Alaska/Pacific Coast
Unalaska's small cod boats seek federal protection Bristol Bay Times by Jim Paulin - November 30, 2018 Fearing that state regulators are powerless to stop the influx of bigger small boats, Unalaska's local Pacific cod fishermen are hoping for relief from the federal government, with a new sector based on gross tonnage of 55 tons or less. http://www.thebristolbaytimes.com/article/1848unalaskas_small_cod_boats_seek_federal Commission staff reports on decrease in halibut KFSK by Joe Viechnicki - November 27, 2018 Managers of halibut in the Pacific Ocean are reporting another year of declining stocks in most areas of the coast. The International Pacific Halibut Commission oversees management of the fish along the coast from Alaska to California. The commission held its interim meeting Tuesday and Wednesday, November 27-28 in Seattle and heard about the latest stock assessment of the valuable flatfish. https://www.kfsk.org/2018/11/27/commission-staff-reports-on-decrease-in-halibut/ ECON 919 - Declaring the 2018 fishing season a disaster KDLL by Shaylon Cochran - November 30, 2018 The 2018 fishing season didn’t leave many positives to look back on, and in fact, presented some new challenges. The borough assembly joined the city of Kenai and the city of Homer in requesting a formal disaster declaration for the 2018 salmon season, including commercial and sport fisheries and related businesses. https://www.kdll.org/post/econ-919-declaring-2018-fishing-season-disaster#stream/0 International NFI Hails Temporary Suspension of 25% China Tariff Threat, Says Pause in Trade Hostilities Will Help SeafoodNews by John Sackton - December 3, 2018 Over the weekend, President Trump announced a temporary truce in his trade war with China, saying that any tariff increases to 25% would be suspended for 90 days. Previously, Trump had threatened to impose a new round of 25% tariffs on January 1st. In response China agreed to reduce tariffs on US auto exports, a tiny fraction of their markets. The glimmer of hope caused markets to spike Monday morning. NFI President John Connelly said that "a temporary suspension of tariff increases and a commitment to continued trade negotiations are welcome developments. Seafood exports to China and seafood imports from China both play and important role in growing and maintaining U.S. jobs. The growing middle class in China is an important export market for U.S. seafood products. At the same time, raw material from China fuels production of finished seafood products here. When it comes to seafood, the relationship between the U.S. and China has historically been symbiotic. Tariffs damage that partnership. Certainty in supply is key to the seafood community on both sides. Even a pause in trade hostilities can help return a degree of confidence to the market. The latest assurance from the Administration that both sides are actively engaged in working towards a solution is beneficial to managing, maintaining and growing seafood businesses. Whether it's imports or exports the jobs impacted are here in the U.S." "NFI is pleased with this progress but would additionally like to have seen a commitment from China to pause or reduce the 25% tariffs they have already placed on U.S. seafood exports. We’re hopeful these latest developments will lead to a long term solution." Previously import tariffs on Chinese processed pollock, cod, and salmon have been reversed by the Trump administration, in an effort to not damage the extensive Alaska seafood industry that depends on reprocessing fish in China. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1125036/NFI-Hails-Temporary-Suspension-of-25-percent-China-Tariff-Threat-Says-Pause-in-Trade-Hostilities-Will-Help Federal Register Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area; Cost Recovery Programs A Notice by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 11/30/2018 NMFS publishes standard prices and fee percentages for cost recovery for the Amendment 80 Program, the American Fisheries Act (AFA) Program, the Aleutian Islands Pollock (AIP) Program, and the Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) groundfish and halibut Programs. The fee percentage for 2018 is 0.75 percent for the Amendment 80 Program, 0.24 percent for the AFA inshore cooperatives, 0.34 percent for the AFA mothership cooperative, 3.0 percent for the AIP program, and 0.66 percent for the CDQ groundfish and halibut Programs. This action is intended to provide the 2018 standard prices and fee percentages to calculate the required payment for cost recovery fees due by December 31, 2018. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/11/30/2018-25989/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-bering-sea-and-aleutian-islands-management-area Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; 2018 Tribal Fishery Allocations for Pacific Whiting; Reapportionment Between Tribal and Non-tribal Sectors A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 11/30/2018 This document announces the reapportionment of 40,000 metric tons of Pacific whiting from the tribal allocation to the non-tribal commercial fishery sectors via automatic action on September 24, 2018. This reapportionment is to allow full utilization of the Pacific whiting resource. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/11/30/2018-26043/magnuson-stevens-act-provisions-fisheries-off-west-coast-states-pacific-coast-groundfish-fishery Fishing Capacity Reduction Program for the Southeast Alaska Purse Seine Salmon Fishery A Notice by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 12/03/2018 NMFS issues this notice to inform persons of their eligibility to vote and the voting period for the proposed second fishing capacity reduction program loan in the Southeast Alaska Purse Seine Salmon Fishery. This notice informs the public of the permanent permit holders eligible to vote in the referendum. The referendum, if approved, will result in a loan of $10.1 million and permanently retire an additional 36 permits from the fishery. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/12/03/2018-26178/fishing-capacity-reduction-program-for-the-southeast-alaska-purse-seine-salmon-fishery
Ann Owens Pacific Seafood Processors Association Office Manager 1900 W Emerson Place Suite 205, Seattle, WA 98119 Phone: 206.281.1667 E-mail: pspafish@gmail.com; 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.