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SeaShare donations are in demand at nations food banks and throughout AK:SeaShare’s seafood partners are working harder than ever to keep markets supplied, shelves filled, and families fed. Despite all the challenges, these same partners — fishermen, processors, distributors, and others — have donated over 7 million seafood servings to food banks across the country so far this year. Our collective response to the unprecedented need has been incredible. Together we are supplying the best protein to families who can really use a good meal.
Please consider donations to SeaShare as you finalize your end-of-year donation plans. Just $1 helps provide 8 servings of seafood to hungry neighbors nationwide. We at PSPA and SeaShare hope you have a safe and happy holiday season!
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Alaska
US council cuts Bering Sea Pacific pollock TAC by 3.5%
Undercurrent News by Jason Smith - December 11, 2020
The US North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) has set the 2021 total allowable catch (TAC) for pollock in the Eastern Bering Sea (EBS) at 1.375 million metric tons, a 3.5% decrease year-on-year....
https://www.undercurrentnews.com/2020/12/11/us-council-cuts-bering-sea-pacific-pollock-tac-by-3-5/
West Coast
Coast Guard urges safety, preparedness for the 2020-2021 Dungeness crab season
USCG News Release - December 10, 2020
SEATTLE -- The Coast Guard urges commercial fishermen to ensure vessel safety to prevent maritime emergencies before the opening of the Dungeness crab season scheduled to begin Dec.16.
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCG/bulletins/2b09a5f
Environment/Science
Ocean-Going Robots Effective at Surveying Pollock
This may be the first time data collected using uncrewed surface vehicles were used to help produce an annual estimate of abundance for a commercial fish stock.
NOAA Fisheries - December 10, 2020
Every other year, NOAA Fisheries conducts an acoustic-trawl survey from crewed research vessels to measure pollock abundance in Alaska’s eastern Bering Sea. As a result of COVID-19, many research surveys were canceled, and we weren’t able to conduct our walleye pollock surveys. Data collected from these surveys are critical to manage pollock, which comprise the nation’s largest commercial fishery.
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/ocean-going-robots-effective-surveying-pollock
New Marine Debris Strategic Plan Announced by NOAA
Fishermen's News - December 9, 2020
A new marine debris strategy plan announced by NOAA Fisheries for 2021-2025 highlights plans for the program’s staff and partners to work together for the next five years to free the oceans and coastlines from the impact of marine debris.
http://fnonlinenews.blogspot.com/2020/12/new-marine-debris-strategic-plan.html
FYI’s
Catch it live: Direct Marketing, Ocean to Plate
National Fisherman by Jessica Hathaway - December 10, 2020
Direct sales has been a slow-growing trend among commercial fishermen for many years, but we all watched as the pandemic gave this small-scale approach a shot in the arm.
https://www.nationalfisherman.com/catch-it-live-direct-marketing-ocean-to-plate
Adopt a fry fundraiser will help fund fisheries education
Cordova Times - December 5, 2020
Copper River Watershed Project is asking Cordova to adopt a fry for $10 to help support their salmon tank education program, a holiday gift idea that also makes a great stocking stuffer.
https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2020/12/05/adopt-a-fry-fundraiser-will-help-fund-fisheries-education/
Opinion
OPINION: State forces council to close Cook Inlet for business
Alaska Journal of Commerce by Andrew Jensen - December 9, 2020
The federal North Pacific Fishery Management Council dropped the latest bomb on Cook Inlet commercial fishermen, but it was the Alaska Department of Fish and Game flying the plane.
https://www.alaskajournal.com/2020-12-09/opinion-state-forces-council-close-cook-inlet-business
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-Friday 8:00 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.