What's New Alerts

2004 Archive



The GOAC3 does not necessarily endorse any of the calendar events posted to
our web site. They are offered as information only.

UFA Action Alert
COOL needed for canned and smoked salmon

Let them know that you want to see country of origin labeling on canned and smoked salmon. State that your comments refer to Docket No. LS-03-04.

Send written comments to:
Country of Origin Labeling Program
Room 2092-S
Agricultural Marketing Service
USDA STOP 0249
1400 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20250-0249

Email to cool@usda.gov
FAX to (202) 720-3499

For the Interim Final Rule, Q&A, and public comments see http://www.ams.usda.gov/cool/

 

NOAA FISHERIES SEEKS YOUR INPUT ON NEW DRAFT STRATEGIC PLAN
October 20, 2004

Building on the new NOAA Strategic Plan, NOAA Fisheries has drafted a new Strategic Plan to guide our stewardship activities for living marine resources over the next five years, 2005 to 2010.

This draft plan has been put together as a starting point and now it’s your turn to review and comment! In an effort to maximize the opportunity to receive input and review from our constituents, Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, and Dr. William T. Hogarth, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, want to highlight the availability of NOAA Fisheries’ Draft Strategic Plan 2005-2010 and solicit your input.

The comment period will remain open through November 30, 2004. All comments on NOAA Fisheries’ draft plan should be sent to strategic.planning@noaa.gov. Please include the words “Comments on Fisheries’ Strategic Plan” in the subject line. For further information on Fisheries draft plan contact Brian Pawlak at Brian.Pawlak@noaa.gov or (301) 713-1346 x190.

All other NOAA line office draft plans can be viewed and commented on by going to NOAA’s Strategic Planning Office.

ASMI Shellfish Committee Recruitment period extended to Oct 12

The ASMI Board of Directors has extended the recruitment period for the ASMI Shellfish Committee. This deadline has been extended because not enough people applied to fill the available spaces on the nine person committee. If you have already submitted an application you do not need to resubmit as you will automatically be placed in the pool of candidates.

The following are the requirements for voting membership on any ASMI committee:
·        Pay a processor assessment to ASMI, or
·        Have actively fished in Alaska during the past twelve months, or
·        Have a specific skill or attribute the board feels will be of benefit to the committee (this category includes retailers and foodservice operators who may be interested in serving on a committee)

If you desire to be a member of the ASMI shellfish committee please respond either by mail or email not later than 12 October 2004, indicating which category you belong. For those in the last category (neither assessment payer nor Alaska fisherman) please explain why you believe you should be a voting member of the committee. 

Direct responses to Kara Winegar by email (kwinegar@alaskaseafood.org) or by mail to:
Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute      
311 North Franklin Street
 Suite 200
Juneau, Alaska 99801

If you have any questions please call Kara at 907-465-5568.

North Pacific Fisheries Service (NMFS)
National Marine Fisheries Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Amendment 66 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska and an amendment to the Pacific halibut commercial fishery regulations for waters in and off of Alaska.
Click here for final rule filed 3-30-2004

On June 3, 2004, Governor Frank Murkowski signed into law a bill which will allow Community Quota Entities (CQEs) within the Gulf of Alaska to be eligible for loan-interest commercial fishing loans from the State of Alaska. The GOAC3 thanks the Governor and Commissioner Edgar Blatchford for their efforts in getting this bill through the Alaska Legislature so quickly. For information on this opportunity, refer to the Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development's web site at http://www.dced.state.ak.us/bsc/CDQ/cqe/cqe.htm

State to Help Struggling Salmon Fisherman
By Jill Burke

Help is on the way for Alaska's salmon fishermen struggling to make ends meet as a result of competition from farmed salmon. The state of Alaska, through federal funding, is launching a new program called the Alaska Salmon Fisheries Response Project. The project is a an emergency grant designed to create new opportunities for people in the salmon industry who can no longer support themselves.

Commercial salmon fisherman, crew members, tendermen, cannery workers, and in some cases, family members may all qualify for things like training, job search assistance, and even help with transportation and childcare expenses. Financial assistance to help get by while attending full-time training is also available.

Over the next two years, the state has access of up to eight million dollars to spend on the project. Since the project is grant-based, none of the benefits received by Alaskans who qualify need to be repaid.

For more information, contact the Department of Labor and Workforce Development at 334-2242, or visit them online at www.jobs.state.ak.us.

Federal Assistance for Fishermen: TAA and NEG Update

Alaska Commercial Salmon Fishermen Eligible for Cash/Other Benefits under Trade Adjustment Assistance Program. Signup Begins October 15th through January 13th
Click here for more information

ERRONEOUS MAILER SENT TO COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN IN ALASKA - November 1, 2004
Click here for press release

If you had a decline in Salmon fishing income from 2001-2002, but have been rejected because your IRS Schedule C does not show the necessary "Net fishing income decline" because of other income or adjustments, we encourage you to appeal your rejection decision within the 30 day deadline.  Please contact our office at (907) 586-2820 or fax us a copy of your appeal letter at (907) 463-2545.

You still need to attend TAA Technical Training - Deadline is June 30 for AK residents.  If you have not yet attended the TAA technical training, contact the Marine Advisory Program at 1-888-788-6333, or visit the workshop web site at www.taaworkshops.org. In Anchorage call 786-6328.

Rejected for TAA? - Other assistance is available for Fishermen, Crew, Tendermen, Cannery workers and Family in the National Emergency Grant Program. Spaces in this program are going fast – call your local State Job center office ASAP, & see website: http://www.jobs.state.ak.us/neg/index.html

4th World Fisheries Congress program now on line

The 4th World Fisheries Congress website has recently been updated with the complete program including abstracts from over 1000 oral presentations and poster sessions. In addition, two full-day forums on May 3rd and May 4th will address issues of concern to the broader community of fisheries stakeholders. These include the forum on the sustainable seafood movement and an additional forum on "Reconciling Fisheries with Conservation within the Fisheries Community". On the Friday following the Congress, a special closed forum of Fisheries Minister's from the global family of nations will address the findings of the Congress. http://www.worldfisheries2004.org/program/program_sessions.htm

Register early and save!  Both hotel and Congress registration are available on-line and we encourage early registration.  EARLY REGISTRATION CLOSES MARCH 1.  We have placed a limit on the total number of registrants because of the possibility that registrations will exceed the capacity of the facilities. Registrations after 1 March will increase by $125 Canadian. http://www.worldfisheries2004.org/registration/congress_registration.htm

The special training and education courses immediately before and after the Congress are also rapidly filling and we encourage attendees to register for these courses to avoid being shut out. http://www.worldfisheries2004.org/education/education.htm

There are a small number of trade show booths still available but will also likely be sold out very soon.  Please contact the Congress organizers if you are interested in a booth. http://www.worldfisheries2004.org/exhibition/tradeshow_info.htm

Please review the web page for social programs and sign up early for our special optional salmon barbecue at the aquarium. Many tours of the Vancouver area have been identified both during and after the Congress.

The Fourth World Fisheries Congress is destined to be a major event where the global exchange of ideas among scientists, the broader fisheries community, and policy makers will result in a new beginning of reconciling fisheries with conservation and addressing the challenges of managing our aquatic ecosystems.

Main Website: http://www.worldfisheries2004.org/home.htm

MARINE SCIENCE IN ALASKA:
2004 SYMPOSIUM January 12-14, 2004

Anchorage, Alaska

Hosted by: North Pacific Research Board, Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council, Alaska Ocean Observing System, NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Pollock Conservation Cooperative Research Center, Oil Spill Recovery Institute, Alaska SeaLife Center, Kachemak Bay Research Reserve.

Location: Downtown Anchorage hotel.

Themes: Invited talks on climate change, fisheries oceanography, ecosystem modeling, species at risk, undersea exploration, applied fisheries management, oil spill impacts, ocean observing systems, and killer whale/Steller sea lion interactions.

Keynotes: Bill Ruckelshaus, member of U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy (invited) and Harald Loeng, Institute of Marine Resources, Bergen Norway (invited).

Who should attend: Researchers, policy makers, fishermen and women, other users of marine resources, educators, academics, and anyone interested in learning about what we're currently learning about the marine environment.

Registration is required. http://www.gem.state.ak.us/Symposium/Registration.cfm

A draft agenda will be available by November 10, 2003.

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council

441 W. 5th Ave., Suite 500
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 278-8012 phone
(907) 276-7178 fax

The FY 2004 Draft Work Plan is now available on our website. Please visit www.oilspill.state.ak.us to download a Adobe version of this document.

The International Institute of Fisheries Economics & Trade

What are Responsible Fisheries? July 26-29, 2004
Click here for more information