Friday, June 18, 2021

Alaska Report: ‘Blue’ economy outpaced national growth in 2019 Alaska Journal of Commerce by Elwood Brehmer - June 16, 2021 The nation’s maritime economy accounted for nearly $400 billion worth of gross domestic product in 2019 and its growth outpaced that of the strong, pre-pandemic U.S. economy overall, according to federal data published June 8. https://www.alaskajournal.com/2021-06-16/report-%E2%80%98blue%E2%80%99-economy-outpaced-national-growth-2019 2021 Commercial Halibut Season Is Set to Open NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement will conduct patrols during the upcoming commercial halibut fishing season. NOAA Fisheries - June 15, 2021 The first 3-day commercial halibut fishing season of 2021 in federal waters off the West Coast begins next week. It starts on Tuesday, June 22 at 8 a.m. and ends on Thursday, June 24 at 6 p.m. NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement will be conducting patrols throughout the season along with our partners. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/2021-commercial-halibut-season-set-open Joint venture advancing geothermal for Unalaska Alaska Journal of Commerce by Elwood Brehmer - June 16, 2021 Unalaska city leaders, a local Native corporation and a team of renewable energy experts from Fairbanks are working hard to unlock the energy potential inside a volcano near the Aleutian fishing community. https://www.alaskajournal.com/2021-06-16/joint-venture-advancing-geothermal-unalaska International Some Relief For Seafood Industry Thanks to Airbus-Boeing Deal Urner Barry by Amanda Buckle - June 16, 2021 On Tuesday the United States and European Union announced a cooperative framework to address the large civil aircraft disputes which have been raging since 2004. As part of the agreement, the U.S. and EU have agreed to move away from “past confrontation in pursuit of a cooperative future by suspending the tariffs related to this dispute for five years.” “After years of bitter litigation and weeks of intense diplomacy, we have reached a deal on a set of high-level principles that resets U.S.-EU engagement in the large civil aircraft industry,” U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said in a press release. “We are strongest when we work with our friends and allies, and the partnership with European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis is a demonstration of that principle in action.” As mentioned above, the conflict began in 2004 when the EU accused Boeing of receiving $19 billion in unfair subsidies from federal and state governments. The U.S. claimed the same over European subsidies to Airbus. The feud escalated when in October 2020 the World Trade Organization determined that both sides were guilty, allowing the U.S. to impose $7.5 billion in tariffs and the EU up to $4 billion. The seafood industry, as well as many other industries unrelated to Boeing or Airbus, suffered as a result. In November 2020 the EU announced that they would be imposing 25% tariffs on seafood products including Atlantic salmon (0303 13), Pacific Salmon (0304 81) and scallops (0307 22). A full list of items that were impacted can be found here. Now the punitive tariffs are suspended, an announcement that National Fisheries Institute President John Connelly is calling “welcome news.” “This bilateral action is an important development that helps seafood companies operate in a more predictable climate,” said Connelly. “The EU is an important growth market for U.S. seafood exporters, and they will benefit from this more stable environment.” According to USTR Ambassador Tai, the agreement with the EU “includes a commitment for concrete, joining collaboration to confront the threat from China’s non-market practices, and it creates a model we can build on for other challenges.” Additional information on the U.S. and EU Cooperative Framework for Large Civil Aircrafts can be found here. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1201338/Some-Relief-For-Seafood-Industry-Thanks-to-Airbus-Boeing-Deal Environment/Science Pebble: Appeals court revives case challenging EPA’s removal of watershed protection Alaska Public Media by Liz Ruskin - June 17, 2021 A panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has revived a lawsuit aimed at blocking construction of the Pebble Mine in Southwest Alaska. https://www.ktoo.org/2021/06/17/pebble-appeals-court-revives-case-challenging-epas-removal-of-watershed-protection/ Plan to Restore Roadless Rule to Tongass National Forest Sparks Kudos, Criticism Fishermen's News - June 16, 2021 A Biden administration decision to repeal or replace a U.S. Forest Service rule allowing road construction and industrial old-growth logging in Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska is getting kudos from fishermen and criticism from the region’s economic development entity. http://fnonlinenews.blogspot.com/2021/06/plan-to-restore-roadless-rule-to.html FYI’s NOAA Fisheries Updates Policy on Issuance of Waivers Under Emergency Rule A vessel will not be eligible for release from observer or monitor coverage if a fully vaccinated observer or a quarantined/shelter in place observer is available. NOAA Fisheries - June 17, 2021 Observers and monitors, at sea and shoreside, are an essential component of commercial fishing operations in the U.S. They provide critical information that is necessary to keep fisheries open and to provide sustainable seafood to our nation during this time. A little more than a year ago, NOAA Fisheries clarified its policy for how vessels could receive a waiver from required observer or at-sea monitor coverage. That approach was appropriate under the circumstances. However, in the United States, much has changed and improved since then. COVID-19 vaccines are widely available and infection rates are dropping. At this point, we need to acknowledge and adapt to improved conditions and, in turn, update our policy for issuing waivers under the Emergency Rule national-level criteria. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/leadership-message/noaa-fisheries-updates-policy-issuance-waivers-under-emergency-rule Richard W. Spinrad Confirmed As 11th NOAA Administrator Urner Barry by Amanda Buckle - June 18, 2021 Richard (Rick) W. Spinrad, Ph.D., has been confirmed by the Senate as the under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and the 11th NOAA Administrator. As SeafoodNews previously reported, the Biden Administration had nominated Spinrad for the position back in April. An oceanographer with decades of experience, Spinrad previously served as Chief Scientist of NOAA, an appointment made under the Obama administration. He also served as the head of NOAA’s Research Office and the National Ocean Service, as well as co-led the White House Committee in developing the country’s first set of ocean research priorities. “As an accomplished and respected scientist, educator, communicator and executive, Rick has dedicated his career to the science that is at the core of NOAA’s mission,” U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo said in a statement. “I am grateful for his ongoing public service to the agency and the nation, and I look forward to working alongside him as we tackle the climate crisis, conserve our oceans, and grow our blue economy.” In his new role as NOAA Administrator, Spinrad will be responsible for the agency’s strategic direction and oversight of the $7 billion in proposed FY22 annual spending. He plans on advancing three overarching NOAA priorities, which can be found below: -Developing a full portfolio of environmental products and services in the context of our changing climate, and in coordination and cooperation with NOAA’s sister agencies, industry, academia, NGOs, and the philanthropic community, and ensuring these products and services are more accessible to underserved communities. -Building a balanced portfolio of programs and policies that both enhance environmental sustainability and foster economic development in areas such as climate products and services, the new blue economy, and sustainable fisheries. -Creating a more just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive workforce. NOAA employs scientists and technologists, and, perhaps even more impactfully, educates and trains future professionals. The scientific and technical workforce in the environmental and ecological fields in the U.S. must become more diverse. “I am thrilled to be back and am ready to hit the ground running,” said Spinrad following his appointment. “I am humbled to lead NOAA’s exceptional workforce on a mission so relevant to the daily lives of people across America and to the future health of our planet. And I will ensure that trust and scientific integrity will continue to be the foundation for all of our work.” https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1201582/Richard-W-Spinrad-Confirmed-As-11th-NOAA-Administrator National Geographic adds 5th ocean to world map NBC News by Wilson Wong - June 10, 2021 National Geographic announced Tuesday that it is officially recognizing the body of water surrounding the Antarctic as the Earth's fifth ocean: the Southern Ocean. https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/national-geographic-adds-5th-ocean-world-map-n1270318

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