Monday, March 1, 2021

Alaska NOAA Fisheries considers 4 emergency action proposals Cordova Times - February 28, 2021 NOAA Fisheries has under consideration four emergency or expedited changes to federal fishing regulations recommended by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council related to halibut, sablefish, rockfish and the Adak community quota entity program for 2021. https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2021/02/28/noaa-fisheries-considers-4-emergency-action-proposals/ Federal Government Approves $50M in Funds for Alaska Fishing The federal government has approved Alaska’s plan to give the state’s fishing industry almost $50 million in pandemic relief. U.S. News & World Report by Associated Press - February 27, 2021 JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The federal government has approved Alaska's plan to give the state's fishing industry almost $50 million in pandemic relief. https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/alaska/articles/2021-02-27/federal-government-approves-50m-in-funds-for-alaska-fishing West Coast USCG Cutter Polar Star returns to Seattle Cordova Times - February 27, 2021 The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star returned to its homeport in Seattle on Saturday, Feb. 21, after a months-long Arctic deployment to provide security throughout the region, develop future Arctic sailors and gather high-latitude scientific data. https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2021/02/27/uscg-cutter-polar-star-returns-to-seattle/ Labeling and Marketing 3MMI - Dungeness Crab Pricing on the Rise; Unusual Start to the Season TradexFoods - March 1, 2021 Our pulse on current Dungeness Crab pricing is suggesting an upward trend in what looks to be an unusual start to the season. As Oregon's southern fishery opened January 8th, and Washington and Northern Oregon opened February 16th, the marketplace should have started seeing more frozen offers - however this is not the case. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gpICY2ZqBQ&feature=emb_logo Federal Register Proposed Modification of NPDES General Permit for Offshore Seafood Processors in Alaska (AKG524000) A Notice by the Environmental Protection Agency on 03/01/2021 In June 2019, EPA Region 10 reissued a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for offshore seafood processors operating in federal waters off the coast of Alaska. The permit, which became effective on July 17, 2019, authorizes discharges of seafood processing waste from vessels that: Discharge at least 3 nautical miles (NM) or greater from the Alaska shore; and, which engage in the processing of fresh, frozen, canned, smoked, salted or pickled seafood, the processing of mince, or the processing of meal, paste and other secondary by-products. On March 30, 2020, the Freezer Longline Coalition (FLC) requested that EPA modify the permit to allow for a currently-prohibited seasonal discharge (between June 10 and December 31, the fleet's “B Season”) within 1 NM of wintering critical habitat (Unit 5) for the spectacled eider. According to the FLC, the requested modification is a result of changing fish migration patterns and ice coverage in the Bering Sea, and is “necessary to ensure the continued commercial viability of its members.” https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/03/01/2021-04105/proposed-modification-of-npdes-general-permit-for-offshore-seafood-processors-in-alaska-akg524000 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program; Amendment 111 A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 03/01/2021 NMFS issues this final rule to implement Amendment 111 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area (GOA FMP) and a regulatory amendment to reauthorize the Central Gulf of Alaska (CGOA) Rockfish Program. This final rule retains the conservation, management, safety, and economic gains realized under the Rockfish Program and makes minor revisions to improve administration of the Rockfish Program. This final rule is necessary to continue the conservation benefits, improve efficiency, and provide economic benefits of the Rockfish Program that would otherwise expire on December 31, 2021. This final rule is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the GOA FMP, and other applicable laws. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/03/01/2021-03859/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-central-gulf-of-alaska-rockfish-program 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. 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