Monday, March 22, 2021

Alaska State’s largest fisheries forum finalizes schedule Topics range from seafood marketing opportunities to crab research Cordova Times - March 21, 2021 ComFish Alaska, the state’s longest-running fisheries forum and trade show, has finalized interactive forum events for the 2021 virtual gathering March 30-31, on topics ranging from federal and state legislation to electronic monitoring and crab research. https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2021/03/21/states-largest-fisheries-forum-finalizes-schedule/ Sitka Sac Roe Herring Fishery to go on two-hour notice Saturday KCAW by Katherine Rose - March 19, 2021 Processors, fishermen, and stakeholders in the Sitka Sac Roe herring fishery met for a pre-season meeting on Friday morning (3-19-21) to discuss the commercial fishery, which goes on two-hour notice this weekend. https://www.kcaw.org/2021/03/19/sitka-sac-roe-herring-fishery-to-go-on-two-hour-notice-saturday-morning/ Fish Factor: Salmon season 2021 projected to be a big haul Cordova Times by Laine Welch - March 19, 2021 Alaska’s salmon harvest for 2021 is projected to be a big one with total catches producing a haul that could be 61% higher than last year, due mostly to an expected surge of pinks. https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2021/03/19/fish-factor-salmon-season-2021-projected-to-be-a-big-haul/ Environment/Science Alaska Fisheries Science Center 2020 Year in Review A Look Back at Success in an Unprecedented Year NOAA Fisheries - March 2021 The Alaska Fisheries Science Center was able to accomplish a lot in FY 2020 despite the need to cancel some important field research and fish, crab and marine mammal surveys due to the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/about-us/alaska-fisheries-science-center-2020-year-review Most Recent Data Shows Gulf of Alaska Marine Ecosystem Slow to Return to Pre-Heatwave State A new study provides a comprehensive and quantitative look at initial and lingering effects of the eastern Pacific marine heatwave on Gulf of Alaska coastal and marine ecosystems. NOAA Fisheries - March 18, 2021 The eastern Pacific marine heatwave, which occurred from California to Alaska in 2014–2016, was the longest lasting heatwave globally over the past decade. A new study led by NOAA Fisheries scientists and partners looked at its effects. They found that the heatwave affected various components of the Gulf of Alaska marine food web from plankton to whales to humans. There have been various impacts, some positive and some negative. Some of these impacts persisted through 2019, when this study was completed. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/most-recent-data-shows-gulf-alaska-marine-ecosystem-slow-return-pre-heatwave-state Labeling and Marketing 3MMI - Alaska vs Russia Salmon Forecast: What the Data Actually Reveals TradexFoods - March 22, 2021 Taking a look at odd-year data back to 2009, it’s interesting to note that during odd-year seasons, Alaska has always harvested at least 90 percent of the preseason forecast (with the exception of 2011). This is a very auspicious indicator of the volume of Wild Pacific Salmon that "will" actually be produced from Alaska's 2021 season. Although the industry is touting a big Salmon harvest for 2021, harvest data shows that since 2013, odd-year season harvest has actually been on the decline. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3vyszeZzTY FYI’s ASMI’s Annual Commercial Fishing Photo Contest Wants Your Best Shot SeafoodNews.com by Peggy Parker - March 22, 2021 The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) announced its annual Commercial Fishing Photo Contest earlier this month, a competition open to Alaska's commercial fishing shutterbugs, in eight categories. The award-winning marketing group will accept entries through midnight Alaska time, April 30, 2021. This year’s contest includes the classic categories of “Best Boat,” “Best Action” and “Best Scenic,” as well as a couple of new categories including “Alaska Lifestyle,” to capture Alaska life both on and off the boat. Photos will be included in ASMI marketing activities around the world and shared with the Alaska seafood industry for the promotion of Alaska seafood. Winning photographers will earn cash prizes - from $50 to $150 for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes in each category. But perhaps more impressive is that photos will be featured across ASMI sites and shared with industry. Alaska commercial fishermen can submit photos in the following categories: Life on a Boat Best Fish/Quality Handling Best Action Best Family/Multi-Generation Best Scenic Best Boat Tell me you're a fisherman without telling me you're a fisherman Alaska Lifestyle All photos must depict Alaska waters and commercially harvested Alaska seafood species. The images will be primarily judged on quality and how well the photograph conveys the core ASMI message: "Wild, Natural and Sustainable." Please see our "helpful hints" section for more details. "This is a skill-based contest and chance plays no part in the determination of Winners or Finalists," ASMI's announcement says. Multiple entries are accepted, all photos must be submitted by 11:59 pm AKT on April 30, 2021, and winners will be announced in May. The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) is a partnership between the State of Alaska and the Alaska seafood industry, Alaska’s largest basic private sector employer. Nearly 60 percent of all wild seafood and 90-95 percent of wild salmon harvested in the U.S. comes from Alaska. In addition to wild salmon, Alaska is known for its crab, Pacific cod, sablefish, halibut, Alaska pollock, sole and rockfish. Alaska has been dedicated to sustainable seafood for more than 50 years and is the only state with a constitution that mandates all seafood be managed under the sustained yield principle. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1194781/ASMIs-Annual-Commercial-Fishing-Photo-Contest-Wants-Your-Best-Shot

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.