Tuesday, November 2, 2021

West Coast West Coast Salmon Trollers Get Federal Support for Disaster Request SeafoodNews.com by Susan Chambers - November 1, 2021 Oregon's coastal delegation is going to bat for the state’s salmon fishermen. Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, with Reps. Peter DeFazio, Kurt Schrader and Suzanne Bonamici, all democrats, are urging the U.S. Department of Commerce to grant a catastrophic regional fishery disaster declaration for Oregon, the lawmakers said in a press release. Three consecutive years of challenging weather and conditions have hit salmon populations particularly hard, they said. "The value of salmon to Oregon cannot be overstated. In addition to the economic activity generated by this industry, salmon are an important part of the cultural heritage of Pacific Northwest tribes, generate recreational activity, and are a treasured natural resource across the state,” they wrote in a letter to Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo last week. “However, the challenging impacts of climate change, increased drought, and changing ocean conditions complicate the recovery of salmon populations in the Pacific Northwest.” From 2013 to 2017, the commercial value of Chinook salmon was around $6.3 million annually for Oregon fisheries. But with the impacts of climate chaos affecting salmon populations, the economic value has dropped precipitously—down to $2.3 million in 2018, $2 million in 2019, and $1.4 million in 2020, according to the statement. “Federal support for this industry is critical while local, state, and federal partners continue to work toward long-term solutions,” the delegation wrote. The full letter can be found here: https://www.merkley.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/21.10.21_LTR_Salmon_Disaster.pdf Gov. Kate Brown requested the fisheries in 2018, 2019 and 2020 be declared failures in a letter dated Oct. 4. “Performance of these fisheries was very poor in 2018, 2019, and 2020, leading to severe effects on already distressed rural communities and the businesses that depend upon these fisheries,” Brown wrote. “Declaring a catastrophic regional fishery disaster and commercial fishery failure will begin the process for requesting federal aid to assist these fishery-dependent communities during this difficult time.” The last time a salmon fishery in Oregon was declared a failure was in 2018, when the 2016 and 2017 Klamath River fall Chinook fisheries were approved and fishermen received federal aid. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1211390/West-Coast-Salmon-Trollers-Get-Federal-Support-for-Disaster-Request Environment/Science Scientists report an increase in harmful algal blooms in the northern Bering and Chukchi Seas Alaska Public Media by Davis Hovey, KNOM - November 1, 2021 Scientists have documented an increase in harmful algal blooms in the northern Bering and Chukchi Seas. The blooms carry toxins, but scientists aren’t yet sure what impact they will have on marine mammals. https://www.alaskapublic.org/2021/11/01/scientists-report-an-increase-in-harmful-algal-blooms-in-the-northern-bering-and-chukchi-seas/ FYI’s Fall Fishermen’s EXPO will provide education opportunities Cordova Times - October 29, 2021 Efforts to provide resources and education opportunities for commercial fisheries are the goal of the 2021 Fall Fishermen’s EXPO Nov. 8-9, hosted by the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association and the Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust. https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2021/10/29/fall-fishermens-expo-will-provide-education-opportunities/ Pacific Marine Expo Full Steam Ahead With Vaccine Policy, Mask Mandate Urner Barry by Amanda Buckle - November 2, 2021 Pacific Marine Expo is back! The largest commercial marine trade show on the West Coast went virtual last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But with cases decreasing and a sense of normalcy returning, the event , which serves commercial mariners from Alaska to California, is full steam ahead. The expo, which is set to take place at the Lumen Field Event Center in Seattle, Washington, from November 18 through the 20, will feature more than 500 exhibitors and is expected to draw approximately 6,000 attendees. And a number of measures are being put in place to keep those attending safe. Lumen Field requires that all attendees, exhibitors, speakers and staff provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination for entry into the Lumen Field Event Center. The facility will also accept a negative COVID-19 test result that has been taken within 72 hours prior to the event. In addition to the vaccination policy, attendees also have to follow the current Washington state and King County mask mandate. This means that anyone entering the facility will be required to wear a mask at all times except while actively eating or drinking. This rule is in place for everyone regardless of vaccination status or testing. “After a year away, the maritime community is very eager to come together again at Pacific Marine Expo,” said Bob Callahan, Group Vice President of Diversified Communications, the show organizer. “Over the past year we have heard time and time again how important this show is to the commercial marine industry, and we can’t wait to do our part to drive this business forward once again in 2022. This important industry needs this show, and we are ready to deliver it.” Diversified Communications puts on a number of events throughout the year, including Seafood Expo North America. Like Pacific Marine Expo, the event was canceled last year as a result of the pandemic. However, Seafood Expo North America is expected to make its return to Boston in March 2022. In the past the show has attracted more than 22,000 seafood industry professionals from around the country and the world. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1211513/Pacific-Marine-Expo-Full-Steam-Ahead-With-Vaccine-Policy-Mask-Mandate 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.