Thursday, June 10, 2021

Alaska Sen. Gary Stevens gives legislature update: budget, PFD, education, and tax credits for fisheries KMXT by Jared Griffin - June 9, 2021 A state budget will likely be passed at the end of this month’s special legislative session, but the PFD question may not be answered by then. That’s according to Kodiak Senator Gary Stevens, who sat down with Jared Griffin at KMXT to talk about recent developments in the legislature and what that means for Kodiak. https://kmxt.org/2021/06/sen-gary-stevens-gives-legislature-update-budget-pfd-education-and-tax-credits-for-fisheries/ National US "blue economy" contributed nearly USD 400 billion to GDP in 2019 Seafood Source by Steve Bittenbender - June 8, 2021 America’s maritime economy is firmly in the black, according to the first-ever ““blue economy” report from the U.S. Department of Commerce. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/aquaculture/us-blue-economy-contributed-nearly-usd-400-billion-to-gdp-in-2019 Environment/Science NOAA Selects OSU for Key Marine Research Institute SeafoodNews.com by Susan Chambers - June 8, 2021 Oregon State University is gaining prestige for its ocean studies programs. NOAA recently chose OUSE to host an institute focused on collaborative study of the rapidly changing ocean and expanded demands on its use. The Cooperative Institute for Marine Ecosystem and Resources Studies, or CIMERS, will focus on four research themes: conservation, protection and restoration of marine resources; marine ecosystems; ocean acoustics; and ocean, coastal and seafloor processes. The institute will be eligible for up to $37 million in funding over the next five years, with potential for renewal for five more years, according to an OSU press release. “NOAA’s significant support of this collaborative marine institute underscores Oregon State University’s longstanding contributions in leadership, research and teaching to protect and enhance our oceans,” OSU Interim President Becky Johnson said in the statement. “We must accelerate that work due to the extraordinary pressures and changes taking place in our oceans and climate. OSU’s collaborative model of engaging many colleges, academic disciplines and external partners is well-suited to address these issues.” NOAA supports 20 cooperative institutes in 28 states and the District of Columbia, providing funding to extend basic and applied research beyond the federal agency’s capacity. The institutes also serve as a training ground for future NOAA employees through undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral education programs that align with NOAA’s mission. “This [new] institute brings together talented researchers who will help NOAA advance our mission to better understand the ocean, climate, weather and fisheries, which depend on research, data and information to make sound decisions for healthy ecosystems, communities and a strong blue economy," Craig McLean, assistant NOAA administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, said in a a press release. The OSU institute was previously known as the Cooperative Institute for Marine Resources Studies and has been housed at Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Ore., since its establishment in 1982. In its new form, CIMERS will continue to address some of the same major marine research themes but also will expand to include new areas, institute director Francis Chan said. “The new Cooperative Institute better reflects the breadth of the ocean science we need to sustain a productive ocean ecosystem in the face of climate change,” Chan said. CIMRS supports marine research around the world, with an emphasis on the Northeastern Pacific Ocean. One of the institute’s key roles is to conduct an every-two-weeks survey of ocean conditions and sampling of zooplankton, which are critical to the marine food chain. The survey begins near the shore in Newport, and extends about 25 nautical miles off the coast, crossing waters that are home to salmon, rockfish and whales that are icons of the Pacific Northwest’s coastal ocean. “Our ocean is changing rapidly,” Chan said. “This survey gives us an important indicator of the health of the ocean ecosystem and provides resource managers with information that is crucial for safeguarding the resilience of fisheries and coastal economies.” Institute researchers also have played key roles in important ocean discoveries, such as underwater volcanoes, methane seeps and hydrothermal vents found on the seafloor. They have also led important studies on ocean acoustics and the impacts of an increasingly noisy ocean on sea life. “The collaborative nature of this institute offers opportunities for researchers in a wide range of disciplines, from engineering to agricultural and biological sciences, to engage in and participate in projects,” Irem Tumer, vice president for research at Oregon State, said. “This is an opportunity to help NOAA tap into all of the experience Oregon State researchers have to offer, including climate solutions, the blue economy, new discoveries and more.” The new institute also will have a sharper focus on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in marine science. The institute serves as a training pipeline for future NOAA scientists, and one of the institute’s goals is to ensure that people from underserved groups have opportunities to engage in marine research, Chan said. “We have too many challenges and opportunities ahead in ocean science to be leaving people behind,” he said. “We need to engage the talents, creativity and experiences of all students who can be future leaders in finding new solutions and discoveries.” Oregon State was selected to host CIMERS following an open, competitive evaluation. The university is also a partner in NOAA’s Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean and Ecosystem Studies, or CICOES. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1200927/NOAA-Selects-OSU-for-Key-Marine-Research-Institute Labeling and Marketing Top Two Seafood Harvesting States Joining Forces in Partnership and Future Support My New Orleans - June 7, 2021 BATON ROUGE, La (press release) – Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser will travel to Juneau, Alaska, to solidify a partnership between the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board and the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. The partnership is an opportunity for each to share the challenges faced by our respective fishing and tourism communities and act as a meeting point for the two seafood marketing programs to work together and help each other moving into the future. The meeting will be part of a promotional event called Tour de Chef, featuring 2015 King of Louisiana Seafood Chef Mike Brewer cooking along with 2017 King of American Seafood Chef Lionel Uppida to showcase the best of Louisiana seafood and Alaska seafood on one plate. Louisiana and Alaska, the top two seafood-harvesting states, are responsible for producing approximately 6.5 million pounds of seafood annually. https://www.myneworleans.com/top-two-seafood-harvesting-states-joining-forces-in-partnership-and-future-support/ 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.