Alaska/Pacific Coast Alaska Fisheries Report KMXT by Maggie Wall - June 27, 2019 Early pink salmon harvests are breaking records in parts of the state, while Yukon chum are way off, and sockeye catches in southcentral Alaska still lag below the five-year average. What happened to the Sitka Sac Roe herring? Managers shut the fishery down before it even got started. The herring were too young and too small. With no season on the books, people in Sitka wonder what next? http://kmxt.org/2019/06/alaska-fisheries-report-june-27-2019/ PWS wild salmon harvests reach 3.5 M fish Cordova Times by Margaret Bauman - June 27, 2019 Strong harvests of wild salmon in Prince William Sound have reached some 3.5 million fish, including some 2.9 million chum and 1.1 million sockeyes. https://thecordovatimes.com/2019/06/27/pws-wild-salmon-harvests-reach-3-5-m-fish/ Warning issued on harvesting shellfish Commercially harvested shellfish are considered safe to consumer, because commercial harvesters are required to have catch regularly tested Cordova Times - June 27, 2019 Recreational gatherers of shellfish are being advised to use caution in their effort, to avoid paralytic shellfish poisoning. https://thecordovatimes.com/2019/06/27/warning-issued-on-harvesting-shellfish/ Early In The Season, Chum Salmon Numbers Low Across Western Alaska KYUK by Anna Rose MacArthur - June 27, 2019 On the Kuksokwim River, king salmon are arriving in slightly higher numbers than previous years at this point in the season. Red salmon are coming in strong like they have in recent summers. Meanwhile, biologists are asking, "Where are the chum?" Chum salmon are arriving in much lower numbers than previous years in rivers across Western Alaska. KYUK asked the researcher who tracks these numbers on the Kuskokwim what’s going on. https://www.kyuk.org/post/early-season-chum-salmon-numbers-low-across-western-alaska Pacific Council Slows Process on U.S. Management of Area 2A Commercial Halibut Fishery SeafoodNews.com by Susan Chambers - June 28, 2019 After a couple years of exchanging ideas with the International Pacific Halibut Commission about management of the non-Indian commercial halibut fishery in Area 2A -- Washington, Oregon and California -- the Pacific Fishery Management Council plans to take incremental steps to take over management of the fishery. Commercial fishermen have gone to IPHC meetings and pushed for individual quota systems and the IPHC has gone to the Council to propose longer seasons than single 10-hour openings. The Council and its advisory bodies have struggled with how to transition from IPHC management to U.S. management. The Council decided last week when it met in San Diego to continue to work closely with the IPHC and stakeholders. And instead of a workshop, the Council will fold ideas into its traditional two-meeting catch-sharing plan discussion that takes place during September and November meetings. At the next Council meetings, in Boise, Idaho in September and in Costa Mesa, Calif., in November, the Council will consider small changes for the 2020 season. Fishermen will likely see little change to the fishery in the next two years as the Council, NMFS and the IPHC work on background issues to support a management transition. The Council also decided that: - for 2020-2021, and maybe beyond, the Council would request IPHC continue to issue commercial licenses for the Area 2A fishery while NMFS works on development of new permitting regulations; - it will request the IPHC and NMFS/Council share data regarding the 2A licensing system and commercial logbook data; - it will reach out to fishery participants to let them know the Council's intent to not consider major changes to the fishery for the next few years. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1146046/Pacific-Council-Slows-Process-on-US-Management-of-Area-2A-Commercial-Halibut-Fishery Politics Sen. Wyden introduces bill to expand disaster relief to fisheries harmed by tariffs The News Guard - June 27, 2019 U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, (D-Ore.), and U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, (D-Mass.), recently introduced legislation to expand disaster relief to fisheries harmed by tariffs. Currently, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) guidelines used to identify the causes of fishery disasters does not explicitly include tariffs. Wyden’s bill would amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Act to require NOAA to evaluate the impacts of duties imposed on American seafood, ensuring the Department of Commerce receives a complete overview of factors affecting a fishery in all fishery disaster declaration designations. https://www.thenewsguard.com/news/sen-wyden-introduces-bill-to-expand-disaster-relief-to-fisheries/article_398cc4dc-985b-11e9-96aa-e31ab9989d08.html National Standbys cod, pollock and haddock remain consumer favorites Supermarket Perimeter by Andy Nelson - June 27, 2019 “They set the standard for sustainable fishing for many companies,” Pilat says. “We used to sell just MSC-certified Norwegian cod, but we expanded into also selling a lot of MSC Icelandic cod.” https://www.supermarketperimeter.com/articles/3770-standbys-cod-pollock-and-haddock-remain-consumer-favorites Federal Register Fisheries off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Electronic Monitoring Program A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 06/28/2019 NMFS issues this final rule to implement an electronic monitoring (EM) program for two sectors of the limited entry trawl fishery, consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) and the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The action allows catcher vessels in the Pacific whiting fishery and fixed gear vessels in the shorebased Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) fishery to use EM in place of observers to meet the requirements of the Trawl Rationalization Program for 100-percent at-sea observer coverage. This action is necessary to increase operational flexibility and reduce monitoring costs for vessels in the trawl fishery by providing an alternative to observers. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/06/28/2019-13324/fisheries-off-west-coast-states-pacific-coast-groundfish-fishery-electronic-monitoring-program FYI’s 60-years-old? You may qualify for free fishing license for life KMXT by Maggie Wall - June 21, 2019 There are some advantages to getting older. At least in Alaska if you are into sport fishing.That’s because Alaska residents 60-years-old or older qualify for a free fishing license which is valid for the rest of their lives. http://kmxt.org/2019/06/60-years-old-you-may-qualify-for-free-fishing-license-for-life/ Is your fish stick more bread than fish? Inspectors can tell NSF International, an industry group that checks for fish fraud, has relocated to Everett from Seattle. Herald Business Journal by Janice Podsada - June 28, 2019 EVERETT — If the tuna sushi you had for dinner feels like it’s still swimming, it might not be tuna but escolar — an eel-like fish. https://www.heraldnet.com/business/is-your-fish-stick-more-bread-than-fish-inspectors-can-tell/ How Do We Sustainably Address The U.S. Seafood Deficit? Forbes by Linh Anh Cat Contributor - June 25, 2019 Seafood plays a vital part of the American diet. It provides lean protein and essential omega-3 fatty acids that are beneficial to our brain, heart, and eyes. Currently, it's recommended that we eat seafood twice a week. As demand for seafood rises in concert with a growing population, many are concerned that the majority of seafood Americans consume—about 60%—is imported. Moreover, seafood caught by Americans is often sent overseas for processing. https://www.forbes.com/sites/linhanhcat/2019/06/25/how-do-we-sustainably-address-the-u-s-seafood-deficit/#2a04c9226ea1 WATCH: Urner Barry Staff Tries Trident Seafoods' Wild Alaska Pollock Protein Noodles Urner Barry by Amanda Buckle - June 27, 2019 Trident Seafoods' Protein Noodles, made from Wild Alaska Pollock, have been making headlines for the past few months. The new product, which is packed with 10g of protein, took home first place in the retail category and the Seattle's People's Choice category at the Symphony of Seafood, won the 2019 FABI Award at the National Restaurant Association Show, and was awarded funding from the Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers to help get the product in North American club stores. Well, after hearing all of the praise for the versatile noodles, Urner Barry's staff had to see what all the fuss was about. Watch the video below to see our review: As SeafoodNews.com reported in April, Trident's new 10g Protein Noodles can be found at a select number of Costco locations on the East Coast. Those on the West Coast can also find the Protein Noodles in the refrigerated section at Costco stores. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1145872/WATCH-Urner-Barry-Staff-Tries-Trident-Seafoods-Wild-Alaska-Pollock-Protein-Noodles
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