Alaska/Pacific Coast
Coronavirus strains preparations for 2020 sockeye season in Bristol Bay, Alaska Seafood Source by Brian Hagenbuch - March 27, 2020 Alaska issued a mandate late on Monday, 24 March, qualifying the state’s commercial fishing industry as “critical infrastructure,” a move that frees up the Bristol Bay fishery to move forward with preparations for the 2020 season. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/supply-trade/coronavirus-strains-preparations-for-2020-sockeye-season-in-bristol-bay-alaska North Pacific Market Report: 2019 Year in Review National Fisherman by Charlie Ess - March 30, 2020 Alaska oysters continued their strong growth trajectory, as the state’s Mariculture Task Force projects that growing shellfish and seaweed will build a $100 million industry in 20 years. https://www.nationalfisherman.com/alaska/north-pacific-market-report-2019-year-in-review/ Alaska Board of Fisheries seeks proposals The Cordova Times - March 30, 2020 State fisheries officials have issued a reminder of the April 10 deadline for proposal for changes in all fisheries, including Prince William Sound finfish and shellfish, including the Upper Copper and Upper Susitna rivers, and Southeast and Yakutat finfish and shellfish. https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2020/03/30/alaska-board-of-fisheries-seeks-proposals/ IB 20-29: Notification on Waiver of Observer Coverage Requirements in the Partial Coverage Category NOAA Fisheries - March 27, 2020 As part of our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and consistent with the authority provided under the Emergency Rule signed on March 24, 2020, NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region is temporarily waiving the requirement for vessels in the Partial Coverage Category to carry a fishery observer according to James W. Balsiger, Administrator, Alaska Region. The waiver will be in effect beginning on March 26, 2020 through April 9, 2020 and future extensions of this waiver will be evaluated by NOAA Fisheries weekly. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/ib-20-29-notification-waiver-observer-coverage-requirements-partial-coverage-category King salmon allocation up for SE AK this year KFSK by Joe Viechnicki - March 30, 2020 There are a few signs of a little improvement in king salmon numbers in Southeast Alaska. A fairly strong winter harvest means salmon fishermen can target more fish this summer. https://www.kfsk.org/2020/03/30/king-salmon-allocation-up-for-se-ak-this-year/ Environment/Science Sound Science: Investigating the spawning behavior of Pacific herring Cordova Times by Teal Barmor - March 28, 2020 Every spring, researchers from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the Prince William Sound Science Center work together to estimate the spawning biomass of Pacific herring in Prince William Sound. This project is part of a greater effort by the Herring Research and Monitoring program to track the recovery of herring since its decline in 1993. Spawning biomass, the mass of the entire spawning population, is calculated using two methods in PWS. The original method of aerial surveys was improved upon when PWSSC researcher Jay Kirsch, along with John Wilcock, Gary Thomas, and Kevin Stokesbury came up with the hydroacoustic survey method in the early 1990s. Dick Thorne carried on the program for many years until Dr. Pete Rand took over. Since then, the program has used both methods: aerial surveys for their ability to cover a lot of ground and acoustic surveys to look deeper. The results tend to reinforce each other. https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2020/03/28/sound-science-investigating-the-spawning-behavior-of-pacific-herring/ Federal Register Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits A Notice by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 03/30/2020 The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that a proposed exempted fishing permit contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. This exempted fishing permit would allow midwater trawl Atlantic herring vessels to use electronic monitoring, coupled with portside sampling, in lieu of at-sea monitoring to satisfy their industry-funded monitoring requirements during 2020—2021. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed exempted fishing permits. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/03/30/2020-06542/magnuson-stevens-act-provisions-general-provisions-for-domestic-fisheries-application-for-exempted FYI’s NEW from the FishBiz Project: Tips for Managing Risk and Uncertainty in Your Fishing Business Alaska SeaGrant - March 2020 https://mailchi.mp/d92a81cbc991/new-edition-fishermens-direct-marketing-manual-1309249?e=ac41a9ecf3 Highlighting Women in Electronic Technologies: Part 2 We are highlighting women that support electronic technologies in U.S. fisheries in a two-part series to celebrate Women’s History Month. NOAA Fisheries - March 25, 2020 Electronic monitoring and electronic reporting technologies are being developed to support science-based management decisions in commercial and recreational fisheries. NOAA Fisheries is working with fishermen and industry organizations, fishery management councils, and many other partners. We will improve the timeliness, quality, cost effectiveness, and accessibility of fishery-dependent data by integrating technology into fishery reporting and monitoring programs. Learn about nine women from around the country that are helping shape the future of electronic technologies in U.S fisheries. https://www.savingseafood.org/other-news/highlighting-women-in-electronic-technologies-part-2/
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