Wednesday, June 7, 2023

Alaska Fishers harvesting abundant Bristol Bay sockeye could fill knowledge gaps about declining Chinook Alaska Beacon by Yereth Rosen - June 5, 2023 In the Bristol Bay region, sockeye salmon runs have been booming while Chinook runs have dwindled. Now scientists are seeking to enlist fishing crews in the effort to find out why, as well as what can be done about the Chinook troubles. https://alaskabeacon.com/briefs/fishers-harvesting-abundant-bristol-bay-sockeye-could-fill-knowledge-gaps-about-declining-chinook/ Copper River Salmon Catch Nears 400,000 Fish Fishermen's News - June 6, 2023 Preliminary harvest totals for the first six openers of Alaska’s Copper River wild salmon fishery put the total catch at nearly 400,000 fish, including 380.154 sockeyes, 11,884 chum, 6,980 Chinook and 15 pinks. https://fishermensnews.com/copper-river-salmon-catch-nears-400000-fish/ National Seafood Consumption Figures for 2021 Released, Increasing 1.5 Pounds From 2020 Urner Barry by Amanda Buckle - June 7, 2023 NOAA’s annual Fisheries of the United States report has been released, revealing seafood consumption figures for 2021. According to the report, the U.S. annually ranks as one of the top seafood-consuming nations globally. And 2021 did not disappoint. Based on NOAA’s figures per capita consumption was at 20.5 pounds, which is a 1.5% increase from 2020. Fresh and frozen seafood made up 50% of per capita consumption. Fillets and steaks had the next highest percentage of 19% per capita consumption, followed by shrimp (all) at 18% and canned at 11%. Sticks and portions at 2% and cured at 1% round out the per capita by group. The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) released a chart diving deeper into seafood consumption by listing the annual top 10 list. Just like in the past few years, shrimp dominates consumption figures with 5.90 per capita consumed in 2021, an increase of .90 from 2020. Salmon is the second highest consumed seafood item at 3.38 pounds per capita, a 0.55 increase from 2020. Rounding out the top five is canned tuna with 1.90 per capita consumption, tilapia with 1.04 and Alaska pollock with 0.78. The full top 10 can be found in the chart below. NFI also notes that the top 10 total 15.67 of the 20.50 pounds per capita. All other species consumption comes in at 4.83 pounds per capita.

“The 2021 Top 10 List bears out some long-held consumption predictions,” commented Richard Barry, NFI’s Programs Director. “For years, industry experts have reported a big overall increase in pandemic-era seafood consumption. There’s no doubt we’ll continue to see pandemic-related market forces influence these numbers in different ways over the next few years. But this snapshot in time is evidence of a big consumption win.” https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1254448/Seafood-Consumption-Figures-for-2021-Released-Increasing-1-point-5-Pounds-From-2020

International ADF&G Expresses Concerns Over MSC’s Russian Seafood Monitoring Fishermen's News - June 6, 2023 Alaska Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang is taking issue with the Marine Stewardship Council’s business as usual with Russian client fisheries as the war in Ukraine progresses, prompting a response of “deep dismay” over “troubling accusations” from the Council. https://fishermensnews.com/adfg-expresses-concerns-over-mscs-russian-seafood-monitoring/ Environment/Science Biden-Harris Administration announces $2.6 billion framework through Investing in America agenda to protect coastal communities and restore marine resources NOAA releases plans to build climate resilience and support coastal communities with Inflation Reduction Act funds NOAA Fisheries - June 6, 2023 Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce unveiled a $2.6 billion framework to invest in coastal resilience through President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). As part of the President’s Investing in America Agenda this initiative will support communities and people on the frontlines of climate change, dedicating nearly $400 million specifically for Tribal priorities and benefiting coastal and Great Lakes communities nationwide with an emphasis on environmental justice. Additional investments from the IRA will improve weather and climate data and services, support the Biden-Harris Administration’s America the Beautiful conservation initiative and strengthen NOAA’s fleet of research airplanes and ships that are used to study and collect data about the ocean and atmosphere. https://www.noaa.gov/news-releases/noaa-ira-framework-2023 Tracking Climate-Driven Shifts in Fish Populations Across International Boundaries As ocean warming drives fish stocks beyond traditional habitats, international collaboration and innovative methods are key to predicting and adapting to ecosystem change. NOAA Fisheries - June 5, 2023 As the ocean warms, marine fish are on the move—beyond their traditional habitats and across international boundaries. Understanding these patterns of movement is essential to predicting change and managing climate-resilient fisheries. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/tracking-climate-driven-shifts-fish-populations-across-international-boundaries Labeling and Marketing Hannah Schlosstein spearheading ASMI’s marketing plans in emerging Asian markets Seafood Source by Chris Loew - June 6, 2023 Hannah Schlosstein is the new international marketing coordinator for Asia at the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI). She earned a politics and sociology undergraduate degree from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and then worked as a language teacher in rural Japan for two years. Schlosstein most recently worked as a clinical programs manager at the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) Hospital in Juneau. She started her position with ASMI in December 2023 and talked with SeafoodSource about her background and the new role. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/premium/supply-trade/hannah-schlosstein-spearheading-asmi-s-marketing-plans-in-emerging-asian-markets *Requires Subscription Federal Register Pacific Halibut Fisheries of the West Coast; Catch Sharing Plan; Inseason Action A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 06/06/2023 NMFS announces inseason actions for certain subareas in the Pacific halibut recreational fishery in the International Pacific Halibut Commission's regulatory Area 2A off Washington, Oregon, and California. Specifically, this action increases the bag limit from one to two fish per day in the Oregon Central Coast and Southern Oregon subareas starting June 12. It also adds the season dates of June 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, and 30 for the Washington North Coast subarea and June 13 and 20 for the Columbia River subarea. This action is intended to conserve Pacific halibut and provide angler opportunity where available. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/06/06/2023-12071/pacific-halibut-fisheries-of-the-west-coast-catch-sharing-plan-inseason-action FYI’s Saltonstall-Kennedy Fisheries Grants Applications Due Next Month Fishermen's News - June 6, 2023 Applications are due by July 24 for federal funds to be awarded for fisheries research and development projects in 2024 through the Saltonstall-Kennedy Act, including but not limited to harvesting, processing, marketing and associated business infrastructures. https://fishermensnews.com/saltonstall-kennedy-fisheries-grants-applications-due-next-month/

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