Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Alaska Alaska returns to high alert level as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations climb Alaska Public Media by Tegan Hanlon - July 20, 2021 Alaska has returned to a statewide high alert level as the number of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations climbs, and the vaccination rate stalls. https://www.alaskapublic.org/2021/07/20/alaska-returns-to-high-alert-level-as-covid-19-cases-and-hospitalizations-climb-again/ 9.5 million pink salmon harvested as Alaska fleet marks early surge National Fisherman by Jessica Hathaway - July 20, 2021 As of Friday, July 17, Alaska’s salmon harvest continued to pick up steam, including the season’s largest weekly harvest. https://www.nationalfisherman.com/alaska/9-5-million-pink-salmon-harvested-as-alaska-fleet-marks-early-surge Kenai king fishery shuts down KDLL by Elizabeth Earl - July 19, 2021 The Kenai River will close entirely to king salmon fishing starting Wednesday. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced the closure Monday afternoon after nearly three weeks of watching the late-run king salmon fail to return to the Kenai River in large enough numbers. The lower river started July with a king fishery open to retention, but no bait allowed; the department moved to catch-and-release only, with a note that further action might be necessary. Even with the closure, biologists don’t think the run will make the minimum escapement goal. https://www.kdll.org/post/kenai-king-fishery-shuts-down#stream/0 Federal Register Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish in the Bering Sea Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 07/21/2021 NMFS is prohibiting retention of non-Community Development Quota (CDQ) sablefish by vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary because the 2021 non-CDQ sablefish initial total allowable catch (ITAC) in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI will be reached. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/07/21/2021-15537/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-sablefish-in-the-bering-sea-subarea-of-the Pacific Halibut Fisheries; Catch Sharing Plan; Inseason Action A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 07/21/2021 This document announces additional season dates for the Washington North Coast and Puget Sound Pacific halibut recreational fisheries in the International Pacific Halibut Commission's regulatory Area 2A off Washington, Oregon, and California. This action is intended to conserve Pacific halibut and provide angler opportunity where available. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/07/21/2021-15451/pacific-halibut-fisheries-catch-sharing-plan-inseason-action FYI’s GCI Hits First Key Milestone In Plans To Bring Fiber Optic Broadband To The Aleutians KUCB by Maggie Nelson - July 20, 2021 An Alaska-based telecommunications company says it's reached a major milestone in its mission to bring Unalaskans improved digital connectivity through a new fiber optic line. https://www.kucb.org/post/gci-hits-first-key-milestone-plans-bring-fiber-optic-broadband-aleutians#stream/0 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.