Friday, November 17, 2023

Alaska Climate change report highlights impacts to Alaska infrastructure, security, health, livelihoods Alaska Beacon by Yereth Rosen - November 16, 2023 Alaska is warming at two or three times the U.S. rate, with impacts ranging from individuals’ health and safety to the military security of the nation, according to a new federal report. https://alaskabeacon.com/briefs/climate-change-report-highlights-impacts-to-alaska-infrastructure-security-health-livelihoods/ Tanner Crabs at second highest harvest level in three decades KMXT by Brian Venua - November 16, 2023 Kodiak Island’s Tanner season is going to be a bit smaller this year but the crabs themselves are probably going to be a bit bigger. Nat Nichols is an area management biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. He said a lot of the animals this year are likely from the same cohort as last year, which means they’ve had another year to grow. https://kmxt.org/2023/11/tanner-crabs-at-second-highest-harvest-level-in-three-decades/ International AI as a Weapon to Defend the Seas from Illegal Fishing Alaska Business by Alex Appel - November 13, 2023 Each year, tens of millions of fish are caught illegally. The United Nations estimates the illegal fishing economy is between $10 billion to $24 billion a year. https://www.akbizmag.com/industry/fisheries/illegal-fishing-ai/ Federal Register Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; “Other Rockfish” in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 11/16/2023 NMFS is prohibiting retention of “other” rockfish in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2023 total allowable catch of “other” rockfish in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/11/16/2023-25318/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-other-rockfish-in-the-western-and-central North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings A Notice by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 11/16/2023 The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory committees will meet in Anchorage, AK. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/11/16/2023-25359/north-pacific-fishery-management-council-public-meetings Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act; Seafood Import Monitoring Program A Proposed Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 11/16/2023 The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) withdraws the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP) proposed rule, which was published in the Federal Register on December 28, 2022. The SIMP proposed rule intended to add species to SIMP pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. In addition, the proposed rule would have amended SIMP regulations to clarify the responsibilities and definitions, and make other necessary administrative modernizations. In light of the extensive public comments received regarding the December 2022 proposed rule, NMFS has decided to conduct a comprehensive program review in order to strengthen the impact and effectiveness of SIMP. Critical aspects of that review will include better defining the problem that we are working to address and establishing clear, achievable goals through constructive engagement with our stakeholders. Comments received on the December 2022 proposed rule will also be taken into consideration as part of the review. While NMFS conducts this comprehensive review, SIMP will continue to operate in its current form, all existing requirements remain in force, and the list of priority species currently subject to SIMP requirements remains unchanged. In addition, NMFS will continue to support industry and other stakeholders in SIMP compliance during the review. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/11/16/2023-25309/magnuson-stevens-fishery-conservation-and-management-act-seafood-import-monitoring-program FYI’s From the Editor: PME ’23 Wrap Up Fishermen's News - November 15, 2023 The 2023 edition of Pacific Marine Expo is now in the record books, so I’d like to take a moment to thank everyone who dropped by booth 220 during the three-day event to say hello to staffers from Maritime Institute and Maritime Publishing. https://fishermensnews.com/from-the-editor-pme-23-wrap-up/ 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.