Friday, December 17, 2021

Alaska ADF&G’s Togiak Herring Forecast is Robust Fishermen's News - December 15, 2021 Alaska Department of Fish and Game officials say the 2022 mature herring biomass forecast for Togiak is 357,536 tons, the highest forecast since an age-structured assessment model was first used for the 1993 forecast. https://fishermensnews.com/adfgs-togiak-herring-forecast-is-robust/ West Coast Federal government announces closure of most Pacific herring fisheries Pacific herring are an important food source for wild salmon, sea birds, marine mammals and other fish. The Canadian Press - December 16, 2021 Most commercial fisheries for Pacific herring on the West Coast have been closed with the exception of harvests by First Nations for food and ceremonial purposes. https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/federal-government-announces-closure-of-most-pacific-herring-fisheries International China’s difficulties a potential boon for US seafood processors Seafood Source by Mark Godfrey - December 16, 2021 Mounting difficulties in bringing seafood processed in China into the United States has created an opportunity for U.S. processors, including Portland, Maine-based Bristol Seafood. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/processing-equipment/chinas-difficulties-a-potential-boon-for-us-seafood-processors Federal Register Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the Bering Sea Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 12/17/2021 NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2021 Pacific ocean perch total allowable catch (TAC) in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/12/17/2021-27372/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-pacific-ocean-perch-in-the-bering-sea-subarea-of FYI’s Video: Lights help salmon escape trawl nets National Fisherman by Laine Welch - December 13, 2021 Low cost LED lights can help king salmon escape commercial fishing trawl nets A 2020 study by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission and NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center showed that LEDs are very effective in directing king salmon to escape windows in trawl nets targeting Pacific hake, the largest groundfish fishery on the West Coast, which typically produces more than 500 million pounds a year. https://www.nationalfisherman.com/west-coast-pacific/video-lights-help-salmon-escape-trawl-nets NOAA Taps New Supervisors to Oversee its Alaska Fish, Crab Bottom Trawl Surveys Urner Barry by Ryan Doyle - December 16, 2021 NOAA Fisheries announced two new supervisors for its Alaska bottom trawl surveys. Duane Stevenson was chosen for the position of Bering Sea Bottom Trawl Survey Group Supervisor. Ned Laman is the new Gulf of Alaska/Aleutian Islands Bottom Trawl Survey Group Supervisor for the Groundfish Assessment Program, per NOAA. Stevenson is a research fishery biologist with expertise in the taxonomy and evolutionary relationships of marine fish. Stevenson focuses his research on the identification and distribution of fishes in Alaska’s marine ecosystems, NOAA explained. NOAA also noted that Stevenson has worked closely with the North Pacific Groundfish Observer Program and more recently developing training materials for fishery observers working throughout Alaska. Meanwhile, Laman has been a member of the Gulf of Alaska-Aleutian Islands bottom trawl group for almost two decades. Laman’s research focused on fish ecology, species distribution, and essential fish habitat. Before joining NOAA Fisheries in 2003, Laman worked as an environmental consultant. He led impact studies at coastal power plants in the California Current system. According to NOAA that is where he was able to identify early life stages of fish from oceanographic surveys. “Duane and Ned are both very qualified, having worked for the Alaska Fisheries Science Center for around 20 years. They have each coordinated research surveys and led numerous research projects during that time,” said Stan Kotwicki, program manager for the Groundfish Assessment Program. “I think they will do a great job leading these important survey teams for the Center.” https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1214729/NOAA-Taps-New-Supervisors-to-Oversee-its-Alaska-Fish-Crab-Bottom-Trawl-Surveys 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. 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