Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Alaska Alaska Fisheries Report February 17, 2022 KMXT - February 22, 2022 On this week’s Alaska Fisheries Report with Terry Haines: Managers consider controversial changes in how halibut is allocated between charter and harvest fishermen. Pelican is selling its City owned processing plant. And another weak forecast for the sockeye salmon run in Upper Cook Inlet. https://kmxt.org/2022/02/alaska-fisheries-report-february-17-2022/ Legislators affirm support for Alaska Ocean Cluster Cordova Times - February 22, 2022 Legislators in the Alaska House of Representatives have recognized the blue economy efforts of the Alaska Ocean Cluster in House Concurrent Resolution 2 and sent the document to the Alaska Senate for consideration. https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2022/02/22/legislators-affirm-support-for-alaska-ocean-cluster/ West Coast Successful West Coast Dungeness Crab Season Still Going Strong; CA Issues Fleet Advisory SeafoodNews.com by Susan Chambers - February 21, 2022 Oregon's Dungeness crab season is one for the record books already and crabbers in Washington and California also are enjoying a full season and good prices. Most of the areas in all three states were able to start on time, Dec. 1, for the primary season for a change, so crab was plentiful for the holidays, crab feeds and routine seafood sales through this year. Preliminary data from the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission's PacFIN database shows California's landings increased from 3.8 million pounds during the 2020-2021 season to 10 million pounds this season, for a total value increase of more than $30 million to $51 million. Oregon's value increased from $61 million during the 2020-2021 season to $82.5 million this season, with a few more months left to go this year. Crabbers in Washington, however, delivered 29 million pounds in 2020-2021 and 39 million pounds so far this season, but the total value for Washington is roughly the same: $72 million last season vs. $73 million this season. Domoic acid kept many Washington crabbers from fishing until after New Year's, when the average ex-vessel price tends to rise if demand remains strong as the harvest slows down. In California, California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton Bonham issed a statewide fleet advisory for commercial fishermen Friday. CDFW completed an assessment of marine life entanglement risk for the recreational and commercial Dungeness crab fisheries under the Risk Assessment and Mitigation Program and determined a fleet advisory was necessary due to a recent humpback whale entanglement, approximately 5 miles west of Cypress Point near Monterey Bay, in Fishing Zone 4, the Department said in a press release. The entanglement was first reported in late January involving heavy line from unknown fishing gear and CDFW is encouraging the commercial fleet and all mariners to be on the lookout for any entangled whale in this area and across California waters. Fishermen are asked to report the entanglement sighting to the United States Coast Guard or call the Entanglement Reporting Hotline: 1-877-SOS-WHAL or 1-877-767-9425. Based on recent surveys and historic migration patterns, overall entanglement risk remains low across California waters. CDFW is however issuing this Fleet Advisory for all fishing zones and reminds all in the commercial and recreational fisheries to implement best practices, as described in the Best Practices Guide, CDFW said. In Oregon, state managers were notified of two entanglement events in calendar year 2021 that were confirmed to involve Oregon Dungeness crab gear. One was a minke whale, reported in April 2021, with 2020-2021 season buoy tags. The second was a humpback, reported in November 2021, with two past 2019-2020 season tags attached. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife noted derelict gear was likely responsible for the humpback's entanglement and that it is important to clean up derelict gear whenever possible. ODFW will also be letting crabbers know that late-season mitigation measure will take effect May 1, including a 20 percent pot limit reduction, 40-fathom depth restriction and a late-season tag requirements. Notices to fishermen will include the form to purchase late-season tags. Enforcement officials in Oregon also have noticed an uptick in short crab violations in landings recently. ODFW reminds the industry that neglectful harvest of undersized or "short" crab takes future crab from legal harvesters, leads to irresponsible wastage of crab and undermines the sustainability of one of Oregon's most valuable fisheries. State managers are asking fishermen, buyers and processors support the harvest of legal crab before compliance or enforcement actions need to be taken. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1219345/Successful-West-Coast-Dungeness-Crab-Season-Still-Going-Strong-CA-Issues-Fleet-Advisory International Bill would ban Russian seafood imports Cordova Times - February 21, 2022 Legislation introduced by Alaska Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan would ban the import of all Russian Seafood into the United States in response to Russia’s 2014 ban of import of seafood from the U.S. and other western countries seafood products. https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2022/02/21/bill-would-ban-russian-seafood-imports/ FYI’s Trident Seafoods names new head of European operations The executive replaces one of the Seattle-based company's longest-serving European employees. Intrafish by Drew Cherry - February 19, 2022 Trident Seafoods on Friday announced it has named a new managing director for its European operations, following the departure of long-time executive Stefan Kleemeyer. https://www.intrafish.com/people/trident-seafoods-names-new-head-of-european-operations/2-1-1171469 OBI Seafoods plans full-scale exhibit at Seafood Expo Cordova Times - February 22, 2022 OBI Seafoods is planning a full-scale, fully staffed exhibit at Seafood Expo North America in Boston March 13-15, to introduce the company to new customers and start taking orders for the 2020 harvest of wild Alaska salmon, says Chief Executive Officer Mark Palmer. https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2022/02/22/obi-seafoods-plans-full-scale-exhibit-at-seafood-expo/ 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. 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