Alaska/Pacific Coast
Sitka Sound 2019 Herring GHL Set at 12,869 tons Fishermen's News - December 5, 2018 The guideline harvest level (GHL) for the 2019 Sitka Sound sac roe herring harvest has been set at 12,869 tons. Alaska Department of Fish and Game officials said the forecast is based on a 20 percent harvest rate of the forecasted mature biomass of 62,343 tons. The 2019 forecast is a boost from the 55,637 tons seen in 2018, but less than the 2016 and 2017 forecasts of 74,707 and 73,245 tons respectively. The figure represents a nine percent increase from the model estimate of 2018 mature pre-fishery biomass of 59,257 tons. http://fnonlinenews.blogspot.com/2018/12/sitka-sound-2019-herring-ghl-set-at.html Good fishing community neighbors are hard to come by Cordova Times - December 5, 2018 Researchers who conducted a study of 89 East Africa fishing communities say they found good neighbors who agree with common proposals to improve shared fisheries management are hard to find. https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2018/12/05/good-fishing-community-neighbors-are-hard-to-come-by/ Unclear If New DOC Commissioner Will Make Changes To Inmate Work Program KUCB by Laura Kraegel - December 6, 2018 It's too soon to say whether the appointment of a new state corrections commissioner will affect the inmate work program that Unalaska is scheduled to join this winter. http://www.kucb.org/post/unclear-if-new-doc-commissioner-will-make-changes-inmate-work-program Second-worst chinook forecast since ‘95 for Taku River Taku and Stikine rivers expected to see near record low numbers of salmon Homer News by Ben Hohenstatt - December 5, 2018 Numbers released last week by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game forecast “very low” numbers of chinook salmon will spawn this summer on the Taku and Stikine rivers. https://www.homernews.com/news/second-worst-chinook-forecast-since-95-for-taku-river/ International Final Numbers for China Fisheries Show: Traffic up 13%, Exhibit Space up 22% as China Market Grows SeafoodNews by John Sackton - December 6, 2018 The overseas organizers of the China Fisheries and Seafood Expo, Sea Fare Expositions, have announced that this years show, held last month in Qingdao, saw a 13% jump in visitors, and a 22% increase in exhibit space. Buyers filled the aisles of all ten exhibit halls for the three-day event that showcased the growing demand in the world’s largest seafood market. The 23rd annual edition of CFSE featured 1,545 exhibiting companies from 51 countries. Net exhibit space was 45,000 square meters. In terms of net exhibit space and number of visitors, CFSE is now the largest seafood trade exposition in the world. All together, companies from more than 100 countries participated. “The dynamics of the China seafood market haven’t really changed: Seafood is the protein of choice in the world’s most populous country and the growing middle class, which now is 400 million people by some estimates, has more money to buy seafood,” says Peter Redmayne, president of Sea Fare Expositions, Inc., the show’s developer and organizer. “But what has changed is the industry’s ability to get seafood to consumers. Recognizing the growing demand for seafood, the Chinese government has slashed tariffs on most imported seafood and eliminated burdensome inspections and regulations on importers. In addition there are more direct international flights to second and third tier Chinese cities, greatly improving distribution efficiencies,” he says. “Finally, there is a retail revolution in China that is increasingly the result of huge e-commerce companies that can deliver a live lobster to hundreds of millions of people in 30 minutes or less.” “The increase in the size of the show is because seafood is a growing industry in China. More buyers in cities outside Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou want to buy directly from primary producers. Going to the show is the best way to find new suppliers,” says Yang Hong, general manager of Beijing-based Sea Fare (China) Ltd. “Of course, it’s also the best way for exhibitors to meet these new buyers.” “Every year we see companies from new countries at the show. This year, for example, we saw companies from Brazil. They have learned they can make much more money selling live and frozen whole lobster to China instead of selling frozen lobster tails to the U.S.’” says Jennie Fu, the show’s marketing and sales manager. “It’s a trend we expect will continue around the world. Our challenge is finding space where all these new companies can exhibit.” Next year’s CFSE will again be held at the Qingdao International Expo Center from October 30-November 1. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1125463/Final-Numbers-for-China-Fisheries-Show-Traffic-up-13-percent-Exhibit-Space-up-22-percent-as-China-Market-Grows Federal Register Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands; 2019 and 2020 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish A Proposed Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 12/06/2018 NMFS proposes 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications, apportionments, and prohibited species catch allowances for the groundfish fisheries of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) management area. This action is necessary to establish harvest limits for groundfish during the 2019 and 2020 fishing years, and to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area. The intended effect of this action is to conserve and manage the groundfish resources in the BSAI in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/12/06/2018-26389/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-bering-sea-and-aleutian-islands-2019-and-2020 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher Vessels Less Than 50 Feet Length Overall 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 12/04/2018 NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than 50 feet length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2018 Pacific cod total allowable catch apportioned to catcher vessels less than 50 feet LOA using hook-and-line gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/12/04/2018-26302/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-pacific-cod-by-catcher-vessels-less-than-50-feet
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.