What's New Alerts

2005 Archive



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

Halibut Charter IFQ: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; control date.
(Federal Register Notice)
This notice announces that anyone entering the charter sport fishery for Pacific halibut in and off Alaska after December 9, 2005 (control date) will not be assured of future access to that fishery if a management regime that limits the number of participants is developed and implemented under the authority of the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (Halibut Act). This notice is necessary to publish the intent of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) that participation credit may not be granted for operating in the charter halibut fishery if initial entry into the fishery occurs after the control date. http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/E6-1726.htm

Alaska Seafood Processing Leadership Institute Program Announcement
February 13, 2006

NThrough funding made possible by the State of Alaska’s Fisheries Revitalization Strategy, the Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development and the University’s Marine Advisory Program, are pleased to sponsor the Alaska Seafood Processor Leadership Institute.

The Alaska Seafood Processing Leadership Institute is a program designed to identify and foster individuals who are up and coming leaders in the seafood processing industry. Successful applicants will reside in communities adversely impacted by the downturn of the Alaska salmon industry and have successfully worked in seafood processing.

Successful candidates will receive three weeks of seafood technical and business training and a focused field trip to the Boston Seafood show and Iceland in Spring 2007 to see first hand the processing capacity of other cold-water processing companies.

Click here for more details and contact information or go on line at: http://www.uaf.edu/map/aspli/index.html. The deadline for applications is Friday, March 3, 2006. We look forward to your consideration of identifying and mentoring potential seafood processing leaders from your area.

National - NOAA to Conduct Scoping on the Activities of the Marine Mammal Stranding Response Program February 1, 2006

NOAA Fisheries Service has announced its intent to analyze the environmental impacts of the national Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program. The mandated goals of the program are to: facilitate the collection and dissemination of reference data on the health of marine mammals and health trends of marine mammal populations in the wild; correlate the health of marine mammals and marine mammal populations, in the wild, with available data on physical, chemical, and biological environmental parameters; and coordinate effective responses to unusual mortality events.

Individuals, groups and organizations throughout the country have been responding to stranded marine mammals for decades through special agreements with NOAA. The scoping process is the first step toward developing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the cumulative impacts of the activities of this program. This EIS will assess the likely environmental effects of marine mammal health and stranding response under a range of alternatives. For all potentially significant impacts, the EIS will identify avoidance, minimization and mitigation measures to reduce these impacts, where feasible, to a level below significance.

Public scoping meetings will take place beginning January 24 in the following locations: Santa Barbara, CA; San Francisco, CA; Honolulu, HI; Seattle, WA; Anchorage, AK; St. Petersburg, FL; Boston, MA; and Silver Spring, MD. For details, please refer to the scoping notice

Alaska Board of Fisheries - Call For Proposals January 21, 2006

THE ALASKA BOARD OF FISHERIES CALLS FOR PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE SUBSISTENCE, PERSONAL USE, SPORT, GUIDED SPORT, AND COMMERCIAL FINFISH REGULATIONS FOR THE BRISTOL BAY, ARCTIC-YUKON-KUSKOKWIM, AND ALASKA PENINSULA/ALEUTIAN ISLANDS FINFISH AREAS AND STATEWIDE FINFISH REGULATIONS PROPOSAL
DEADLINE - APRIL 10, 2006

The Alaska Board of Fisheries is accepting proposed changes to the subsistence, personal use, sport, guided sport, and commercial finfish regulations for the Bristol Bay, Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim, and Alaska Peninsula/Aleutian Islands management areas. Finfish includes: salmon, herring, trout, groundfish, char, burbot, northern pike, whitefish, Pacific cod, sablefish, shark, pollock, etc., but does not include halibut.

For more information do to http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/fishinfo/news/newstemp.php

NOAA'S National Marine Sanctuary Program Launches Online Encyclopedia of Marine Life

NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary Program has announced a new free online resource that highlights the diverse marine life of America's ocean and Great Lakes treasures. The "Encyclopedia of the Sanctuaries" offers photos, streaming video and important facts for more than 100 key animal and plant species from each of the national marine sanctuaries. The "Encyclopedia of the Sanctuaries" allows users to search for their favorite species or browse the wildlife of each sanctuary by category, ranging from spiny lobster to killer whales and from white-tipped reef sharks to sea anemones. The encyclopedia entry for each species includes a photo, quick facts, information about its diet, habitat, distribution and status, and links to outside resources for more information. Many of the entries also offer engaging, high-quality video clips of species in their natural habitats, making the "Encyclopedia of the Sanctuaries" a great resource for educators, students of all ages, zoos and aquaria, science and technology centers, and natural history museums.

The online encyclopedia was developed by NOAA in partnership with the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and The Ocean Channel, Inc., a California-based new-media corporation. It is part of a continuing effort to enhance the public's understanding and appreciation of the ocean environment.

The Encyclopedia is available online at: http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/education.

Retention of "Other Rockfish" Prohibited in the Central Gulf of Alaska

NOAA Fisheries Service has prohibited retention of "other rockfish"' in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska. ("Other rockfish'' consists of all slope and demersal shelf rockfish.) Catch of "other rockfish'' in this area must be treated in the same manner as prohibited species and discarded at sea with a minimum of injury. This action is necessary because the "other rockfish'' 2005 total allowable catch in this area has been reached. The prohibition remains in effect through December 31, 2005. For more information, contact Josh.Keaton@noaa.gov.

NOAA Seeking Industry & Trade Specialist;

NOAA Fisheries Service is seeking a Trade Specialist for the Office of Constituent Services. The incumbent will plan and coordinate trade development programs and events to promote U.S. exports; analyze and recommend positions on complex trade issues and negotiating strategies; develop and disseminate trade information to U.S. businesses and associations; and provide export counseling to constituents. Applications will be accepted through August 15. This is a full time, permanent position in Silver Spring, MD. All U.S. citizens are eligible, and potential candidates now working outside of NOAA are encouraged to apply. Nominations are open from August 1 - September 15, 2005. For more information, please go to www.usajobs.com

FishNews August 19, 2005

Note from the Assistant Administrator, Dr. Bill Hogarth: I'd like to update you on some personnel changes that have occurred at NOAA Fisheries Service over the past several months. Dr. Rebecca Lent has moved to become the head of a new Office of International Affairs at NOAA Fisheries, and Dr. Jim Balsiger is acting as Deputy AA for Regulatory Programs. Following Dr. Michael Sissenwine's recent retirement, Dr. Steve Murawski is now serving as Director of Scientific Programs. In the field, Doug Mecum has been selected as the new Deputy Regional Administrator for the Alaska Region. Doug is currently the Director of the Division of Commercial Fisheries for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Juneau. Dr. John Stein has been selected as the Deputy Director for the Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle.

NOAA Fisheries Service Solicits Nominations to the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC)

Monday, August 1st a request for nominations to MAFAC published in the Federal Register and is posted to the MAFAC webpage at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ocs/mafac/. NOAA Fisheries anticipates selecting up to eight new members to serve during the 2006-2009 term. The MAFAC is a national body of representative stakeholders with expertise in fisheries science and management issues that advises the Secretary of Commerce on all matters concerning living marine resources. Members serve a term of three years with two meetings each year. Members may serve no more than two consecutive terms and may not be a Federal employee or a member of a Regional Fishery Management Council. Nominations are open from August 1 - September 12, 2005.

Visit NOAA's Redesigned Ocean Explorer Web Site

Visitors to NOAA's redesigned Ocean Explorer Web site can team up with other players around the globe to reveal pieces of an ocean-related picture-puzzle, and access a printable calendar and screen savers with images from the deep ocean. The Web site also chronicles expeditions to unknown or poorly known areas of the ocean with daily reports from scientists at sea richly illustrated with images from the seafloor. Teachers will find lesson plans that are linked directly to expeditions and to National Science Education Standards. Students can learn more about a variety of marine science careers at OceanAGE Careers under the site's 'Education' area. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/

AK Fishing Photos wanted for AFS September meeting

The meeting's opening session will start with a powerpoint slide show of Alaska fish, fishing, and fishing-related stuff, such as seafood processing.  We are seeking high-resolution photographs to use in this show.  We want to "shock and awe" the audience, who come from most states and several countries, by showing them the magnitude and variety of Alaska's fishing industry.  Please let us use your pix.  We cannot pay you, but we will give you on-screen credit, which will be seen by over 2,000 people.  Please contact Steve Grabacki, ph: +907-272-5600 or graystar@alaska.net

Bill Noll Appointed Commissioner of Commerce
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 28, 2005 05-120

Bill Noll Appointed Commissioner of Commerce

(Juneau) - Governor Frank H. Murkowski appointed Bill Noll as commissioner of the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development. Noll has lived in Alaska for 37 years, has worked in fishing, tourism and international trade and is a former mayor and city council member of Seward.

Noll has served as a deputy commissioner for DCCED since January 2003. In April 2005 Noll was appointed to serve as the governor's director of communications. Noll also served as a deputy commissioner for Economic Development and International Trade under the Hickel Administration.

"Bill brings with him institutional knowledge, understanding of the complex issues of the department, and a real love of Alaska," said Murkowski. "His appointment will ensure continuity for the programs and services provided by Commerce."

Acting Commissioner Al Clough will resume his position as deputy commissioner for the department. Clough said he is pleased with the appointment of Noll to lead the department.

"Bill is a straight shooter with an eye for progress," said Clough. "Alaskans are well served with him as commissioner of the Department of Commerce."

The appointments are effective immediately.

The Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development regulates and assists the state's business sector, assists in promoting Alaska's resources for development and assists rural and urban communities with a variety of infrastructure needs.

Catch or See an Atlantic Salmon? - Please Call 1-877-INVASIV (1-877-468-2748)
call ADF&G hotline, keep fish whole and refrigerate if possible.

April 2005

Community Impact Assessment Data Issues in the North Pacific Fisheries
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat
Issues in the North Pacific Fisheries. Processors by Community. Table 8. ...
Processing Value Added and Processor PercentageDependency for Unalaska an ...
www.uaf.edu/seagrant/Conferences/fish-com/powerpoints/downs.pdf

North Pacific Fishery Management Council Community considerations ...
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat
Ex-Vessel Value of Alaska Landings. Average Annual Ex-Vessel value ... Act of
1976 to manage fisheries in federal waters. The North Pacific Council is ...
www.uaf.edu/seagrant/Conferences/ fish-com/powerpoints/oliver.pdf - Similar pages

Fishing Community Profiles for the North Pacific
File Format: Microsoft Powerpoint 97
Landings by value. Number of processors. Number of vessels delivering ...
Involvement in North Pacific Fisheries. Commercial Fishing ...
www.st.nmfs.gov/st5/brown_bag_sessions/ 2005/documents/Sepez_HQ_Social_Science_Talk%202005.ppt

National - NOAA's Offshore Aquaculture Bill Introduced in the Senate

NOAA's National Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2005 was introduced in the Senate this week by Commerce Committee Co-Chairmen Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) and Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI). Now known as S. 1195, the bill would grant the Secretary of Commerce new authority to issue permits for offshore aquaculture in federal ocean waters, also known as the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, while providing environmental and other safeguards to protect wild stocks, marine ecosystems, and other users. The Act, which does not supersede existing authorities, specifically provides for coordination and consultation with other federal agencies, Fishery Management Councils, and coastal states.

Please visit www.noaa.gov/aquaculture for more information about the bill, including responses to frequently asked questions.

Legislature Passes Resolution Regarding Fish Farming in Federal Waters
Released: April 12, 2005

Click here for more information           Click here for bill text

Results from "Managing Fisheries & Empowering Communities" Conference
Sponsored by ADFG, MAP, Sea Grant, and NMFS. Anchorage.

The slide presentations that you saw during the conference are now on the web, as well as the results from our breakout groups. You can find them all at http://www.uaf.edu/seagrant/Conferences/fish-com/announce.html

Also on the link above is a link to an evaluation form. Your feedback would be appreciated for similar future events.

The "Fishermen's Direct Marketing Manual" (just updated)

This book will help fishermen decide whether to direct-market their catch, and tell them how to avoid potential pitfalls of direct marketing. Chapters address strategies for distributing seafood, finding domestic and international customers for the catch, packaging and shipping seafood products, the basics of business planning, and other important topics. Based on an earlier edition, the Alaska Fisherman's Direct Marketing Manual, this book has updated information and a much wider geographic focus, for fishermen in Washington, Oregon, and California. Published by the Alaska Marine Advisory Program, with Alaska, Oregon, and Washington Sea Grant programs.

Click here for more information

International Pacific Halibut Commision Completes 2005 Annual Meeting

Click here for more information

NMFS Privacy Act System of Records, Permits and Regis. for Fisheries EEZ off AK

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/05-4109.htm

Skinner Memorial Award 2005 Call for Applications

The John E. Skinner Memorial Fund was established in memory of John Skinner, former Chapter and Western Division American Fisheries Society President.  The fund provides monetary travel awards for deserving graduate students or exceptional undergraduate students to attend the American Fisheries Society (AFS) annual meeting.  The 2005 meeting will be held inAnchorage, Alaskafrom September 11-15.

Any student who is active in fisheries or related aquatic disciplines is eligible to apply.  Awardees are chosen by a committee of the AFS Education Section.  Selection is based on academic qualifications, professional service, and reasons for attending the meeting.  Travel support not to exceed $600 per award will be made available to successful applicants.  Award winners will also receive a one year paid membership to the American Fisheries Society.

Applications are available via the AFS web site (www.fisheries.org)AFS campus representative, or contact:

Dr. Steven R.Chipps
NPBL 2140B
USGSSouth DakotaCooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit
South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD 57007
605.688.6121

E-mail: steve_chipps@sdstate.edu

Completed applications must be received by May 6, 2005.

FISH BOARD PROPOSAL DEADLINE APPROACHING
Interested parties have less than three weeks to submit proposals for changes to commercial, subsistence, personal use, sport and guided sport fishing regulations to the Board of Fisheries for consideration at its 2005-2006 meetings beginning this fall.
Friday, April 8 at 5 p.m. is the submissions deadline and proposals must be received at Board Support Offices, not merely postmarked by that date.
Proposal forms and more information about submitting proposals, including addresses and fax numbers are available at the board's website: "http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/fishinfo/index.php"
The board will consider proposals for the Prince William Sound, Southeast and Yakutat management areas and for statewide Dungeness crab, shrimp and miscellaneous shellfish fisheries. A draft meeting schedule, including dates and locations, will be published in May.
A $100,000 budget increase requested by Gov. Frank Murkowski for the Boards of Fisheries & Game would allow them to again meet in regional centers other than Anchorage Fairbanks and Juneau beginning this fall.
Neither the House nor Senate has completed action on the fiscal 2006 budget
to date.

NPFMC community protections options for the rationalization of groundfish in the North Gulf, items currently in analysis.

Click here for motion

Visit the NPFMC website

Ecotrust Canada

Canada- U.S study finds fisheries privatization hurting B.C. First Nations and coastal communities

Read Summary

Visit Ecotrust Canada website

NOAA Fisheries Service - Alaska – 2005-2006 Groundfish Regulations Finalized

NOAA Fisheries Service has published final 2005 and 2006 harvest specifications, reserves and apportionments, Pacific halibut prohibited species catch limits, and associated management measures for the groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska. Final harvest specifications and prohibited species catch allowances for the groundfish fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area have also been published.

The 2005 and 2006 management measures are effective through December 31, 2006. Copies of the final regulations and supporting documents are available at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov.

For more information on the Gulf of Alaska regulations, please contact Tom.Pearson@noaa.gov.

For more information on regulations for the Bering Sea Aleutian Islands, contact Mary.Furuness@noaa.gov.

Help Wanted - ADF&G Commissioner position reposted.

Anchorage Daily News Classified Ads: Employment: Professional

The State of Alaska is recruiting for Commissioner of the Department of Fish and Game. The department's mission is to manage, protect, rehabilitate, enhance & develop fish & wildlife resources in the interest of the economy and general well-being of the state. The candidate shall be a qualified executive with knowledge of the requirements for protection, management, conservation & restoration of the fish & wildlife resources of the state. Applicants should provide a letter of interest, curriculum vitae with statement of resource management philosophy, a statement of personnel management philosophy & phone numbers & email addresses of three professional references.

Application materials must be submitted no later than 5 pm, February 11, 2005, to: Diana Cote, Executive Director Alaska Department of Fish and Game P.O. Box 25526, Juneau, AK 99802 Diana_Cote@fishgame.state.ak.us . Fax: 907-465-6094 Questions may be referred to Diana Cote at the above email address, or at (907) 465-4110.

DCED posts Regional Seafood Development Association regs.

The Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development is announcing that the Regional Seafood Development Association regulations guiding the application process will be effective February 24, 2005. Prior to the effective date, the Department will be initiating the Application Development Period. If an organization or person is considering applying as a Regional Seafood Development Association, that organization/individual is encouraged to provide written notice of the intent.

Please visit the Department web site at: http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/oed/seafood/rsda_home.htm to find out what is requested under the Application Development Period.

Once the regulations are effective, the Department will be accepting applications to determine the associations.

If you have any questions, email or call Glenn Haight at 907-465-5464.

NMFS and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council

NMFS and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council have completed the Preliminary Final Environmental Impact Statement for Essential Fish Habitat Identification and Conservation in Alaska (EFH EIS). The document evaluates alternatives for three actions: describing and identifying EFH, adopting an approach to identify Habitat Areas of Particular Concern, and minimizing the adverse effects of fishing on EFH.

In preparation for final Council action at the February 2005 meeting, NMFS is distributing hard copies of several key sections of the EIS, plus a compact disk with the entire document, including appendices. The hard copy excerpts include the Executive Summary, Section 4.3.7 (which evaluates the consequences of Alternative 5B, including the options recently added by the Council), Section 4.5 (the summary and conclusions from the Environmental Consequences chapter), Appendix B (the revised evaluation of the effects of fishing on EFH), and Appendix L (response to public comments). We are sending this material to all Council members as well as the Advisory Panel and Scientific and Statistical Committee. We are also sending copies to a number of stakeholders who have been actively following this issue. Other interested parties may obtain the documents via the Alaska Region's web site at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/habitat/seis/efheis.htm.

At the February Council meeting we will provide an overview of the EFH EIS with an emphasis on changes made since the draft EIS was released last year. We anticipate that the Council will select its preferred alternative for each of the three actions. We will then revise the document accordingly and prepare it for publication.

Any questions regarding the EFH EIS should be directed to Jon Kurland, Assistant Regional Administrator for Habitat Conservation, at 907-586-7638 or jon.kurland@noaa.gov.