Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Alaska Commercial Harvest in Alaska Exceeds 77M Salmon Fishermen's News - July 26, 2023 The commercial harvest of salmon in Alaska has now topped 77 million fish, according to preliminary data compiled through Monday, July 24, by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. https://fishermensnews.com/commercial-harvest-in-alaska-exceeds-77m-salmon/ Bristol Bay sockeye are getting smaller, scientists say this year’s bigger and older fish are an anomaly KDLG by Jessie Sheldon - July 25, 2023 Fish and Game technicians take size, weight and length measurements at the dock in Dillingham at each tide during the season https://www.kdlg.org/fisheries/2023-07-25/bristol-bay-sockeye-are-getting-smaller-scientists-say-this-years-bigger-and-older-fish-are-an-anomaly With Bristol Bay sockeye harvests winding down, Alaska's pink salmon season takes center stage -- and things are heating up In April, ADF&G predicted southeast Alaska’s pink salmon run would be weak this year. So far, that doesn't appear to be the case. Intrafish by Rachel Sapin - July 24, 2023 While in its early phase, Alaska's southeast pink salmon season is off to a strong start, with more fish coming in than expected. https://www.intrafish.com/salmon/with-bristol-bay-sockeye-harvests-winding-down-alaskas-pink-salmon-season-takes-center-stage-and-things-are-heating-up/2-1-1488370 *Requires Subscription Alaska’s seafood industry could see boost from federal farm bill KMXT by Kirsten Dobroth - July 21, 2023 Lawmakers in Washington D.C. are currently negotiating the details of this year’s farm bill reauthorization, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski says Alaska’s commercial fishermen could see a boost from the bill. The senator introduced legislation this week that would prioritize food security and small-scale food producers in the state – including Alaska’s seafood industry. https://kmxt.org/2023/07/alaskas-seafood-industry-could-see-boost-from-federal-farm-bill/ Federal Register Fisheries Off West Coast States; West Coast Groundfish Electronic Monitoring Program; Service Provider Revisions A Proposed Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 07/26/2023 NMFS proposes regulatory amendments that would apply to Pacific Coast Groundfish Trawl Rationalization Program participants and electronic monitoring (EM) service providers that participate in the EM program. This rulemaking proposes to modify submission deadlines in Federal regulations specific to vessel feedback reports, summary reports, and logbook submissions by EM service providers. In addition, this rulemaking proposes to clarify regulations on how EM discard data should be estimated via the video review process. This action is necessary because the current regulatory deadlines for EM service providers may be too restrictive. This action is expected to provide more flexibility, while still meeting the data collection and data quality requirements of the EM program. This action would also update and revise obsolete regulations, correct terminology, correct web addresses, and remove obsolete administrative requirements in the Pacific groundfish fishery. Some aspects of this action remove duplicative requirements for mail notifications or mail-based record-keeping and reporting, which are also undertaken electronically. During the COVID–19 pandemic, many https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/07/26/2023-15574/fisheries-off-west-coast-states-west-coast-groundfish-electronic-monitoring-program-service-provider Pacific Halibut Fisheries; Catch Sharing Plan; Rulemaking To Modify the 2023-2027 Halibut Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Vessel Harvest Limitations in IFQ Regulatory Areas 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 07/26/2023 NMFS issues this final rule to revise regulations for the commercial individual fishing quota (IFQ) Pacific halibut (halibut) fisheries for 2023 through 2027. This rule removes limits on the maximum amount of halibut IFQ that may be harvested by a vessel, commonly known as vessel use caps, in IFQ Regulatory Areas 4A (Eastern Aleutian Islands), 4B (Central and Western Aleutian Islands), 4C (Central Bering Sea), and 4D (Eastern Bering Sea). This action provides additional flexibility and stability to IFQ participants in Areas 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D while a longer term modification of vessel use caps is considered. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the IFQ Program, the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (Halibut Act), and other applicable laws. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/07/26/2023-15816/pacific-halibut-fisheries-catch-sharing-plan-rulemaking-to-modify-the-2023-2027-halibut-individual FYI’s Public Input Sought on Developing Sustainable Ocean Economy Fishermen's News - July 26, 2023 Two federal agencies are seeking public comment through Aug. 28 on development of a national strategy for a sustainable ocean economy. https://fishermensnews.com/public-input-sought-on-developing-sustainable-ocean-economy/ Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Meeting— July 27 2023 NOAA Fisheries - July 23, 2023 The task force must review and report on research about Pacific salmon in Alaska, identify applied research needed to better understand salmon migration and declining salmon returns in some regions of Alaska, and support sustainable management of salmon. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/event/alaska-salmon-research-task-force-meeting-july-27-2023 Opinion OPINION: Data-driven fisheries management for future generations Anchorage Daily News by Doug Vincent-Lang - July 26, 2023 As commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, I am proud to work every day with people who make Alaska’s fisheries a global model of sustainability and fisheries management. It takes all of us — from the deckhands on commercial fishing boats, to my staff here at the department, to Alaska families reporting their subsistence numbers — to uphold the data-driven, science-based management practices that set Alaska’s fisheries apart. https://www.adn.com/opinions/2023/07/24/opinion-data-driven-fisheries-management-for-future-generations/ *Requires Subscription 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.