Tuesday, March 1, 2022

Alaska Processors plan to purchase 52M Bristol Bay salmon in 2022 Cordova Times - February 28, 2022 Commercial salmon processors have advised the Alaska Department of Fish and Game via the 2022 preseason processor capacity survey that they are ready to purchase 52 million fish in 2022, with a daily processing capacity of 3 million salmon. https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2022/02/28/processors-plan-to-purchase-52m-bristol-bay-salmon-in-2022/ Alaska Fisheries Report February 24, 2022 KMXT - February 24, 2022 On this week’s Alaska Fisheries Report with Terry Haines: Kirsten Dobroth goes off about House hearings on fed fish Ds, Hope McKenney gets spinny on the skinny about rare whales at sea, And Sage Smiley was wily in stalking her story on the Bycatch T: https://kmxt.org/2022/02/alaska-fisheries-report-february-24-2022/ New detailed forecast shows Bristol Bay sockeye salmon run to be heavier on west side again The commercial salmon season in Bristol Bay is projected to open June 1 with another strong harvest. Intrafish by Rachel Sapin - March 1, 2022 The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) released a more detailed forecast Thursday for the upcoming sockeye salmon season, projecting a 75.27 million run of sockeye, with around 39 percent of that fish projected to come from Bristol Bay's Nushagak River District. https://www.intrafish.com/fisheries/new-detailed-forecast-shows-bristol-bay-sockeye-salmon-run-to-be-heavier-on-west-side-again/2-1-1174392 Look-Sea: A Walk Among the Giants National Fisherman by Paul Molyneaux - February 28, 2022 In the off-season, the Alaska trawl fleet returns to Seattle for the annual maintenance that keeps the fleet sturdy at sea Visiting the big boats at Pier 91 might be as close as most people will get to the action on the Bering Sea. The waves rolling invisible through the endless Arctic night, unseen until they reach the lights of the boat; the ice-covered decks; the huge cod ends hauled aboard with thousands of pounds of fish in the mix — all of it can only be imagined when walking among the giant vessels at Seattle’s Pier 91. https://www.nationalfisherman.com/west-coast-pacific/look-sea-a-walk-among-the-giants Federal Register Fisheries off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Electronic Monitoring Program Regulations for Bottom Trawl and Non-Whiting Midwater Trawl Vessels A Proposed Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 03/01/2022 This proposed rule would implement electronic monitoring (EM) program regulations for vessels using groundfish bottom trawl and non-whiting midwater trawl gear in the Pacific Coast Groundfish Trawl Catch Share Program. The proposed action would allow vessels using bottom trawl and non-whiting midwater trawl gear to use EM in place of human observers to meet requirements for 100 percent at-sea catch monitoring. The proposed action is intended to increase operational flexibility and reduce monitoring costs for vessels in the groundfish trawl fishery. The proposed rule would also revise some existing regulations for EM vessels and EM service providers to clarify and streamline EM program requirements. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/03/01/2022-03516/fisheries-off-west-coast-states-pacific-coast-groundfish-fishery-electronic-monitoring-program FYI’s Identifying training needs of new Alaska fishermen Alaska Sea Grant by Anne Gore - February 15, 2022 Alaska’s seafood industry is the economic backbone of many coastal communities. Seafood harvesting jobs pay well, and yet getting into the business is not easy. Commercial fishing demands a range of skills from business know-how to mechanics and an understanding of regulatory and safety requirements. The success and sustainability of the fishing industry depends on a well-trained workforce. https://alaskaseagrant.org/2022/02/15/identifying-training-needs-of-new-alaska-fishermen/ NOAA Fisheries Makes Name Change to International Office Urner Barry by Ryan Doyle - March 1, 2022 NOAA Fisheries Office of International Affairs and Seafood Inspection is now the Office of International Affairs, Trade and Commerce, per a February 28 announcement. Director Alexa Cole will remain at the helm of the Office and the change was made to integrate “the full scope of office functions and more thoroughly reflects the types of work the office carries out.” NOAA also said the new name more accurately reflects the work of the Seafood Inspection Program in support of trade and commerce. According to NOAA, proposed changes address the increasing demands related to: - Trade and commerce policy and analysis - Implementation of new and expanding statutory mandates - Seafood trade - Information technology modernization “The restructuring aligns the trade functions in NOAA Fisheries to better support the U.S. seafood industry, promote exports, improve seafood competitiveness, and combat IUU fishing,” an update from NOAA stated. The restructuring will also create the Trade and Commerce Division with a pair of branches: trade monitoring and commerce policy. It will also see all of NOAA Fisheries’ trade monitoring efforts fall under one office. Now, the Office of International Affairs, Trade, and Commerce now oversees the Seafood Import Monitoring Program, Antarctic Marine Living Resources Program, Highly Migratory Species International Trade Program and the Tuna Tracking and Verification Program. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1219984/NOAA-Fisheries-Makes-Name-Change-to-International-Office 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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