Alaska Alaska Fisheries Report — September 17, 2020 KMXT by Amelia Egle - September 17, 2020 Two of the governor’s recent nominees to the Alaska Board of Fisheries are drawing criticism from many in the fishing industry. One of them works for the Pebble Limited Partnership. https://kmxt.org/2020/09/alaska-fisheries-report-september-17-2020/ Coho harvest boosts PWS overall catch to 24.9M fish Catch for the Copper River, Bering River commercial fisheries still being counted Cordova Times by Margaret Bauman - September 17, 2020 A boost in the coho catch has increased the Prince William Sound 2020 overall harvest to 24.9 million salmon, as the fishery continued this week in the Copper and Bering river districts. https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2020/09/17/coho-harvest-boosts-pws-overall-catch-to-24-9m-fish/ SE summer trolling ending with low coho catch KFSK by Joe Viechnicki - September 16, 2020 Commercial salmon trolling shuts down this weekend in most of Southeast Alaska based on a weak catch of coho salmon. https://www.kfsk.org/2020/09/16/se-summer-trolling-ending-with-low-coho-catch/ Board of Fish votes to postpone Cordova, Ketchikan meetings KFSK by Joe Viechnicki - September 17, 2020 Alaska’s Board of Fisheries this week voted to delay the dates for meetings planned in Cordova and Ketchikan this winter because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Board members want to hold those meetings in-person and will consider springtime gatherings instead. Next month, they’ll hold an online meeting with more information about the schedule for the upcoming year and decisions the board has to tackle before the spring. https://www.kfsk.org/2020/09/17/board-of-fish-votes-to-postpone-cordova-ketchikan-meetings/ Environment/Science Trump says to be 'no politics' in Alaska mine project review Reuters - September 16, 2020 U.S. President Donald Trump said there would be “no politics” in the review process of Alaska’s Pebble Mine project which has previously been opposed by prominent Republicans and environmentalists who say it would damage wetlands and popular fishing sites. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-alaska-pebblemine/trump-says-to-be-no-politics-in-alaska-mine-project-review-idUSKBN2680N8 Federal Register Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands A Proposed Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 09/18/2020 NMFS proposes regulatory amendments that would modify Federal permit conditions and impose participation requirements for certain Federally-permitted vessels when fishing for Pacific cod in state waters adjacent to the exclusive economic zone of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands during the State of Alaska's parallel Pacific cod fishery. This action is necessary to enhance Federal conservation, management, and catch accounting measures previously adopted by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) regarding license limitation, sector allocations, and catch reporting. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, and other applicable law. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/09/18/2020-20571/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-pacific-cod-in-the-bering-sea-and-aleutian Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher Vessels Greater Than or Equal to 60 Feet Length Overall Using Pot Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 09/18/2020 NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2020 Pacific cod total allowable catch allocated to catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3m) LOA using pot gear in the BSAI. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/09/18/2020-20668/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-pacific-cod-by-catcher-vessels-greater-than-or Opinions Opinions: Protecting Alaska’s fisheries in a turbulent season Anchorage Daily News by Mike Dunleavy, Clay Koplin, Dan O'Hara, Rodney Dial - September 16, 2020 Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Alaska has faced its share of monumental challenges. The testing of all incoming travelers, providing relief for devastated tourism businesses, creating a new unemployment program from scratch. Yet none compared to the challenge of protecting our critical seafood industry and the communities that rely on their economic production. We commend Alaska’s seafood industry for successfully navigating the most difficult season Alaska has ever experienced. Captains, deckhands, processors and hatcheries worked tirelessly to protect coastal communities, jobs and the health of Alaska’s people and economy. Local leaders, health care workers, and state officials devoted countless hours to developing policies and reviewing community protection plans. From the beginning, it was obvious this would not be an easy road. Many believed that holding a fishing season was simply not possible. To their credit, many skeptics later joined our effort, pitching in to work toward a common goal. The cooperation between industry, communities and the state was truly a bright spot in an otherwise bleak summer. https://www.adn.com/opinions/2020/09/16/protecting-alaskas-fisheries-in-a-turbulent-season/ **Requires ADN Subscription
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