatcheries will be needed for cost recovery and broodstock, leaving 3.78 million fish available for commercial harvest. With PWS-wide wild escapement set at 783,500 fish, a pre-season forecast of 5.66 million wild pinks are available for commercial harvest.KodiakIn Kodiak, the pink salmon forecast was for a weak return with a point estimate of 8.8 million fish, a combination of the wild stock and Kitoi Bay Hatchery harvest estimates. Current catch is at the 4.9 million mark with the peak happening, according to recent years’ performance, this week. The tail of the season, again looking at the recent past, follows in the next four weeks to the end of the season. This year, weekly catch totals have been significantly below last year, below two years ago, and below the 5-year average.Sockeye harvest in Kodiak is currently just over 993,000 fish, approaching the preseason forecast for the Ayakulik, Karluk, Alitak and Spiridoon river systems of 1.7 million sockeye.In Chignik, the fleet has landed 250,000 sockeye to date, far from the pre-season forecast of 1.58 million sockeye. But they have exceeded their escapement goal of 540,000 - 760,000 sockeye with a cumulative total of 965,718 red salmon so far this year.Alaska’s salmon managers have achieved the state's sustainability goal, and for the most part provided forecasts that were spot on or slightly below actual landings, something fishermen and processors appreciate. But buyers compare year to year availability and this year demand is stronger than supply, as Expana reporter Joshua Bickert explained in an August 5 report. He noted the smaller size of sockeye — this year’s Bristol Bay sockeye was 4.2 pounds — as another natural dynamic in the price/supply equation. A quick look at the calendar and landings data tells the story.Throughout mid-May and June, weekly commercial landings were on par with previous years and the 5-year average during those weeks. Then, in the first week of July landings peaked and stayed at that level for another week while earlier year’s landing showed steep climbs for at least another week.Both historical and current landings dipped in mid-July, then diverged dramatically once again. In the third week of July (Statistical Week 30), current landings plateaued at 8m fish per week. Historical data shows a jump that week, followed by upward movement in catch data for another three weeks, until the end of this week, SW33.That second peak did not happen this year.This season, after weekly catches of 8 million salmon in SW30, catch stayed at that level for two more weeks, dropping slightly to 7.9m salmon in SW31 and 7m in SW32. From there, catches of about 3.5m salmon have been recorded in the first half of this week, indicating another 7-ish million salmon weekly catch.Comparing current weekly catch data to the 5-year average weekly catch for SW30 shows the difference. The five-year average for SW30 is 15.9m salmon, rising to 16.8m in SW31 and 18.9m in SW32 before a second seasonal peak of nearly 24m salmon landed in SW33. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1283542/Alaska-Salmon-Season-Shaping-Up-to-Be-Worst-in-Several-Decades National Biden-Harris Administration announces $34 million to modernize NOAA Fisheries’ data, infrastructure and workforce Funding aims to accelerate data distribution capabilities to meet climate-related mission demands NOAA Fisheries - August 15, 2024 This underwater instrument onboard a NOAA Fisheries vessel is testing cloud storage solutions for NOAA Fisheries' research. Improvements in the technological and data management infrastructure are critical for fisheries management, species conservation and other important work. Undated image. (Image credit: Courtesy of Phil LaMothe) https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/biden-harris-administration-announces-34-million-to-modernize-noaa-fisheries-data-infrastructure-and Federal Register 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 Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 08/16/2024 NMFS issues this final rule to implement amendment 113 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This final rule modifies specific provisions of the Central Gulf of Alaska (CGOA) Rockfish Program (RP) to change the season start date, remove the catcher vessel (CV) cooperative quota (CQ) cap, and revise the processing and harvesting caps. This final rule is necessary to provide increased flexibility and efficiency and to help ensure the rockfish total allowable catch (TAC) is fully harvested and landed in Kodiak while maintaining the intent of the RP. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the GOA FMP, and other applicable laws. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/08/16/2024-18053/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-amendment-113-to-the-fishery-management-plan-for
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