Monday, July 7, 2025
- admin04655
- Jul 6
- 6 min read
Alaska
NOAA's Oscar Dyson scheduled for year-long upgrades and maintenance in 2026
KMXT by Davis Hovey - July 3, 2025
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Oscar Dyson docks at Pier 2, which is often referred to as Oscar's dock.
Copper River sockeye prices holding as other red salmon harvests begin
Cordova Times by Margaret Bauman - July 3, 2025
On the eve of Independence Day 2025, with other wild Alaska red salmon harvests coming in, Copper River sockeyes were still holding their own in terms of cost – with prices ranging from $15.99 to $56.95 a pound in retail markets from Anchorage to Seattle.
Green crab discoveries in Ketchikan show the invasive threat is spreading in Alaska
Thousands of the crabs have already been trapped in southern Southeast Alaska, and experts advise the public to be on the lookout for more that are likely to arrive
Alaska Beacon by Yereth Rosen - July 3, 2025
On a sandy beach in a state park in Ketchikan, a group of local beachcombers encountered something ominous: shells of two invasive European green crabs, shed as part of the creatures’ growth process.
Dungeness crab subsistence fishery opens in Cook Inlet
KBBI by Simon Lopez - July 2, 2025
The view of mountains in Kachemak Bay State Park from the Homer Spit on Oct. 14, 2023. Alaska residents can now harvest Dungeness crab for subsistence in parts of Cook Inlet. It’s the first time it’s been open in decades.
This season’s average sockeye should be bigger than last year’s record low, experts say
KDLG by Kendra Hanna - July 1, 2025
Sockeye salmon harvested in Bristol Bay were smaller than expected last year. The average weight was 4.5 pounds– the lowest weight on record, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
US House Republicans Back Amendment to Expand H-2B Visa Access for Seasonal Workers
Expana by Jennifer Walker - July 7, 2025
US House Republicans have approved an amendment to the Homeland Security Appropriations bill that could significantly expand the number of seasonal migrant workers allowed into the country each year. The measure, which was introduced by Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Rep. Andy Harris, M.D. (R-Maryland), would benefit businesses reliant on the H-2B visa program. It allows employers that have hired migrant workers in the past five years — and have complied with all program requirements — to bring back the same number of workers without counting against the federal visa cap.Currently, H-2B visas are allocated through a lottery system, which lawmakers say has created uncertainty for an array of employers, including those in seafood processing, hospitality, and tourism. During a markup of the bill, Rep. Pingree emphasized the amendment’s importance to Maine’s economy, particularly the seafood and tourism industries. “I have examples of a family here who’ve operated a seafood restaurant for 17 years,” she said. “They’ve been able to keep the business going and support local fishermen thanks to H-2B workers. When motels don’t have enough staff, they have to shut down entire wings — they can’t stay open for the full season.”Pingree also highlighted the broader national labor shortage and the need to improve legal pathways for essential migrant labor. “We need to make sure the farmers, the hospitality industry, and everyone else have the people they need to get the job done,” she added.The amendment comes amid renewed immigration enforcement efforts by the Trump Administration, including increased worksite raids targeting farms, seafood businesses, and meatpacking plants. Late last month, the administration announced it was suspending enforcement of a farmworker rule from former President Joe Biden's administration, as reported by Expana. The 2024 rule provided protection for workplace organizing to foreign farmworkers in the U.S. on H-2A visas. The U.S. Department of Labor said the rule had already been suspended because of federal injunctions.The Trump Administration also briefly considered exempting some agriculture businesses from worksite enforcement and investigations, but that was quickly reversed.If enacted, the H-2B amendment could offer a rare bipartisan solution to ongoing labor challenges while sparking further debate over the balance between enforcement and legal immigration access.
Fishing gear recycling program asks for cleaner nets
KDLG by Kendra Hanna - July 5, 2025
It’s easy to throw a can or bottle in the bin and never think about it again, but for fishing net recyclers in Bristol Bay, drop off is just the first step in the recycling process. In Dillingham, a backlog of used fishing nets poses a challenge for local recycling programs.
Labeling and Marketing
3MMI - Russian Military Recruitment Deepen Global Halibut Shortage
Tradex Foods - July 7, 2025
Global Pacific Halibut supply is on track for a record low in 2025, with slow landings from Alaska to California and added disruption from Russia due to military recruitment pressures. As of late June, only 7 million pounds have been landed—well behind previous years—while Russia’s quota has reportedly been reduced to just 3.8 million pounds with total harvests potentially falling to 22–25 million pounds globally.
Federal Register
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Halibut Recreational Quota Entity Program Fee Collection
A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 07/07/2025
This final rule authorizes fee collection for the Recreational Quota Entity (RQE) Program. A charter halibut stamp (stamp) is required under this final rule for every charter vessel angler, 18 years of age or older, for each charter vessel fishing trip in a given calendar day, or each calendar day during a charter vessel fishing trip that spans multiple days, who intends to catch and retain halibut on a charter vessel in International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) regulatory areas 2C in Southeast Alaska and 3A in South Central Alaska. Persons who hold charter halibut permits (CHPs) must purchase electronic stamps from NMFS. Charter vessel guides are required to validate a stamp for each adult charter vessel angler intending to catch and retain halibut on a charter vessel fishing trip. This final rule is necessary to promote stability and economic viability in the charter halibut fishery and is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (Halibut Act), and other applicable laws.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Halibut Recreational Quota Entity Program Fee Collection
A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 07/07/2025
This final rule authorizes fee collection for the Recreational Quota Entity (RQE) Program. A charter halibut stamp (stamp) is required under this final rule for every charter vessel angler, 18 years of age or older, for each charter vessel fishing trip in a given calendar day, or each calendar day during a charter vessel fishing trip that spans multiple days, who intends to catch and retain halibut on a charter vessel in International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) regulatory areas 2C in Southeast Alaska and 3A in South Central Alaska. Persons who hold charter halibut permits (CHPs) must purchase electronic stamps from NMFS. Charter vessel guides are required to validate a stamp for each adult charter vessel angler intending to catch and retain halibut on a charter vessel fishing trip. This final rule is necessary to promote stability and economic viability in the charter halibut fishery and is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (Halibut Act), and other applicable laws.
Press Release
Press Release: U.S. Coast Guard receives historic investment to rebuild under President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill
USCG - July 4, 2025
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Coast Guard welcomed the nearly $25 billion investment included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Friday — marking the largest single commitment of funding in Service history.
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-Friday8:00 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.
Comments