Friday, February 24, 2023

Alaska NOAA releases its Custom Chart 2.0 National Fisherman by Guest Author - February 23, 2023 NOAA Custom Chart is a web-based application that can generate a paper nautical chart. The nautical charts generated from this application are created directly from the latest official data available within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s electronic navigational charts (NOAA ENC). https://www.nationalfisherman.com/national-international/noaa-releases-its-custom-chart-2-0 Fisheries, game boards to consider rule changes Cordova Times - February 24, 2023 Proposals for changes to regulations for fish and game advisory committees, processes for adopting regulations, advisory committee closures and subsistence uses are being accepted through May 1 by the Alaska Joint Board of Fisheries and Game. https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2023/02/24/fisheries-game-boards-to-consider-rule-changes/ Seagoing drone DriX will be used for pollock survey in Alaska National Fisherman by Jose Antunes - February 22, 2023 The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA is already using USVs (Uncrewed Surface Vehicles) to track storms in the Atlantic Ocean. Next summer NOAA Fisheries will use DriX USVs in sea trials during summer pollock survey in Alaska. https://www.nationalfisherman.com/alaska/seagoing-drone-drix-will-be-used-for-pollock-survey-in-alaska International ASMI Sends Salmon to Ukraine, Urges Alaska-Polish Trade at SENA 2023 SeafoodNews.com by Peggy Parker - February 23, 2023 Nearly a month before President Biden made his now famous war-time trip to Kiev on President’s Day, three containers of Alaska canned pink salmon finally arrived at Lviv in Western Ukraine, after an arduous 18-week journey by ship and truck across Poland to World Central Kitchen’s station in Ukraine for distribution across the war-torn country. The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute’s (ASMI) donation was made possible by $300,000 commitment in the state’s FY 2023 budget, accepted by the legislature and signed by Governor Dunleavy last year. Once the funding was approved, ASMI’s Global Food Aid Program tapped into its network of food and nutrition organizations working in the humanitarian space to facilitate the purchase and distribution of the canned salmon, more than 900 pounds in 3840 cases, each containing 24 cans of 14.75 oz each. The contract for the shipment was awarded to OBI Seafoods. OBI applied custom labels created by ASMI and readied the shipment for delivery to Ukraine. “ASMI worked with Maersk Shipping and their special operations section who made the very complicated shipping process as easy and uncomplicated as possible,” ASMI Director Jeremy Woodrow explained in a statement released once the product had arrived in Lviv. “In spite of the urgent need, the humanitarian supply chain is subject to many bureaucratic hurdles. The wild Alaska canned pink salmon arrived in Gdansk, Poland in early November after the typical journey of about six weeks. Due to a number of new international agreements, customs requirements that came into effect during the travel time to Poland, the containers remained in the Port of Gdansk until they were finally released from Polish Customs on January 30, 2023 for the quick trip to Lviv, Ukraine by truck. “World Central Kitchen’s local partner inside the borders of Ukraine met and unloaded the containers in late January, readying them for further transport within Ukraine to locations in greatest need,” ASMI’s statement said. In a speech earlier this month on the Senate floor, state Senator Bert Stedman (R-Sitka) said the 900 pounds of salmon “ … will enable the citizens of Ukraine, [who] are facing a lot of strife in the war, to be able to feed their kids, their elders and themselves many meals.” Stedman suggested that legislators repeat the appropriation this year. ASMI noted the shipment will supply refugees and displaced people of all ages in Ukraine with over 460,000 meals of nutritious wild Alaska protein.“Each of these 92,000+ cans has a six-year shelf life, needs no refrigeration to store (unopened), cannot be affected by cold, heat or rain. It is ready to eat directly from the can, and provides high quality protein and healthy fats with no need for cooking or potable water to use. Of course, it is easily combinable with local ingredients that may be available for a tasty meal,” Woodrow said. Last March, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, members of the Alaska State House voted in favor of a ceremonial resolution to support of military aid to Ukraine, but has not divested its interest in Russian assets or securities, reported James Brooks in the Alaska Beacon. “ . . . in terms of consequential action, the canned salmon is the biggest to date,” Brooks wrote. This week, as global media covered President Biden's trip to Poland to strengthen Western support for Ukraine, Woodrow sent notices to the Alaska seafood industry that Poland encouraging "one-on-one meetings with the Polish processing companies that will be in attendance at SENA 2023. Reach out to individual companies directly,” he said in a release on Tuesday. Poland will have a pavilion at the Seafood Expo North America next month in Boston (Booth#3033.) To facilitate industry relationships, a breakfast meeting is scheduled for March 13, 2023, from 8 a.m. to 9:30 and will include presentations by the Polish Association of Fish Processors, National Fisheries Institute, and ASMI. A preview of the “Cooperation Between the U.S. and Polish Seafood Industries” presentation is linked here. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1246870/ASMI-Sends-Salmon-to-Ukraine-Urges-Alaska-Polish-Trade-at-SENA-2023 Environment/Science Alaska Fisheries Science Center gains more harvester observers Cordova Times by Margaret Bauman - February 24, 2023 Researchers trying to learn more about the impact of climate change on oceans and fisheries are seeing increasing enthusiasm in participation from seafood harvesters with mutual concerns. https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2023/02/24/alaska-fisheries-science-center-gains-more-harvester-observers/ West Coast Species on the Move as Climate Change Drives Ecological Shifts, Analysis Shows New vulnerability assessment finds vulnerable species have complex habitat needs. NOAA Fisheries - February 21, 2023 All but the most resilient marine species off the West Coast are likely to be vulnerable to climate change, according to a new NOAA Fisheries assessment. It will help inform fisheries management and species protections as the climate changes in the coming decades. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/west-coast-species-move-climate-change-drives-ecological-shifts-analysis-shows FYI’s ADF&G honors Cordova’s John Renner for service Cordova Times - February 24, 2023 Veteran commercial fisherman John Renner, a vice president of Cordova District Fishermen United, was honored on Tuesday, Feb. 21, for his outstanding contributions to the Copper River/Prince William Sound Advisory Committee of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2023/02/24/adfg-honors-cordovas-john-renner-for-service/ 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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