Alaska/Pacific Coast
New hatchery chum fishing opportunities on tap in central Southeast KFSK by Joe Viechnicki - June 14, 2019 Many commercial salmon fishermen open their season in Southeast Alaska this weekend. Around the Petersburg area, purse seiners and trollers will have a chance at some new or increased hatchery chum salmon. All gear groups continue to see conservation measures to limit catches of Stikine River king salmon. https://www.kfsk.org/2019/06/14/new-hatchery-chum-fishing-opportunities-on-tap-in-central-southeast/ North Pacific Council FMC Changes Pollock and Cod Allocations in Gulf of Alaska SeafoodNews.com by Peggy Parker - June 17, 2019 In an effort to improve management efficiencies, increase yields at a time when the fish are more valuable and easier to catch, and avoid in-season redistribution as well as bycatch, the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council adopted measures that changed the equal four-season TAC allocation to two seasons for pollock and tweaked the status quo allocation for cod of 60:40 (allocation percentages to A and B seasons respectively) to 64:36. The final action was taken at the June meeting in Sitka. For pollock, the council’s preferred alternative would modify the existing equal (25%) four-season TAC allocation to two equal (50%) seasonal allocations. The current pollock A and B seasons would be combined into a season that runs from January 20 through May 31 and the C and D seasons would be combined into a season that runs from September 1 through November 1. The new start date for the latter season (September 1 rather than August 25) would avoid the potential for the pollock C season to overlap the end of the commercial salmon harvest in some years. That overlap can cause congestion that affects individual plant facilities differently depending on throughput capacity and the characteristics of the delivering fleet. The Council also chose to maintain the 20% cap on in-year seasonal rollovers of unharvested pollock TAC. Public testimony during the meeting indicated that a higher cap can result in situations where underharvest in one season may be continued into the following season, further stranding pollock TAC in areas with low expected CPUE. For Pacific cod, the Council aims to reduce the underharvest of B season TAC in the GOA trawl CV sector by moving some of the allocated season TAC to the A season when Pacific cod are typically more aggregated. The preferred alternative would not alter seasonal allocations to other gear/operational-type sectors. The seasonal allocation ratio across all sectors in each area (Western GOA and Central GOA) would be modified from the status quo of 60% in the A season and 40% in the B season to a new ratio of 64% of total annual TAC in the A season and 36% in the B season. The preferred alternatives increase flexibility in the timing of the fishery, potentially increasing yield and, in some cases, providing the fleet with an enhanced ability to minimize encounters with prohibited species (Chinook salmon and Pacific halibut). The alternatives do not pose any additional risk to the GOA pollock or Pacific cod stocks since harvest specifications would continue to control overall harvest of these target species. Likewise, the bycatch limits of Chinook salmon and halibut are not affected by the alternatives. Throughout the development of this action, the Council articulated its intent to provide benefits to fishery participants while not adversely impacting ESA-protected Steller sea lions. The public review draft, reviewed at the June meeting, provides background information that would be needed to begin a consultation on impacts to Steller sea lions, should that be warranted, noted the Council’s newsletter on this agenda item. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1144706/North-Pacific-Council-FMC-Changes-Pollock-and-Cod-Allocations-in-Gulf-of-Alaska National National Fisheries Institute to begin seafood blockchain pilot with IBM Food Trust Token Post - June 14, 2019 The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) is going to start a supply chain traceability pilot program for seafood in collaboration with IBM’s Food Trust. https://tokenpost.com/National-Fisheries-Institute-to-begin-seafood-blockchain-pilot-with-IBM-Food-Trust-2226 International How much U.S. Seafood is Imported? According to the latest science, 35-38% of seafood consumed in the U.S. is produced domestically, meaning 62-65% is imported. Sustainable Fisheries UW by Max Mossler - June 4, 2019 The commonly quoted statistic that “90% of seafood consumed in the United States is imported” is out of date and should stop being cited. In this post, I explain the origins of the 90% myth, the scientific paper that produced the updated numbers, and the implications for U.S. trade and seafood markets. https://sustainablefisheries-uw.org/fact-check/how-much-seafood-is-imported/ Environment/Science Ecosystem Status Reports for the Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands NOAA Fisheries - June 2019 The goals of the Ecosystem Status Reports are to provide stronger links between ecosystem research and fishery management and spur new understanding of the connections between ecosystem components by bringing together the results of diverse research efforts into one document. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/ecosystems/ecosystem-status-reports-gulf-alaska-bering-sea-and-aleutian-islands Labeling and Marketing 3MMI - 2019 All-Species Mid Year Update TradexFoods - June 17, 2019 On the West Coast, fresh Halibut sales continue to command the marketplace. Not many processors on the west coast are freezing Halibut H&G and any product not being sold fresh is being frozen in the fletch form. Over the last two months, Russian Halibut pricing has dropped from $15.00/kg to $7.00/kg. Plants we have been in contact with are saying they don't have much inventory because Halibut is such as high value item... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sig0_Y7mbhA FYI’s PFMC: June 19-25, 2019 PFMC meeting “Fast Facts” Pacific Fishery Management Council - June 14, 2019 The June 19-25, 2019 Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting “Fast Facts” are available. Fast Facts are answers to FAQs that can help you get oriented for the upcoming meeting (transportation options, internet code, hotel map). https://www.savingseafood.org/news/council-actions/pfmc-june-19-25-2019-pfmc-meeting-fast-facts/
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