Alaska Study points to concurrent marine heat waves as culprit in Western Alaska chum declines Alaska Beacon by Yereth Rosen - December 2, 2023 Successive marine heat waves appear to have doomed much of the chum salmon swimming in the ocean waters off Alaska in the past year and probably account for the scarcities that have strained communities along Western Alaska rivers in recent years, a newly published study found. https://alaskabeacon.com/briefs/study-points-to-concurrent-marine-heat-waves-as-culprit-in-western-alaska-chum-declines/ Cause of Death Determined for 11 Killer Whales Incidentally Caught in Fishing Gear in Alaska in 2023 Majority of whales belong to Eastern North Pacific Alaska Resident stock. NOAA Fisheries - December 1, 2023 NOAA Fisheries has confirmed the causes of death or injury for 11 killer whales caught incidentally in fishing gear and a NOAA research survey in Alaska in 2023. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/cause-death-determined-11-killer-whales-incidentally-caught-fishing-gear-alaska-2023 Labeling and Marketing GAPP Board Commits Additional Resources to Support Demand-Building Efforts for Wild Alaska Pollock Seafood News by Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers - December 4, 2023 Additional resources will be put towards building demand for Wild Alaska Pollock around the world, the Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) announced today. At its annual Board and Membership meetings on December 1, the GAPP members voted to increase dues in order to support additional demand-building work, including the incredibly successful GAPP Partnership Program, as well as to support challenges facing the industry long-term. “Now is not the time to take our foot off the accelerator, and the Board recognizes that we need to keep pushing, keep capitalizing on the success and momentum that GAPP has generated over the last several years and continue building the brand for Wild Alaska Pollock,” said Bob Desautel, GAPP Chairman of the Board. Also at its meeting, the GAPP Board, which has representatives from each sector of the Wild Alaska Pollock fishery, unanimously elected to retain Bob Desautel, Wild Alaska Pollock industry veteran as Chairman of the Board. Desautel is co-founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Global Seas and Nina Fisheries, Inc. Arctic Storm President and CEO Doug Christensen will continue to serve as the organization’s Vice-Chair/Secretary and Treasurer for the coming year, working to ensure financial integrity and reporting to the rest of the GAPP eleven-member Board of Directors, a position he has held since 2019. Additionally, the membership voted to have Hunter Berns serve as a Board member, replacing John Woodruff of OBI Seafoods as a At-Large Representative. Berns currently serves as the General Manager of the Bering North LLC, which owns and operates nine catcher vessels that operate in the Bering Sea and Wild Alaska Pollock and cod fisheries and the Gulf of Alaska groundfish fisheries. “We are grateful to John for his leadership, service and dedication to the GAPP Board over the last four years,” said Craig Morris, GAPP Chief Executive Officer. “Hunter will make an excellent addition to the GAPP Board in the coming year and we look forward to his contributions to this critical industry organization.” Most critically, the GAPP membership voted to increase the current GAPP dues assessment rate for GAPP’s upcoming fiscal year, which runs April 1, 2023 through March 31, 2024, dedicated additional resources to important projects that build demand and also increase consumer confidence and trust in the Wild Alaska Pollock fish, and fishery. “These additional resources and renewed commitment come in large part because of the success GAPP has had over the last four plus years and as a result of the visionary, passionate evangelist we have at the helm in Morris,” said Desautel. “The Board recognizes the work that has been done, but more critically the challenges ahead that need to be taken head on and, more importantly, the boundless opportunities for Wild Alaska Pollock. GAPP is positioned not only to masterfully navigate rough seas but also to keep pushing this industry—and our fish—forward for the future.” https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1266862/GAPP-Board-Commits-Additional-Resources-to-Support-Demand-Building-Efforts-for-Wild-Alaska-Pollock Federal Register North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public MeetingA Notice by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 12/04/2023 The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Scallop Plan Team will hold a meeting. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/12/04/2023-26570/north-pacific-fishery-management-council-public-meeting Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Alaska Prohibited Species Donation (PSD) Program A Notice by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 12/04/2023 The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/12/04/2023-26567/agency-information-collection-activities-submission-to-the-office-of-management-and-budget-omb-for
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