Alaska
Bristol Bay's commercial salmon fishery valued at $2 billion in 2019
A recent study by the McKinley Research Group estimates that Bristol Bay’s commercial salmon industry generated $2 billion in economic benefit and an average of 15,000 jobs in 2019. The 57-page study was published in February by “Bristol Bay Defense Fund,” a coalition of regional Tribes, businesses and conservation groups that support permanent federal protections at the region's headwaters.
KDLG by Tyler Thompson - April 16, 2021
The new report, called “The Economic Benefits of Bristol Bay Salmon," bridges a three year gap in analyzing the value of the region's salmon industry.Rebecca Braun is with McKinley Research Group and worked on the new report.
https://www.kdlg.org/post/bristol-bays-commercial-salmon-fishery-valued-2-billion-2019#stream/0
After Five Months Of Waiting, Fuel Barge Arrives in St. Paul
KUCB by Hope McKenney - April 15, 2021
A fuel ration on the Pribilof Island of St. Paul ended Tuesday after more than a month and a half of limiting fuel for both residents and fishermen.
https://www.kucb.org/post/after-five-months-waiting-fuel-barge-arrives-st-paul#stream/0
BBRSDA to Conduct A Second Year of Quality Monitoring in Bristol Bay
SeafoodNews by Peggy Parker - April 19, 2021
Three and a half months before the peak of the Bristol Bay salmon season, the Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association (BBRSDA) announced that they are teaming up with Seafood Analytics (subsidiary of Certified Quality Foods) and Digital Observers for a second year monitor and gather quality data during the 2021 sockeye salmon season.
Despite the onset of the pandemic in the US in 2020, and the need for thousands of plant workers and fishermen to travel to the region from other parts of the U.S. and the world, the monitoring program had a successful debut last year.
Over 6,000 sockeye salmon, off 200 boats, were taken by Digital Observers on five tenders through-out Bristol Bay. The Certified Quality Foods (CQF) cloud-based business intelligence platform analyzed the data and allowed for key takeaways around trendlines, comparisons between regions, seasons, boats, tenders etc. Generic reports were shared with leading industry professionals, while a detailed report with individual boat and tender names is available to the customer. A generic example of one of the reports can be seen here.
This year the program is tripling its measurement capacity, and expanding from paper entry to digitized apps so other metrics such as odor, visual, temperature and whether the fish has been bled can be tracked in conjunction with quality measures. Examples of how a digital datasheet is completed show how quick and thorough it is.
Having a robust amount of data from the 2020 Bristol Bay sockeye season provides a valuable baseline for comparison of salmon quality and salmon fat content harvested each year.
During the 2021 fishing season, Quality Control technicians working on 15 tenders across Bristol Bay will measure the quality of salmon at the point of delivery using the noninvasive ‘Certified Quality Reader,’ a device that uses electrical currents to measure cell degradation of the salmon. It is a fast and objective way to measure the freshness of salmon that accounts for more than just temperature.
Data from both the CQR and digital forms will be automatically merged and available to customers upon uploading the data during or after the 2021 fishing season. Data is stored electronically and historic data can be viewed by simply changing the date on the dashboard.
This project will help determine better handling practices to continue to improve salmon quality, supporting ongoing improvements of salmon quality in Bristol Bay.
Overseen by Keith Cox, co-founder, and Chuck Anderson, Vice President of Sales and Marketing of Seafood Analytics last year, this year’s project added BBRSDA’s most recent hire Frances Bursch, Program Specialist.
Bursch was hired at the end of last year’s season and brings year’s fishing experience, non-profit work, and direct marketer entrepreneurship. Frances is now at the helm of BBRSDA’s Outreach and Quality programs which last year included building the virtual Pacific Marine Expo booth, spearheading quality projects with Seafood Analytics and RSW apprentice program, the annual Photo Contest and Merch Store.
Originally from Homer, AK, Bursch is based out of Seattle's fishing capital, Ballard.
https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1196919/BBRSDA-to-Conduct-A-Second-Year-of-Quality-Monitoring-in-Bristol-Bay
West Coast
Salmon season delayed for Half Moon Bay fishermen
Shortened season could affect prices
SM Daily Journal Curtis Driscoll - April 17, 2021
Fishermen in Half Moon Bay are facing a shortened commercial salmon season off the California coast due to low Chinook salmon stocks following a decision from the Pacific Fishery Management Council earlier this week.
https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/salmon-season-delayed-for-half-moon-bay-fishermen/article_59f6793e-9f2a-11eb-811c-3f270d67826c.html
Press release: Pacific Fishery Management Council sets 2021 West Coast ocean salmon season dates
April 16, 2021
Portland, Or. – The Pacific Fishery Management Council has adopted ocean salmon season recommendations for 2021. The seasons provide recreational and commercial opportunities for most of the Pacific coast and achieve conservation goals for the numerous salmon stocks on the West Coast.
https://www.pcouncil.org/press-release-pacific-fishery-management-council-releases-2021-west-coast-ocean-salmon-season-dates/
FYI’s
AMSEA drill conductor course set for April 27
Cordova Times - April 16, 2021
Registration is open for the Alaska Marine Safety Education Association’s fishing vessel drill conductor class at Pioneers of Alaska Igloo No. 19 in Cordova on April 27.
https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2021/04/16/amsea-drill-conductor-course-set-for-april-27/
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.