Tuesday, June 1, 2021

Alaska Three Alaska projects recommended for federal fisheries grants Cordova Times by Margaret Bauman - May 31, 2021 Three seafood projects for Alaska are among 43 recommended by NOAA Fisheries for a share of the over $11 million in the 2021 Saltonstall-Kennedy Competitive Grants competition. https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2021/05/31/three-alaska-projects-recommended-for-federal-fisheries-grants/ West Coast WDFW Working on Round Two COVID-19 Relief Funding, Seeks Industry Input SeafoodNews.com by Susan Chambers - June 1, 2021 The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking feedback from commercial fishermen, shellfish growers, charter boat owners, seafood processors and members of the public as it develops a spending plan for $40 million in federal relief funding for industry members affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding is part of $255 million in federal money appropriated in the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act. This follows the $300 million appropriated through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act last year. The second round of funding has been divided differently between states, tribes, and territories than in the first round. In this round, Congress designated $30 million for federally recognized tribes in coastal or Great Lakes states, and $15 million for Great Lakes states that were not previously funded. Washington received $50 million last summer in CARES Act funding; Washington will receive $40 million in this second round of funding. “We’re thrilled to be able to begin the process to provide another round of relief funding distributed to support commercial seafood, charter and shellfish aquaculture industry members here in Washington state,” Ron Warren, WDFW fish policy director, said in a press release. “We applaud our federal leaders for relentlessly championing this funding. As we develop a fair and balanced plan to distribute this funding, it’s critical that we hear from industry members most impacted by the pandemic.” Washington and Alaska are two of the last states to distribute funding from round one. Like Washington, Alaska received $50 million in CARES Act funding. The Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, in charge of administration of CARES Act funds, updated its website last week with the notice that Washington applications are currently being processed and reviewed for errors and omissions. State representatives will contact applicants via email, after which the applicants have a one-week grace period to fix the errors. Failure to respond to the state's requests will disqualify the application, according to the PSMFC website. Even so, Washington is starting to work on round two funding. In coordination with the Governor’s Office, WDFW will be working with the state departments of Agriculture and Commerce to develop criteria for receiving funding assistance based on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration guidance, the state said in the release. Once developed, Washington will submit its plan to the National Marine Fisheries Service for approval and then to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission to manage the application process and distribute funds. To learn more and provide feedback, industry members are invited to tune in to an online public meeting at from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 8: https://zoom.us/j/96045781724 . For more information on how to participate and to find call-in details, visit wdfw.wa.gov/licenses/commercial/federal-disaster-assistance/cares-act. The meeting will be recorded and posted online so people can also watch the meetings afterward. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1200106/WDFW-Working-on-Round-Two-COVID-19-Relief-Funding-Seeks-Industry-Input National Restoring Habitat for Migratory Fish: A Look Back at the Recovery Act—Part 2 Salmon, river herring, and other migratory fish species continue to benefit from habitat restoration projects funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. NOAA Fisheries - May 27, 2021 Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, NOAA funded 125 habitat restoration projects in coastal areas throughout the country. Now, more than a decade later, we’re taking a look back at some of the projects we funded. We’ll explore the benefits this restoration work continues to bring to communities and ecosystems across the country. In Part 2 of this 3-part series, we’re highlighting examples of how Recovery Act projects have benefitted migratory fish. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/restoring-habitat-migratory-fish-look-back-recovery-act-part-2 International The U.S. Has Banned Seafood From A Chinese Company Over Suspicions Of Forced Labor KUCB by Emine Yücel - May 29, 2021 U.S. Customs and Border Protection has imposed a new import ban on seafood from a fleet of Chinese fishing vessels, after a year-long investigation uncovered what U.S. officials called signs of forced labor within the fleet's operations. https://www.kucb.org/post/us-has-banned-seafood-chinese-company-over-suspicions-forced-labor#stream/0 Labeling and Marketing Alaska Seafood Marketing Update Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute - May 2021 Starting Strong This Season Alaska's salmon season kicked off May 17 in Copper River, while halibut and sablefish have been streaming through Southeast. Just as fisheries managers and fishermen look to research and forecasts to plan for the season, ASMI utilizes market data, industry surveys and scientific research to guide our efforts and support your activities on behalf of Alaskans and the Alaska seafood industry. Learn more about several new informational resources available below. https://myemail.constantcontact.com/May-Marketing-Update.html?soid=1101064654189&aid=QvpHONz80II Federal Register Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings A Notice by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 06/01/2021 The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its 140th Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), Pelagic and International Standing Committee, Executive and Budget Standing Committee, and 186th Council meetings to take actions on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/06/01/2021-11450/western-pacific-fishery-management-council-public-meetings Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Individual Fishing Quotas for Pacific Halibut and Sablefish in the Alaska Fisheries A Notice by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 05/28/2021 The Department of Commerce will submit the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, on or after the date of publication of this notice. We invite the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on January 13, 2021 (86 FR 2644), during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/05/28/2021-11311/agency-information-collection-activities-submission-to-the-office-of-management-and-budget-omb-for

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