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Bean’s Café continues its mission to provide seafood and other life-giving resources to the homeless population of Anchorage especially during this trying year. Typically, Bean’s Café hosts an annual fundraiser event 'Toast to the Coast' and Pacific Seafood Processors Association (PSPA) is a proud sponsor of this event, but due to COVID they’ve had to make new plans. This annual event brings awareness to and helps fight hunger, brings Alaskans together, and features the best seafood procured by Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, and our collective partners.
PSPA is a strong supporter of their work and we’ve made a donation of $20,000 outside of this event for 2020 – Bean’s Café is hoping to double PSPA’s donation and raise $40,000 to help the homeless and hungry in Alaska.
Donate here: https://donate.beanscafe.org/(mention ‘Choose Alaska Seafood’ in the comments to activate the matching grant)
Please consider Bean’s Café as you finalize your end-of-year donation plans. Your donation of any amount will help Bean’s Café and Children’s Lunchbox continue their mission and continue to provide seafood and other life-giving resources to the homeless population of Anchorage.
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Politics
Fish bill: Huffman submits draft to reauthorize Magnuson
National Fisherman by Jessica Hathaway - December 18, 2020
Following a yearlong tour and eight listening sessions at fishing ports on every coast of the country, Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) introduced a draft reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act with Rep. Ed Case (D-Hawaii) on Friday, Dec. 18.
https://www.nationalfisherman.com/national-international/fish-bill-huffman-submits-draft-to-reauthorize-magnuson
National
Congress passes Young Fishermen’s Development Act for the new generation
National Fisherman by Kirk Moore - December 22, 2020
The passage by Congress this month of the Young Fishermen’s Development Act creates a $2 million annual grant fund to train and foster the next generation of U.S. commercial fishermen.
https://www.nationalfisherman.com/national-international/congress-passes-young-fishermen-s-development-act-for-the-new-generation
Seafood groups praise passage of COVID-19 relief package
Seafood Source by Christine Blank - December 22, 2020
U.S. seafood organizations are praising Congress’s passage of its Omnibus/COVID-19 relief package. The bill has been approved by the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate and has been sent to President Donald Trump for his signature.
https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/business-finance/seafood-groups-praise-passage-of-covid-19-relief-package
Environment/Science
Pacific cod appears to be rebounding throughout the Gulf of Alaska after long heat wave
Anchorage Daily News by Laine Welch - December 22, 2020
Alaska coastal communities will get a bit of an economic boost in 2021 from increased catches of Pacific cod.
https://www.adn.com/business-economy/2020/12/22/pacific-cod-appears-to-be-rebounding-throughout-the-gulf-of-alaska-after-long-heat-wave/
Federal Register
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Inseason Adjustment to the 2021 Gulf of Alaska Pollock and Pacific Cod Total Allowable Catch Amounts
A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 12/23/2020
NMFS is adjusting the 2021 total allowable catch (TAC) amounts for the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) pollock and Pacific cod fishery. This action is necessary because NMFS has determined these TACs are incorrectly specified, and will ensure the GOA pollock and Pacific cod TACs are the appropriate amount based on the best available scientific information for pollock and Pacific cod in the GOA. This action is consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska.
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/12/23/2020-28261/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-inseason-adjustment-to-the-2021-gulf-of-alaska
FYI’s
IPHC Welcomes Glenn Merrill to Replace Chris Oliver
SeafoodNews.com by Susan Chambers - December 23, 2020
The U.S. State Department last week approved the nomination of Glenn Merrill to serve as the alternate federal commissioner to the International Pacific Halibut Commission, according to a press release from the IPHC. His appointment was effective as of Dec. 12.
the IPHC said Merrill has extensive experience in international fisheries and most recently served as a senior policy advisor to Chris Oliver, the outgoing presidentially appointed commissioner, whose term expired on Dec. 12.
Merrill served as the Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries at NOAA Fisheries’ Alaska Regional Office since 2011. In that role, Merrill served as the agency’s primary policy expert and public liaison for North Pacific fishery management, including Pacific halibut. He also served as an alternate commissioner on the North Pacific Fisheries Commission and a senior policy advisor for the Central Bering Sea Pollock Convention.
“As I look back on my tenure with the IPHC, I am proud of the work accomplished between the U.S. and Canada to manage and conserve the Pacific halibut resource across its range" Oliver said in the press release. "Our actions have reflected a sensible and conservative approach for securing the future of this iconic and economically important species, and we have accomplished our goals in the spirit of mutual respect and cooperation."
https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1188140/IPHC-Welcomes-Glenn-Merrill-to-Replace-Chris-Oliver
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.