Friday, May 28, 2021

West Coast US West Coast fishermen bristle against newly announced wind farm projects Seafood Source by Steve Bittenbender - May 26, 2021 Mike Conroy, the executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Association, hoped he’d have a little more time to get ready before the federal government planned to move forward with offshore wind energy projects on the U.S. West Coast. But that was before the U.S. Department of the Interior announcement on Tuesday, 25 May, indicating two areas off the California coast would be targeted for wind energy projects. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/supply-trade/us-west-coast-fishermen-bristle-against-newly-announced-wind-farm-projects California and US agree to allow big offshore wind farms Santa Monica Daily Press by Brian Melley - May 26, 2021 California and the U.S. government announced an agreement Tuesday to open up areas off the state’s central and northern coasts to the first commercial wind energy farms on the Pacific Coast. https://www.smdp.com/california-and-us-agree-to-allow-big-offshore-wind-farms/205253 International/Trade Lawsuit involving US seafood companies seeks to end, refund tariffs on Chinese goods Seafood Source by Chris Chase - May 26, 2021 A lawsuit filed by a company specializing in vinyl flooring against the U.S. Section 301 tariffs on goods from China has led to a slew of other American companies following suit. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/supply-trade/lawsuit-involving-seafood-companies-seeks-to-end-refund-tariffs-on-chinese-goods U.S. Asks WTO to Address Forced Labor on Fishing Vessels Bloomberg by Ana Monteiro - May 26, 2021 The U.S. asked the World Trade Organization’s members to address the problem of forced labor on fishing vessels, seeking the issue to form part of ongoing talks to curb subsidies in the industry. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-26/u-s-asks-wto-to-address-forced-labor-on-fishing-vessels National NFI releases new list detailing the top 10 seafood species Americans consume most Seafood Source by Madelyn Kearns - May 26, 2021 American consumers ate 19.2 pounds of seafood per capita in 2019, an increase of 0.2 pounds over 2018’s figures, according to National Fisheries Institute (NFI) calculations based off of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) latest “Fisheries of the United States” report. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/foodservice-retail/nfi-releases-new-top-10-list-detailing-the-seafood-species-americans-consume-most Winners of giant USDA pollock, catfish buys announced Seafood Source by Christine Blank - May 27, 2021 The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded nearly USD 20.9 million (EUR 17 million) in contracts as it continues to purchase Alaska pollock for use in federal food and nutrition assistance programs. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/supply-trade/winners-of-giant-usda-pollock-catfish-buys-announced U.S. Senators Push CDC, Coast Guard to Update Mask Policy for Commercial Fishermen Urner Barry by Ryan Doyle - May 27, 2021 A pair of U.S. Senators are pushing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Coast Guard to change mask requirements for crews on commercial fishing vessels. A release from Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) said the pair have heard from fishermen in their states and are leading the push to change mask guidance for the industry. The letter followed a visit by Hassan to New Hampshire’s Yankee Fishermen’s Cooperative where fishermen detailed some dangers of wearing a mask at work. The Senators also raised concerns to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky during a recent hearing, and their letter further pushes for immediate action.

In a letter to the CDC and Coast Guard, the Senators discuss the latest CDC mask guidance and write, “Many fishing vessel operators were therefore understandably dismayed to learn that the most recent CDC guidance does not loosen restrictions for fishing vessels that are staffed by fully vaccinated persons and are not passenger-carrying vessels as defined under 42 CFR 70.1.” The Senators wrote, “It is worth noting that wearing a mask on a fishing vessel may increase safety risks for operators and crew. Fishing vessels frequently use loud motors or machinery that can make it difficult for crew members to hear one another, so they may rely on lip-reading to improve communication and work together safely.” “Masks are also frequently wet from sea spray, which can make it more difficult to breathe. This is a condition that the CDC has generally recognized is problematic. Despite these facts, fishermen have continued to abide by the order and guidance to address the public health threat posed by COVID-19. We urge the CDC and the Coast Guard to work swiftly together to reconsider their guidance as it applies to commercial fishing vessels in order to promote the safe operation of fishing vessels and safety of the crew,” the letter read. The full letter can be read here. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1199841/Copper-River-Closes-for-Rest-of-Week-Catch-and-Escapement-Lower-Than-Expected Environment/Science Surveys Will Collect Data Crucial for Managing Alaska Fisheries and Monitoring Alaska Marine Ecosystems NOAA Fisheries kicks off summer and fall surveys. NOAA Fisheries - May 27, 2021 Scientists from NOAA's Alaska Fisheries Science Center and partners have begun another busy survey season off the Alaska coast. Eight surveys are planned in the Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea, and Chukchi Sea to monitor fish, crab, marine mammals, and marine ecosystems. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/surveys-will-collect-data-crucial-managing-alaska-fisheries-and-monitoring-alaska

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