Friday, May 3, 2024

Alaska Cordova ranks again among top 20 fishing ports Cordova Times by Margaret Bauman - May 1, 2024 Commercial seafood deliveries to Cordova continue to rank its port among the top 20 in the nation, as documented in the latest Fisheries Economics of the United States Report. https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2024/05/01/cordova-ranks-again-among-top-20-fishing-ports/ West Coast Final Rule for Federal Salmon Regulations for Overfished Species Rebuilding Plans – Snohomish Coho Salmon NOAA Fisheries - May 1, 2024 NOAA Fisheries is announcing a final rule to revise the regulations that implement the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Council) Pacific Coast Salmon Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to remove the Snohomish River coho rebuilding plan as the stock has now been rebuilt and is no longer considered overfished. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/final-rule-federal-salmon-regulations-overfished-species-rebuilding-plans-snohomish National Status of Stocks 2023 The annual Status of Stocks report highlights our work with partners to ensure the sustainability of fisheries and fishing communities while maximizing fishing opportunities. NOAA Fisheries - May 2, 2024 NOAA Fisheries is pleased to present the 2023 Report to Congress on the Status of U.S. Fisheries. This report highlights the work of NOAA Fisheries, the eight Regional Fishery Management Councils, and our other partners. In 2023, the number of stocks on the overfishing and overfished lists decreased, with the number of stocks on the overfishing list reaching an all-time low. There were 16 first-time stock status determinations, and we rebuilt one stock, bringing the total number of rebuilt stocks to 50 since 2000. We continue to implement management measures that end overfishing, rebuild overfished stocks, and sustain our fisheries for future generations. We accomplish our mission despite challenges, including a changing ocean climate and impacts to our working waterfronts and fishing businesses. Sound science, an increasing focus on climate-informed management, effective enforcement, meaningful partnerships, and public engagement drive our success in managing the most sustainable fisheries in the world. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/sustainable-fisheries/status-stocks-2023 Environment/Science Peltola Introduces Bristol Bay Protection Act, Permanently Protecting the Area from Pebble Mine SeafoodNews.com by Peggy Parker - May 2, 2024 Alaska’s sole representative in the U.S. House of Representatives Mary Peltola introduced the Bristol Bay Protection Act yesterday to codify last year’s Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to veto the Pebble Mine, into law.The proposed open-pit copper-gold-molybdenum mine, EPA said, would harm a fragile ecosystem that includes more than 8 miles of documented salmon streams, more than 90 miles of additional streams that support the salmon habitat, and more than 2,000 acres of wetlands in the Bristol Bay region of Southwest Alaska.“Alaska’s Bristol Bay watershed is an area of unparalleled ecological value, boasting salmon diversity and productivity unrivaled anywhere in North America,” the proposed legislation states.The project was stopped under section 404(c) of EPA’s Clean Water Act, which protects the area from the creation and operation of the mine, projected to be one of the largest in North America. Peltola’s aim is to strengthen the federal rule into Congressional law.“I came to DC to stand up for fish — to make fishing and the livelihoods of our fishing communities the national issue it deserves to be,” said Peltola yesterday in her introductory remarks.“Whole communities rely on Bristol Bay’s watershed for subsistence and as a deeply interwoven part of their social and cultural practices. In introducing this bill, we’re moving to protect our fisheries and streams, water supply, and the deep value that these waters have had to Alaska Natives who have relied on them for thousands of years.”Two of Alaska's largest fishermen's organizations lauded Peltola shortly after she introduced the legislation on the floor of the House yesterday afternoon.“We welcome Congresswoman Mary Peltola’s bill as an important step to advance permanent protections for this irreplaceable fishery after millions of Amercians have weighed in to support permanent protections for Bristol Bay,” said Lilani Dunn, Executive Director of the Bristol Bay Seafood Development Association. “We are encouraged that Congress has the opportunity to ensure the world’s greatest wild salmon resource is finally protected fully from the threat of the Pebble Mine.” “We are thankful that Congresswoman Peltola recognizes the need for legislation to ensure that protections for Bristol Bay are made permanent,” said Nels Ure, Communications Director of Commercial Fishermen for Bristol Bay. “Life in Bristol Bay is tied to healthy land and waters and the people and fishermen whose livelihoods depend on healthy salmon runs may finally have assurance that the Pebble Mine will not destroy this irreplaceable way of life and over half the world’s wild sockeye supply.” Commercial Fishermen for Bristol Bay is a national coalition of fishermen working  to protect Bristol Bay, Alaska and the 15,000 jobs, $2.2 billion in economic activity,  and generational fishery that Bristol Bay’s wild salmon provide. Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association (BBRSDA) represents the economic interests of over 8,000 commercial Bristol Bay salmon fishermen who hail from Alaska and nearly every other U.S. state. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1276967/Peltola-Introduces-Bristol-Bay-Protection-Act-Permanently-Protecting-the-Area-from-Pebble-Mine Labeling and Marketing Copper River, Bristol Bay marketing associations join forces to market wild salmon Seafood Source by Chris Chase - May 1, 2024 The Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association (BBRSDA) and the Copper River Prince William Sound Regional Seafood Development Association (CRRSDA) are launching a collaborative marketing effort for wild salmon. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/supply-trade/copper-river-bristol-bay-marketing-associations-join-forces-to-market-wild-salmon Economic Value Reports Highlights Seafood Industry’s Impact in Alaska Alaska Business Magazine - May 1, 2024  The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) is updating its biennial report The Economic Value of Alaska’s Seafood Industry to illustrate the contributions of the fishing industry. Since the last report in 2022, ASMI counts more than 48,000 workers directly employed by the seafood industry in Alaska, averaged over the year, and more than $6 billion contributed to Alaska’s economy. https://www.akbizmag.com/industry/fisheries/economic-value-reports-highlights-seafood-industrys-impact-in-alaska/ FYI’s Covid-19 ripple effects driving automation push as seafood processing arrives at new normal “What we carried over from Covid is we still have a lack of the right people in the right positions" Seafood Source by Chris Chase - May 2, 2024 The post-Covid environment has been a complicated one for the seafood industry, and some sectors – like the Alaskan salmon sector – have suffered bankruptcies and the closure of processing plants as a result. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/processing-equipment/covid-19-ripple-effects-still-driving-automation-as-seafood-processing-reaches-new-normal Dockage rates at Kodiak Ports & Harbors would increase but others would hold steady with proposed tariff changes KMXT by Davis Hovey - May 2, 2024 Kodiak’s Harbormaster has proposed updating local rates and fees for vessel moorage, petroleum products and dry storage, among other things. The tariff rates currently in place were adopted in 2020. https://kmxt.org/2024/05/dockage-rates-at-kodiak-ports-harbors-could-increase-slightly-but-others-could-hold-with-new-tariff-changes/

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