Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Alaska NOAA releases biological opinion suggesting salmon fishing can continue in Southeast Alaska Seafood Source by Nathan Strout - October 8, 2024 NOAA Fisheries has released documentation that will allow salmon fishing to continue in Southeast Alaska more than a year after a judge attempted to shut down commercial salmon harvesting. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/environment-sustainability/noaa-fisheries-releases-new-biological-opinion-enabling-salmon-fishing-in-southeast-alaska Trident, Sysco, Gorton's among recipients of GAPP grants for Alaska pollock promotions Seafood Source by Christine Blank - October 7, 2024 Trident, Sysco, and other companies submitted winning proposals to become 2025 program partners with the Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) and have received funding to promote Alaska pollock. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/foodservice-retail/trident-sysco-among-firms-awarded-usd-4-4-million-in-pollock-marketing-funds *Requires Subscription In surprising move, Bering Sea snow crab fishery to reopen after 2 year closure KUCB by Maggie Nelson - October 4, 2024  Fish and Game has set the TAC for snow crab at 4.72 million pounds, including Individual Fishermen’s Quota and Community Development Quota. The last time the fishery was open, harvesters were allotted 5.6 million pounds, although the year before they had a harvest of 40.5 million pounds. https://www.kdlg.org/alaska-state-news/2024-10-04/in-surprising-move-bering-sea-snow-crab-fishery-to-reopen-after-2-year-closure Kodiak's herring food & bait fishery opens as more fishermen wait for chance to fish KMXT by Davis Hovey - October 4, 2024 Monday, Oct. 7 marks the opening of the commercial herring food and bait fishery in Kodiak. Despite a near record guideline harvest level [GHL], participation in the fishery continues to be low. https://www.kmxt.org/news/2024-10-04/kodiaks-herring-food-bait-fishery-opens-as-more-fishermen-wait-for-chance-to-fish West Coast Federal and Tribal Leaders Celebrate $240 Million for Tribal Hatchery Modernization NOAA Fisheries and the Bureau of Indian Affairs partner to meet treaty promises and sustain tribal access to salmon. NOAA Fisheries - October 7, 2024 Tribal, federal, and state leaders gathered at the Tulalip Reservation on October 3 to celebrate $240 million in federal funding for tribal hatcheries. This Inflation Reduction Act investment will help 27 tribes from Northern California to Southeast Alaska meet urgent maintenance and modernization needs of tribal Pacific salmon and steelhead hatcheries. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/federal-and-tribal-leaders-celebrate-240-million-tribal-hatchery-modernization Washington Looks to Update Dungeness Crab Policy to Address Entanglements, Climate Change SeafoodNews.com by Susan Chambers - October 7, 2024 As part of the three West Coast states’ efforts to further limit potential entanglements and more easily identify entangled whales, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is updating its policies related to crabbing.The public is invited to review and submit comments on the draft Coastal Dungeness Crab policy through Oct. 15.Dungeness crabs support Washington’s most valuable commercial fishery, as well as popular recreational fisheries. The value of state landings for the 2023-24 coastal commercial Dungeness crab season was $66.8 million, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Coastal recreational crabbing is open year-round, with pot closure dates varying by area. These crabs remain abundant on the Washington Coast, though harvest may fluctuate from year-to-year.  “The Coastal Dungeness Crab Policy provides guidance to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to promote species conservation, as well as the economic well-being and stability of commercial and recreational crabbing,” Lorna Wargo, WDFW’s intergovernmental ocean policy coordinator, said in the statement. “The policy has not been revised since it was adopted in 1999, and the proposed changes would modernize the document and address new needs.”Proposed policy changes aim to:Address the risk of marine life entanglement in crabbing gear, focusing on humpback and blue whales and leatherback sea turtles. WDFW is developing a Conservation Plan and seeking an Incidental Take Permit under the federal Endangered Species Act;Support management of the recreational Dungeness crab fishery. WDFW has implemented a monitoring program to estimate coastal recreational harvest, enhance understanding of the fishery, and fill an important data gap; andImprove the fishery’s climate resiliency. WDFW has hired a new climate and ecosystem research scientist to evaluate how climate research could inform fishery conservation and management.The draft policy is now available for public review, and comments may be submitted through the Public Input webpage. A virtual public meeting will be held from 6-7:30 p.m., Oct. 15; those interested can register for the meeting through Zoom.WDFW staff will present public feedback to the Fish and Wildlife Commission during a hybrid meeting Oct. 24-26 in Ellensburg. Information on how to register to provide comments during the meeting will be made available on the Commission meeting webpage. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1287118/Washington-Looks-to-Update-Dungeness-Crab-Policy-to-Address-Entanglements-Climate-Change National NOAA Fisheries’ 5-Year Plan Focuses on Boosting Seafood Economy Fishermen's New - October 9, 2024 NOAA Fisheries’ National Seafood Strategy Implementation Plan, announced in early September, outlines the agency’s focus on boosting the domestic seafood economy and enhance the resilience of the seafood sector in the face of climate change over the next five years. https://fishermensnews.com/noaa-fisheries-5-year-plan-focuses-on-boosting-seafood-economy/ Environment/Science Dozens of fish died near Alaska mine; months later, regulators haven’t determined what killed them State fish scientists say the circumstances of the fish kill suggest that it stems from a water quality problem, but regulators say they’re still waiting from data from the Kensington gold mine’s operator Alaska Beacon by Max Graham - October 5, 2024 On the morning of Aug. 9, state biologists discovered dozens of dead fish in a creek near the Kensington gold mine in Southeast Alaska. https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/10/05/dozens-of-fish-died-near-alaska-mine-months-later-regulators-havent-determined-what-killed-them/ Federal Register Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Atka Mackerel in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 10/08/2024 NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of the 2024 Atka mackerel incidental catch allowance (ICA) for the Bering Sea subarea and Eastern Aleutian district (BS/EAI) to the Amendment 80 cooperative allocation for the BS/EAI in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the 2024 total allowable catch of Atka mackerel in the BSAI to be fully harvested. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/10/08/2024-23249/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-reallocation-of-atka-mackerel-in-the-bering-sea Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan; Amendment 34; Groundfish Exclusion Area for Coral Research and Restoration A Proposed Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 10/09/2024 NMFS announces that the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) submitted amendment 34 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (Groundfish FMP) to the Secretary of Commerce for review. If approved, amendment 34 would modify the groundfish exclusion areas (GEA) section in the Groundfish FMP and refer to the GEAs described in Federal regulation. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/10/09/2024-23262/magnuson-stevens-act-provisions-fisheries-off-west-coast-states-pacific-coast-groundfish-fishery North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting A Notice by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 10/09/2024 The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Charter Halibut Management Committee will meet October 25, 2024. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/10/09/2024-23281/north-pacific-fishery-management-council-public-meeting Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 10/07/2024 NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to fully use the 2024 total allowable catch of Pacific cod allocated to catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/10/07/2024-23086/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-pacific-cod-by-catcher-vessels-using-trawl-gear FYI’s Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands Annual Crab Industry Meeting Scheduled for Oct. 11 Fishermen's News - October 9, 2024 Alaska Department of Fish and Game officials have scheduled the annual meeting with the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands crab industry. https://fishermensnews.com/bering-sea-aleutian-islands-annual-crab-industry-meeting-scheduled-for-oct-11/ Fish Processing: Ancient Practice Meets New Tech Fishermen's News - October 8, 2024 Turning fish into food has never been more sophisticated.Not too long ago, commercial fish processing on land and sea consisted mostly of workers, aces with knives, and those who used uncomplicated steel machines that could make simple cuts. https://fishermensnews.com/article/fish-processing-ancient-practice-meets-new-tech/

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