Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Alaska Hundreds of Alaskans weigh in on who should be included in next phase of COVID-19 vaccination Anchorage Daily News by Annie Berman - December 28, 2020 As an Alaska committee prepares to vote this week on which groups to include in the next round of COVID-19 vaccinations, people from a wide range of backgrounds and industries — along with those most vulnerable to a severe infection from the virus — are vying for a spot. https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/2020/12/28/hundreds-of-alaskans-weigh-in-on-who-should-be-included-in-next-phase-of-covid-19-vaccination/ Bristol Bay sockeye a high point in the state's unpredictable salmon season The state’s salmon returns this summer were full of ups and downs. In many areas the runs and harvests were far lower than expected, while Bristol Bay sockeye and Kodiak pinks came back strong. KDLG by Isabelle Ross - December 28, 2020 More than 58 million sockeye salmon returned to Bristol Bay this summer. It’s another in a series of enormous runs to the fishery. The commercial harvest was just as impressive — Bristol Bay’s fleet hauled in 39.5 million fish, which is the fifth-largest harvest on record. https://www.kdlg.org/post/bristol-bay-sockeye-high-point-states-unpredictable-salmon-season#stream/0 ADF&G solicits bids for PWS Pollock test fishery Cordova Times by Margaret Bauman - December 28, 2020 Alaska Department of Fish and Game officials are soliciting bids to contract a vessel for a test fishery using pelagic trawl gear in early January to harvest up to 408 metric tons (900,000 pounds) of Pollock in Prince William Sound Registration Area E. https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2020/12/28/adfg-solicits-bids-for-pws-pollock-test-fishery/ Alaska’s APICDA Improved Infrastructure, Launched New Programs in 2020 SeafoodNews.com by Peggy Parker - December 29, 2020 For the Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Association (APICDA), 2020 was a year of accomplishments. The CDQ group funded a broad range of community and economic development initiatives in 2020 to support infrastructure, housing, health and safety, education, and increased fisheries access for residents in their member communities. APICDA is one of six Western Alaska groups who hold quota in fisheries in the Bering Sea and represent the communities of Akutan, Atka, False Pass, Nelson Lagoon, Nikolski, and St. George Island in the Pribiloffs. The APICDA board approved 19 projects for funding in 2020 through their Community Development Grant Program (CDGP). Since its inception in June 2019, this program has awarded a total of $3,190,917 for initiatives throughout APICDA's region. Projects such as essential water utility upgrades in Nikolski, matching funds for the replacement of the health clinic in Atka, and an energy assistance program for residents in Nelson Lagoon, were funded this year. Helping residents cope with the pandemic was a key goal. Several new programs were launched to help address COVID-19 related hardships and to support small boat fisheries in the Aleutian-Pribilof region. In St. George, an emergency relief program was offered to captains and deckhands to mitigate the financial impact of the processing plant suspension due to COVID concerns during the halibut fishery. In the last year, APICDA’s board also approved a new college and vocational scholarship for the region, a new gear reimbursement grant and revised its large-project Infrastructure Grant program that contributed $800,000 for projects in False Pass and Atka. “During this challenging time, APICDA has remained focused on identifying ways to increase and adapt our program offerings and direct CDQ resources to address growing needs in our communities, and we are excited to continue these efforts in 2021,” said Luke Fanning, APICDA’s CEO. Filling a gap in housing has helped keep the school in False Pass operating. “We built a residential duplex to attract new families to False Pass with APICDA’s community Development Grant Program funding,” said Nikki Hoblet, Mayor of the City of False Pass. “The lack of family housing in our community has directly affect the stability of our school due to low enrollment. “False Pass can now welcome new families to ensure our school remains open, which also encourages established families to stay. Addressing the lack of housing has been a priority for a long time, our community is deeply grateful to APICDA for making the funding available,” she said. In June, APICDA merged Prowler Fisheries (a wholly owned subsidiary), with Aleutian Spray Fisheries to form the Aleutian Longline Company (ALC). Strategic investment decisions like the ALC merger have allowed APICDA to significantly increase contributions to its member communities and expand its program offerings over the last two years. APICDA is a non-profit dedicated to strengthening local fisheries-based economies through increasing direct fisheries participation in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, building support infrastructure, and offering programs to assist the advancement of priority initiatives in its six member communities in the Aleutian-Pribilof region of Alaska. APICDA is one of six western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) organizations. The CDQ Program allocates a percentage of all Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands quotas for groundfish, prohibited species, halibut, and crab to eligible communities. The purpose of the CDQ Program is to provide eligible western Alaska villages with the opportunity to participate and invest in fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, alleviate poverty and provide economic and social benefits for residents of western Alaska. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1188395/Alaskas-APICDA-Improved-Infrastructure-Launched-New-Programs-in-2020 Federal Register North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting A Notice by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 12/28/2020 The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Community Engagement Committee will meet via web conference on January 12, 2021. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/12/28/2020-28554/north-pacific-fishery-management-council-public-meeting?utm_source=federalregister.gov&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=subscription+mailing+list FYI’s Fishermen Team Up With Food Banks To Help Hungry Families KUCB by April Fulton - December 25, 2020 As the COVID-19 pandemic hit hard in the spring, fishermen watched their markets dry up. Restaurants and cafeterias — normally major fish buyers — closed or cut back orders significantly. Fishermen weren't sure if they were going to get paid for what they brought to the dock. https://www.kucb.org/post/fishermen-team-food-banks-help-hungry-families#stream/0

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