Wednesday, May 26, 2021

West Coast California closing Dungeness season June 1 as humpback whales migrate National Fisherman by Kirk Moore - May 24, 2021 California crabbers must pull their gear by noon June 1, with a decision by state officials to end the season, anticipating movement of humpback whales from their breeding grounds back to coastal waters. https://www.nationalfisherman.com/west-coast-pacific/california-closing-dungeness-season-june-1-as-humpback-whales-migrate Environment/Science Restoring Habitat to Support Coastal Communities: A Look Back at the Recovery Act—Part 1 Habitat restoration projects funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 brought jobs, recreation, and other socioeconomic benefits to coastal communities around the country. NOAA Fisheries - May 24, 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. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/restoring-habitat-support-coastal-communities-look-back-recovery-act-part-1 Labeling and Marketing ASMI: Frozen Alaska Seafood Quality Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute - May 2021 Wild-caught seafood from Alaska is recognized the world over for its naturally unrivaled texture, diverse flavors, and dense nutrient content. This inherent high quality must be maintained from deck to dish, requiring complex supply chains and industry-best freezing methods to ensure the highest possible quality is delivered no matter where Alaska seafood is being served. https://uploads.alaskaseafood.org/2021/05/Frozen_v7.pdf Federal Register Pacific Halibut Fisheries; Catch Sharing Plan A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 05/26/2021 NMFS issues regulations to remove limits on the maximum amount of halibut Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) that may be harvested by a vessel, commonly known as vessel use caps, in IFQ regulatory areas 4A (Eastern Aleutian Islands), 4B (Central and Western Aleutian Islands), 4C (Central Bering Sea), and 4D (Eastern Bering Sea) for the 2021 IFQ fishing year. This action is needed to provide additional flexibility to IFQ participants in 2021 to ensure allocations of halibut IFQ can be harvested by the limited number of vessels operating in these areas. This action is within the authority of the Secretary of Commerce to establish additional regulations governing the taking of halibut which are in addition to, and not in conflict with, those adopted by the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC). This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the IFQ Program, the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (Halibut Act), and other applicable laws. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/05/26/2021-11087/pacific-halibut-fisheries-catch-sharing-plan FYI’s Coast Guard, partners to conduct commercial fishing vessel exams, lifesaving education for Western Alaska and Bristol Bay Alaska Native News by 17th District - May 25, 2021 ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Coast Guard will offer courtesy dockside examinations of commercial fishing vessels and the Alaska Marine Safety Education Association (AMSEA) will provide maritime safety education to fishermen in Western Alaska and Bristol Bay in anticipation of the 2021 Bristol Bay salmon season. https://alaska-native-news.com/coast-guard-partners-to-conduct-commercial-fishing-vessel-exams-lifesaving-education-for-western-alaska-and-bristol-bay/55965/

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