Friday, June 30, 2023

Alaska Southeast trollers help study a warming ocean: ‘Fishermen are natural scientists’ Alaska Public Media by Anna Canny, KTOO - June 29, 2023 Eric Brewer’s life on the ocean began more than 70 years ago, when his parents started taking him out on the family’s troller. At 73, Brewer still fishes regularly. But he says a lot has changed in the waters of Southeast Alaska. https://alaskapublic.org/2023/06/29/southeast-trollers-help-study-a-warming-ocean-fishermen-are-natural-scientists/ Bristol Bay setnetters to vote on whether to join BBRSDA KDLG by Corinne Smith - June 29, 2023 Bristol Bay setnetters will soon decide whether or not they want to join the region’s seafood development association. The Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association is holding a vote for setnetters in September. https://www.kdlg.org/2023-06-29/bristol-bay-setnetters-to-vote-on-whether-to-join-bbrsda Board of Fish Nushagak king conservation plan places "triggers" on fishing season KDLG by Jack Darrell - June 29, 2023 Chinook, or king salmon, have declined sharply in the Nushagak watershed, prompting action by the Board of Fish this spring. While the river’s sockeye population continues to push historical records, the Nushagak king run has fallen short of minimum escapement goals five of the last six years. Last fall, the state declared Nushagak kings a stock of concern and the Board of Fish approved an action plan in an attempt to conserve them. https://www.kucb.org/alaska-state-news/2023-06-29/board-of-fish-nushagak-king-conservation-plan-places-triggers-on-fishing-season NOAA’s biennial bottom trawl survey is underway in the Gulf of Alaska KMXT by Kirsten Dobroth - June 29, 2023 A major study of one of the state’s largest marine environments is underway. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration conducts bottom trawl surveys to compile fisheries and environmental data across the country, and this summer, the organization is in the process of surveying the Gulf of Alaska. https://kmxt.org/2023/06/noaas-biennial-bottom-trawl-survey-is-underway-in-the-gulf-of-alaska/ Sullivan Introduces Comprehensive Legislation to Heighten USDA Support for Seafood Bill would establish USDA office to coordinate federal seafood policies Sullivan.senate.gov - June 29, 2023 ANCHORAGE, ALASKA—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) last week introduced comprehensive seafood-related legislation intended to bolster U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) support for domestic fishermen and seafood producers. In addition to numerous other provisions that would support the sustainable harvest and consumption of American seafood, Sen. Sullivan’s National Seafood Supply Act of 2023 directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish an Office of Seafood Policy and Program Integration within the Office of the Chief Economist to provide for the effective coordination of seafood policies and activities across the department. The office would work in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative to support domestically harvested and processed seafood. https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-introduces-comprehensive-legislation-to-heighten-usda-support-for-seafood Alaska Statewide Salmon Harvest Now Tops 5M Fish Fishermen's News - June 28, 2023 Commercial fisheries harvests are increasing from Bristol Bay to the westward region fisheries of the Alaska Peninsula and the Kodiak area, with over five million salmon already delivered to processors. https://fishermensnews.com/alaska-statewide-salmon-harvest-now-tops-5m-fish/ Environment/Science Unalaska readies to deploy traps for invasive European Green Crab KUCB by Hope McKenney - June 29, 2023 Unalaska is preparing to start monitoring for European Green Crab. That's after the invasive species was first found in Alaska last July. https://www.kucb.org/science-environment/2023-06-29/unalaska-readies-to-deploy-traps-for-invasive-european-green-crab Labeling and Marketing Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute Monthly Marketing Update Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute - June 2023 Welcome to Alaska! With stunning scenery, abundant wildlife, and delicious seafood, Alaska has a way of leaving visitors in awe. In efforts to share the health benefits, superior quality and sustainability of Alaska seafood, every summer ASMI welcomes culinary influencers and media representatives to Alaska to show them all the reasons to #AskforAlaska. It’s a joy to meet people from around the world and to connect over meals and a shared affinity of Alaska seafood. https://mailchi.mp/alaskaseafood/asmi-monthly-marketing-update-june-2023?e=b5df1ec39f Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute all in to sell off last year's record Bristol Bay harvest KDLG by Corinne Smith - June 29, 2023 Seafood industry analysts say last year’s record-breaking Bristol Bay harvest is still being sold in retail markets worldwide, and a factor into what could end up being a dramatically lower price for fishermen this year. https://www.kdlg.org/fisheries/2023-06-29/alaska-seafood-marketing-institute-all-in-to-sell-off-last-years-record-bristol-bay-harvest U.S. senators propose new fish labeling, enhanced ocean research and more economic tools A series of fish- and ocean-related bills have been introduced by Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski and colleagues from coastal states Alaska Beacon by Yereth Rosen - June 29, 2023 A new bill introduced by Alaska’s U.S. senators would set up a new consumer-focused label for wild seafood. It’s among several bills eyed by Congress that could affect fishing in Alaska. https://alaskabeacon.com/2023/06/29/u-s-senators-propose-new-fish-labeling-enhanced-ocean-research-and-more-economic-tools/ Federal Register Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish in the Bering Sea Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 06/29/2023 NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for non-Community Development Quota (CDQ) sablefish by vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2023 non-CDQ sablefish initial total allowable catch (ITAC) by vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/06/29/2023-13896/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-sablefish-in-the-bering-sea-subarea-of-the FYI’s ALASKA MARINE SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM DATES SET JANUARY 29TH - FEBRUARY 2ND, 2024 Mark your calendars! The 2024 Alaska Marine Science Symposium (AMSS) will take place on January 29 - February 2, 2024. Please note that this year's symposium is being held one week later than the dates typically held for this event. https://mailchi.mp/alaskamarinescience/amss-2024-save-the-date 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.