Wednesday, November 2, 2022

Alaska Community review of Kodiak’s first subsistence survey in 30 years is this week KMXT by Kirsten Dobroth - November 1, 2022 Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game completed its first subsistence harvest survey in nearly 30 years for Kodiak’s households earlier this year. https://kmxt.org/2022/11/community-review-of-kodiaks-first-subsistence-survey-in-30-years-is-this-week/ West Coast Whales off California coast delay commercial crab season AP News - October 29, 2022 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The start of the commercial Dungeness crab season in California will be delayed to protect whales from becoming entangled in trap and buoy lines. https://apnews.com/article/california-wildlife-whales-crabs-climate-and-environment-893279b5c3aa27413bbc3eb57177a86a International Russia Plans to Accelerate Building of Large Fish Trawlers SeafoodNews.com by Eugene Gerden - November 1, 2022 Russia plans to accelerate building of large fish trawlers – ships, that will not only be capable of conducting catch, but conducting its on-board processing, according to recent statements, made by some senior state officials and local media reports. According to Russian RBC business paper, a third of the Russian fishing fleet currently operating in the Far East - 186 vessels - were built back in the USSR. While in recent years it has been largely modernized, (which was primarily in the form of installation of foreign navigation and technological equipment), it still requires serious renewal and modernization. The collapse of the USSR and associated with this a number of political and economical crises in Russia has led to the almost complete suspension of building of new fish trawlers in Russia at the capacities of local shipyards. However in recent years the situation has stabilized. The forthcoming distribution of new fish quotas in the exchange of building a new fishing fleet should further contribute to its expansion in Russia and also create conditions for the building of large fish trawlers. The only problem, which can seriously complicate operations of Russian fishermen is the recent massive refusals of foreign ports to repair Russian fishing vessels. So far, many Russian fishing companies operating in the Northern and Western basins have faced theses problems during the repair of their ships in Norway, Finland, Poland and the Baltic countries. There is a possibility the same problem will continue to be observed at least until the end of the current year. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1238569/Russia-Plans-to-Accelerate-Building-of-Large-Fish-Trawlers Japan: Frozen Black Cod is Selling Well Despite a 50% Price Hike to Over JPY 2000 Per Kilo SeafoodNews.com by Tom Asakawa - November 1, 2022 Frozen black cod from Alaska has seen a price increase, especially in sizes 4 pounds and up. As of mid-October, the unit price per kilo for 4/5 pound sizes was 2,100 to 2,200 yen ($14.24-14.91), 40 to 50% higher than in late September of the previous year. 3/4 pound is priced at 1,500 to 1,520 yen ($10.17-10.30), up 1 to 3%, while 2/3 pound size is priced at 1,200 to 1,220 yen ($8.13-8.27), up 6 to 9%, Minato Shimbun reported. The catch of 5 pounds and up, which is popular in the international market, has decreased from 2021. Demand shifted to 4/5 pound sizes, whose primary market has been Japan. Combined with the yen depreciation, Japan is losing out on buying. Due to the high inflation and cost in the United States and the yen depreciation, the production area demanded a price increase for the smaller fish. However, the overall catch quota has increased from the previous year. Because Japan remains the principal consumer of black cod, "We are limiting the range of price increases in line with the Japanese market,'' according to a source from a trading company. There are reports that U.S. exports to China are increasing, but he said, "I don't think you need to worry about it. Processed fish in China, such as bone-removed products, is increasing, but they are being exported to Japan." At the beginning of autumn, some importers brought in small-size fish at a price higher than the domestic sales price, but "they are not the majority. It is unlikely that import prices will remain high overall. Domestic sales are going well." https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1238571/Japan-Frozen-Black-Cod-is-Selling-Well-Despite-a-50-percent-Price-Hike-to-Over-JPY-2000-Per-Kilo Federal Register Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Revisions to the Economic Data Reports Requirements; Amendment 52 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Commercial King and Tanner Crab Fisheries of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands A Proposed Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 11/01/2022 NMFS issues a proposed rule to implement Amendment 52 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Commercial King and Tanner Crab Fisheries of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (Crab FMP) and a regulatory amendment to revise regulations on Economic Data Reports (EDR) requirements for groundfish and crab fisheries off Alaska. If approved, this proposed rule would remove third party data verification audits and blind formatting requirements from the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) crab fisheries EDR, the Bering Sea American Fisheries Act (AFA) pollock fishery, Chinook Salmon EDR, and the BSAI Amendment 80 fisheries EDR. This action would also eliminate the EDR requirements for the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) trawl fisheries. This proposed rule is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the Crab FMP, the Fishery Management Plans for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area (GOA FMP), the Groundfish of the BSAI Management Area (BSAI FMP), and other applicable laws. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/11/01/2022-23306/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-revisions-to-the-economic-data-reports Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Amendment 124 to the BSAI FMP for Groundfish and Amendment 112 to the GOA FMP for Groundfish To Revise IFQ Program Regulations A Proposed Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 11/02/2022 The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) submitted Amendment 124 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI FMP) and Amendment 112 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA FMP) to the Secretary of Commerce for review. If approved, Amendment 124 to the BSAI FMP and Amendment 112 to the GOA FMP would authorize the use of jig gear in the sablefish individual fishing quota (IFQ) and community development quota (CDQ) programs. Amendment 124 would also remove the residency requirements for Community Quota Entity (CQE). These amendments are intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the FMPs, and other applicable laws. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/11/02/2022-23849/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-amendment-124-to-the-bsai-fmp-for-groundfish-and FYI’s The Aleutian Islands could become a hub for zero-emissions shipping KUCB by Theo Greenly - October 31, 2022 The International Port of Dutch Harbor presents the perfect fuel stop for hydrogen-powered container ships making the trip from Shanghai to Long Beach. https://www.kucb.org/regional/2022-10-31/the-aleutian-islands-could-become-a-hub-for-zero-emissions-shipping Seattle Fishermen’s Terminal to host first aid at sea workshop National Fisherman - October 31, 2022 Washington Sea Grant and the Port of Seattle Fishermen's Terminal are hosting a day-long workshop on first aid at sea for fishermen Nov. 4. Oregon Sea Grant photo. https://www.nationalfisherman.com/west-coast-pacific/seattle-fishermen-s-terminal-to-host-first-aid-at-sea-workshop 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.