Friday, November 18, 2022

Alaska Voices of Seafood A chorus sings the praises of Alaska’s ocean bounty Alaska Business Magazine by Scott Rhode - November 2022 “Alaska seafood has so much to offer,” says Ashley Heimbigner. “It’s often a game of choosing which messages are best for the audience.” Choosing messages is Heimbigner’s job as communications director for the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI). The public/private partnership, established by state statute in 1981, marked its 40th anniversary last year by revamping its alaskaseafood.org website to deliver its message more effectively. In addition to becoming more mobile friendly, the redesign streamlined access to ASMI’s recipe library. https://digital.akbizmag.com/issue/november-2022/voices-of-seafood/ IPHC: Halibut Landings Have Reached 77% of Catch Limit Three Weeks from December 6 Closure SeafoodNews.com by Peggy Parker - November 17, 2022 Pacific halibut landings have reached 25.5 million pounds, according to a landings report issued by the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC)on Tuesday, reaching 77% of the annual catch limit of 33.18 mlbs. The season closes Tuesday, December 6, with about 8 mlbs. left in the water. This time last year, 91% of the limit had been landed and at the same time in 2020 and 2019, more than 93% had been landed. In all three previous years except last year, no more than 100,000 pounds were caught in the final three weeks of the season. In 2021, more than half a million pounds were caught during the last three weeks. What this lackluster catch may indicate about stock health will be discussed at the Interim Meeting of the IPHC on November 30-December 1, 2022. The meeting will be held virtually; registration for the two-day event is here. To date, IPHC reports that 90% of the quota in British Columbia (IPHC regulatory area 2B) has been caught, the highest percentage in the coastwide range from the Bering Sea to California. In Area 2A, off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington, some 86% of the quota has been landed, with Treaty Indian ceremonial and subsistence landings not yet in. In Area 2C, Southeast Alaska, commercial (both directed landings and discarded or sublegals) have landed 90-93% of their quotas, with the guided commercial and Annette Island Reserve (Metlakatla) fisheries unreported as yet. In 3A, the Gulf of Alaska, the commercial fishery has reached 87% of its annual quota with an as-yet unreported guided recreational fishery, which brought the total area’s landings rate down to 72%. In 3A, the Western Gulf, the fleet has caught 84% of their quota. In Area 4A, 71% has been landed. Areas 4B and 4CDE have traditionally been lower than other regulatory areas due to weather and delays in reporting. To date, both areas are reporting 40% (4B) and 44% (4CDE) with several sectors in 4CDE not yet reporting: the individual areas of 4C Pribilofs, 4D northwestern Bering Sea, 4E Bering Sea flats, and the 4CDE CDQ fishery. The 4CDE commercial IFQ fishery, with a quota of 1,104,000 pounds has caught 915,678, or 83% of the limit to date. IPHC’s annual meeting will be held the week of January 23-27, 2023 in Victoria B.C. Annual catch limits for all regulatory areas, season dates, and other regulations for 2023 will be set there. Materials for the meeting, registration, and hotel booking information is here. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1239893/IPHC-Halibut-Landings-Have-Reached-77-percent-of-Catch-Limit-Three-Weeks-from-December-6-Closure West Coast Federal regulators OK demolition of four California dams to restore salmon runs Anchorage Daily News by Gillian Flaccus, Associated Press - November 17, 2022 PORTLAND, Ore. — U.S. regulators approved a plan Thursday to demolish four dams on a California river and open up hundreds of miles of salmon habitat that would be the largest dam removal and river restoration project in the world when it goes forward. https://www.adn.com/nation-world/2022/11/17/federal-regulators-ok-demolition-of-four-california-dams-to-restore-salmon-runs/ National NIOSH & U.S. Coast Guard Announce 2023 Funding for Commercial Fishing Safety Research & Training National Fisherman - November 16, 2022 The lives of commercial fishermen and their crew depend on their safety, particularly when vessels are miles away from harbor. Additional research, innovation, and training could lower their risk of injury. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard, announces the availability of $6 million dollars in extramural grant funding for commercial fishing safety research and training in the coming year. https://www.nationalfisherman.com/national-international/niosh-u-s-coast-guard-announce-2023-funding-for-commercial-fishing-safety-research-training Inflation harming US seafood sales, but sales decline improves Seafood Source by Christine Blank - November 17, 2022 Inflation continues to depress U.S. seafood sales, but the sales drop in October was less than in previous months. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/foodservice-retail/inflation-harming-us-seafood-sales-but-sales-decline-improves Environment/Science New Horizons in the Alaska Fisheries Data Environment Data-linking projects spearheaded by Jordan Watson with the support of the Alaska Fisheries Information Network are paving the way for previously unimaginable advancements in fisheries science and management. NOAA Fisheries - November 17, 2022 Understanding the amount and composition of bycatch in a given fishery is key to sustainably managing our shared ocean resources. Data gathered by fisheries observers are critical components of this data collection. But other information, including a range of environmental factors such as sea surface temperature, can also provide key insights. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/new-horizons-alaska-fisheries-data-environment Federal Register North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings A Notice by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 11/18/2022 The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory committees will meet December 5, 2022, through December 14, 2022. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/11/18/2022-25188/north-pacific-fishery-management-council-public-meetings FYI’s Aleutian Airways Launches Daily Anchorage-Dutch Harbor Flights Alaska Business Magazine by Scott Rhode - November 17, 2022 A new regional airline is serving the Aleutian Islands, with the inaugural flight of Aleutian Airways from Anchorage to Dutch Harbor and back. https://www.akbizmag.com/industry/transportation/aleutian-airways-launches-daily-anchorage-dutch-harbor-flights/ 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. 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