Wednesday, May 20, 2026
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Alaska
United Fishermen of Alaska Begins Search for New Executive Director, Welch Named to CFEC
SeafoodNews by Peggy Parker - May 19, 2026
Alaska’s largest fishing organization is recruiting a new executive director, following recent legislative confirmation of former ED Tracy Welch to be one of two commissioners at the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission.
UFA’s executive director position carries a starting salary of $90,000-$100,000 according to the job description.
Welch joins Rick Green, who was appointed March 1, 2025. Welch was appointed by Governor Mike Dunleavy April 21, 2026 and was confirmed by the state Legislature in recent days. The regular session ends tomorrow, May 20.
According to Laine Welch (no relation) of Alaskafish.news, Dunleavy appointed Welch, as well as new members of the Board of Fish, with no public announcements.
The CFEC commissioners are responsible for managing the annual renewal of thousands of commercial fishing permits and vessel licenses, adjudicating permit disputes and appeals and determining which fisheries require limited entry to prevent overcapitalization, reported Alaskafish.news.
Welch’s appointment to the CFEC expires March 1, 2030. Greens appointment expires March 1, 2029.
Q&A: DIPAC celebrates 50 years of salmon sustainability in Juneau
KTOO by Mike Lane - May 19, 2026
Douglas Island Pink and Chum celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. The Juneau hatchery – commonly known as DIPAC – was founded in 1976.
West Coast
New seafood processing facility to open in Washington state
The company specializes in processing Dungeness crab.
Intrafish by Rachel Sapin - May 19, 2026
A new seafood processing and cold‑storage facility for Pacific Dream Seafoods in Burlington, Washington, is expected to be completed by mid‑2027.
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Federal Register
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher/Processors Using Hook-and-Line Gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 05/20/2026
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher/processors using hook-and-line (HAL) gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2026 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to catcher/processors using HAL gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Full Coverage Trawl Electronic Monitoring Fee Notice
A Notice by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 05/20/2026
NMFS publishes this notice to announce the 2025 fee percentage of 0.12 percent applicable to participants in the full coverage category of the Trawl Electronic Monitoring Program (Trawl EM Program). NMFS used this fee percentage to calculate fee liabilities for the 2025 fishing season. Annually, NMFS issues invoices to vessel owners subject to the fee. Fees for the 2025 fishing season are due to NMFS on or before May 31, 2026.
Fisheries Off West Coast States; West Coast Salmon Fisheries; 2026 Specifications and Management Measures
A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 05/19/2026
Through this final rule, NMFS establishes fishery management measures for the ocean salmon fisheries off Washington, Oregon, and California for the season beginning May 16, 2026, until the effective date of the 2027 management measures which we expect to be May 16, 2027 (the 2026 ocean salmon fishing season), under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA).
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Prohibited Species Donation Program
A Notice by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 05/20/2026
NMFS announces the renewal of two prohibited species donation (PSD) permits to SeaShare, a non-profit and tax-exempt organization, authorizing this organization to distribute Pacific salmon (salmon) and Pacific halibut (halibut) to hunger relief agencies, food bank networks, or food bank distributors under the PSD program.
FYI’s
Five Hatchery and Genetic Management Plans for the Puyallup River Basin
NOAA Fisheries - May 19, 2026
NOAA Fisheries is making available for public review its Proposed Evaluation and Pending Determination (PEPD) for five hatchery programs rearing and releasing fall Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and fall chum salmon in the Puyallup River basin.
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