Question for members & other recipients – Please let us know if use a modem / telephone line connection, or satellite connection that is billed by bandwidth to read UFA Updates. We send this update in a text only format and include summary text and the complete links for items, in the understanding that many Alaska fishermen still connect via low speed connections. We are considering changes to how we communicate, and seek to provide this info in a manner that all of you can use.
If you connect by modem, please send a reply to ufa1@ufa-fish.org and include “Modem user” in the subject line.
If you have other suggestions as to how we might improve our communications to you, we welcome additional suggestions (with priority for advice from paid members!)
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Contents
- AK Legislature: this session UFA supported and obtained passage of…
- ADFG’s budget blossoms to solve salmon problems
- Governor Parnell Announces Board of Fisheries Appointments – one more to go.
- NOAA to Hold Aquaculture Listening Session – in Alaska, May ?
- 2010 NOAA Sea Grant Aquaculture Research Program – Deadline May 25
- Federal Subsistence Board Restricts Subsistence Gillnet Mesh Size in the Yukon
- Actions posted from BOF Statewide finfish meeting – March 16-21
- Note to direct market fishermen: Update for Security Screening of Seafood Shipments
- New E-stop system can save fishermen
- Coast Guard highlights fishing vessel safety in Prince William Sound
- USCG Safety Alert – Auto Channel Switching on DSC equipped VHF radios
- FREE Safety Training Scheduled for Commercial Fishermen in Juneau- April 22-23
- USCG seeks members for CFIVSAC FV safety committee
- State Seeks Intervention in Cook Inlet Salmon Dispute
- Federal Salmon Stronghold Bill heard before Senate subcommittee
- Fishing crew data program stalls
- Obama Admin Looks to Cast a Line With Anglers with Recreational summit
- Why We Need A National Ocean Policy, interview with Dr. Jane Lubchenco
- NOAA Business Report 2009
- NOAA Report: Progress is Being Made to Rebuild and Sustain Fisheries and Ocean
- NPFMC Items from the April Meeting
- Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute “30th Anniversary Report”
- WTC AK report: Japan – Alaska’s Major Trading Partner – $540M is seafood
- Quake’s impact on Chilean salmon minimal
- Icicle floating processor R.M. Thorstenson comes to town
- Gathering to connect links in supply chain -Alaska Food Policy Group May 18-19
- Laine Welch’s Fish Radio –topics from this week
- Comment deadline April 23 on Illegal Foreign Fishing and Bycatch
- Lessons from the Galaxy: “Tragedy and Courage on the Bering Sea”:
- Comment Deadline May 11 on Federal Subsistence proposals
- State of the Salmon conference: May 4–7, 2010, Portland, OR.
- Commercial Fishermen’s Festival, September 18 – 19, 2010
- “Energy Use in Fisheries”: November 14-17, 2010, in Seattle, WA
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1. AK Legislature: this session UFA supported and obtained passage of…
HB 20 – adds generators to the Division of Investments commercial fishing energy improvement engine retrofit loan program, and opens the program to current holders of “A” loans.
SB 163 – increases the maximum claim limit of the Fishermen’s Fund from $2500 to $10,000, provides statutory authority for the Fishermen’s Fund advisory council to approve claims exceeding the claim limit, and allows for reimbursement of insured vessel owners of half of claims, up to $5K.
HB 344 – Extends salmon value-added product development tax credit and adds icemaking equipment for value added products to the list of approved equipment.
Budget items: increased funding for ASMI and retention of Marine Advisory Program agents.
For info and text of bills see AK Legislature home page and enter bill number in the search field: http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/index.php
The UFA board voted to award our lobbyist Jerry McCune with an honorary lifetime membership at our February meeting – and he earned it again in these last two months since then.
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2. ADFG’s budget blossoms to solve salmon problems
The Department of Fish and Game is on the way toward the largest budget increase it has received in over two decades.
Among more than $1.9 million in new operating budget money for salmon projects statewide is $524,000 intended to start multi-year field projects to restore, and better monitor salmon stocks in the Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim region…
http://www.thedutchharborfisherman.com/article/1014agencys_budget_blossoms_to_solve_salmon
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3. Governor Parnell Announces Board of Fisheries Appointments
April 1, 2010, Juneau, Alaska – Governor Sean Parnell reappointed Claude “Vince” Webster of King Salmon and appointed Thomas G. Kluberton of Talkeetna to the state Board of Fisheries. (Both were confirmed by the Alaska legislature)
http://gov.alaska.gov/parnell/press-room/full-press-release.html?pr=5315
Note- there is still a pending appointment to be made for the additional seat, vacated by the resignation of Janet Woods. UFA has supported Eric Weingarth, Bruce Cain, and Paul Shadura for this seat. We encourage your support – please send a letter to the office of the Governor, Boards and Commissions today!
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4. NOAA to Hold Aquaculture Listening Session – in Alaska, May ?
April 13, 2010, Juneau, Alaska – At the request of Governor Sean Parnell, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) plans to hold a listening session in Alaska on its new national marine aquaculture policy.
http://gov.alaska.gov/parnell/press-room/full-press-release.html?pr=5336
A copy of the governor’s letter to NOAA is available at: http://gov.alaska.gov/parnell_media/documents/Ltr_to_Dr_Lubchenco_33110.pdf
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NOAA aquaculture listening sessions – Seattle April 22, Call in May 6,
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/aquaculture/policy1/
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5. 2010 NOAA Sea Grant Aquaculture Research Program – Deadline May 25
NOAA Sea Grant will make available up to $6,000,000 in total for a national competition to fund aquaculture research projects for FY 2010 to FY 2011, as part of the overall plan to support the development of environmentally and economically sustainable ocean, coastal or Great Lakes aquaculture… http://seagrant.uaf.edu/research/rfp/2010/aquaculture-special-funding.php
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6. Federal Subsistence Board Restricts Subsistence Gillnet Mesh Size in the Yukon River The Federal Subsistence Board, at its April 13, 2010 meeting in Anchorage, approved a regulation to restrict gillnets used in subsistence salmon fisheries in Federal public waters of the Yukon River Drainage by Federally qualified subsistence users to 7.5 inch maximum mesh size. This restriction has been approved to help increase the number of large, more productive Chinook salmon females on to the spawning grounds. The new regulation will be effective during the 2011 fishing season, and parallels action taken earlier this year by the Alaska Board of Fisheries.
See the April 14 news release at: http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/news.cfml
Federal Subsistence Management Program home page: http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/home.html .
KTUU news story
Many questions come out at federal subsistence board meeting
http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=12306954
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7. Actions posted from BOF Statewide finfish meeting – March 16-21
http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/fishinfo/meetsum/2009-2010/statewide-finfish-2010.pdf
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8. Note to direct market fishermen: Update for Security Screening of Seafood Shipments
(Alaska Business Monthly) – Alaska Air Cargo on Feb. 2 announced it has implemented procedural changes to meet Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requirements for the screening of seafood.
“We strongly encourage all seafood shippers to consider joining the TSA’s Certified Cargo Screening Program,” said Joe Sprague, Alaska Air Cargo’s vice president. “Receiving certified pre-screened freight is the best way to ensure the most efficient and highest quality shipment of seafood products to market.”
To learn more about the TSA’s Certified Cargo Screening Program, visit www.tsa.gov/ccsp or contact TSA representative Marilyn Christiansen at
(907) 602-8560.
Full Article:
http://www.akbizmag.com/alaska-news/1892-alaska-air-cargo-announces-important-update-for-security-screening-of-seafood-shipments.html
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9. New E-stop system can save fishermen
(Kodiak Daily Mirror 4/16) A new E-stop system can save fishermen from winch entanglement injuries.
Ted Teske of The National Institute talked about the system Thursday afternoon at ComFish for the National Institute Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
The system was created because every few years severe injuries or fatalities to fishermen are reported — injuries that could have been prevented…
http://kodiakdailymirror.com/?pid=19&id=8701
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10. Coast Guard highlights fishing vessel safety in Prince William Sound
VALDEZ, Alaska – Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Valdez recently kicked off its 2010 voluntary dockside commercial fishing vessel safety examination and safety compliance check initiatives in an effort to advance safety within the commercial fishing vessel fleet.
Coast Guard examiners will be available in Cordova beginning April 26 through May 22 for all commercial fishing vessel operators that are interested in scheduling a free voluntary dockside CFV safety exam. In Valdez examiners are available throughout the year…
https://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/780/513963/
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11. USCG Safety Alert – Auto Channel Switching on DSC equipped VHF radios
It has come to the Coast Guard’s attention that an automatic channel switching feature found on certain models of Digital Selective Calling (DSC) equipped VHF marine radios may create an unintended hazard by automatically switching from a working channel that might be in use at the time to Channel 16 when the VHF marine radio receives a DSC distress alert, distress alert acknowledgment or other DSC call where a VHF channel number has been designated…
http://homeport.uscg.mil/cgi-bin/st/portal/uscg_docs/MyCG/Editorial/20100413/SA0210.pdf?id=d97503572293d39fe368a7822a41e24942f589b3
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12. FREE Safety Training Scheduled for Commercial Fishermen in Juneau- April 22-23
Alaska Marine Safety Education Association (AMSEA), in cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard and UAS will offer a fishing vessel safety and drill conductor course in Juneau beginning Thursday April 22 and continuing on Friday April 23. The course includes a pool session with immersion suits. The class will meet at the USCG Sector Juneau Training Room in the DMV/ Alaska Department of Public Safety building at 2760 Sherwood Drive.
Please register in advance by contacting AMSEA in Sitka at 907-747-3287. More information and online registration is available at www.amsea.org .
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13. USCG seeks members for CFIVSAC FV safety committee The US Coast Guard is seeking applications for membership on the Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Advisory Committee (CFIVSAC). Applications should be submitted by June 1.
Federal register Notice March 26: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-6694.htm
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14. State Seeks Intervention in Cook Inlet Salmon Dispute
Anchorage, Alaska – The Department of Law has moved to intervene in federal litigation to ensure that the State of Alaska can continue to manage its fishing resources.
The lawsuit, by the United Cook Inlet Drift Association against U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, was filed in U.S. District Court on March 18. It seeks to have the federal government take over management of Cook Inlet’s salmon fisheries through regulations that would trump the state’s rules…
“The desire by Alaskans to manage their own resources, particularly fish, was a driving force behind the push for statehood,” said Attorney General Dan Sullivan. “The plaintiffs seek to interfere with Alaska’s exercise of its sovereign state jurisdiction over its fish, waters and lands. That would strip the state of authority it gained under federal law, including the Alaska Statehood Act, and would return that authority to the federal government. We cannot allow that to happen.”
The state’s motion is at: http://www.law.alaska.gov/pdf/press/040610-motion.pdf
AK Department of Law press release: http://www.law.state.ak.us/press/releases/2010/040610-Salmon.html
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15. Federal Salmon Stronghold Bill heard before Senate subcommittee
Alaska would be in line for additional funding for the protection of wild salmon stocks under legislation heard in the Fisheries and Oceans Subcommittee of the Senate Commerce Committee today (4/15).
“Protecting the salmon strongholds we have now saves money and fishing jobs over the long-term as we won’t have to spend billions of dollars later to restore and rebuild the fisheries,” Begich said. “Alaska produces 44 percent of the world’s salmon — it’s a precious resource we must work together to protect.” http://www.thebristolbaytimes.com/article/1015salmon_stronghold_bill_heard_before
APRN Audio (Joe Childers, UFA President):
http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=53b580b2-7abf-4ce5-8703-dc8cc71e8c52
Senate Commerce – Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard subcommittee press release: http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=53b580b2-7abf-4ce5-8703-dc8cc71e8c52
Subcommittee meeting page:
http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Hearings&ContentRecord_id=c9fef0f5-fe43-48c0-8055-afe6bf74b0d0&ContentType_id=14f995b9-dfa5-407a-9d35-56cc7152a7ed&Group_id=b06c39af-e033-4cba-9221-de668ca1978a
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16. Fishing crew data program stalls
KODIAK — It’s tough to track a workforce when you don’t know where it is. But that will remain the case for more than 20,000 Alaska deckhands, at least for the immediate future.
“We support the project but feel the burden should be on the crew,” said Mark Vinsel, UFA executive director. “Skippers can verify the information.”
Crews aboard fishing boats are one of the only groups of laborers in Alaska not counted by the state. A project to collect labor data on deckhands in every fishery has been under development for two years, and it seemed to be on its way to legislative approval this year…
http://www.adn.com/2010/03/27/1202080/fishing-crew-data-program-stalls.html
UFA’s letter suggested the pilot program use two control groups – 1) Crew member submitted logbooks and 2) operator submitted logbooks.
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17. Obama Admin Looks to Cast a Line With Anglers with Recreational summit
The Obama administration is launching a significant new effort to reach out to marine recreational fishermen, an economically and politically powerful group that has previously felt shut out by the new administration.
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/04/16/16greenwire-obama-admin-looks-to-cast-a-line-with-anglers-95055.html
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ESPN: Lessons for NOAA
http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/saltwater/columns/story?columnist=horton_chris&id=5115202
& NOAA announces New National Policy Advisor for Recreational Fisheries
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2010/20100323_fisheries.html
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18. Why We Need A National Ocean Policy, interview with Dr. Jane Lubchenco
With Jon Bowermaster from the Huffington Post…
…JB: Do you see a future where the U.S. coastline is dotted with marine reserves, off limits to all fishing?
Dr. JL: The science of marine reserves is pretty clear that they are very powerful tools to protect biodiversity. In many cases they can also help recover depleted fisheries and provide a source of fish or other species to repopulate adjacent areas. They are definitely one of the tools in our toolbox, a very important one … but not the only one. They need to be considered as part of a more holistic strategy of what kinds of activities and what kinds of protection are needed in different areas of the ocean, different parts of the coastline…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-bowermaster/why-we-need-a-national-oc_b_542231.html
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19. NOAA Business Report 2009
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/docs/business_report_2009.pdf
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20. NOAA Report: Progress is Being Made to Rebuild and Sustain Fisheries
and Ocean Ecosystems
A new NOAA report shows that the last decade has been a period of progress in
rebuilding depleted fish stocks, sustaining many fisheries populations, and gaining a better understanding of the complex relationships between marine species and their habitats…
The report cites the Alaskan groundfish fisheries—walleye pollock, Pacific cod,
rockfishes and Atka mackerel—as a prime example of how managers and fishermen are
working together to keep fish harvest rates at sustainable levels while reducing risks to other species in the ecosystem, including marine mammals, juvenile fish and other fish species not being targeted.
These findings are one of a number of highlights from the nation’s coastal communities
that are described in the newly released NOAA report Our Living Oceans: Report on the Status of U.S. Living Marine Resources…
This sixth edition of Our Living Oceans, is now available online at
http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/LivingOceans.html , and will be available in printed copies soon from the NOAA’s Fisheries Service Office of Science and Technology.
NOAA Press release:
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/mediacenter/docs/ourlivingoceans_mar10.pdf
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21. NPFMC Items from the April Meeting:
HAPC: Skate Nurseries Proposal Package: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/HAPC/SkateNurseryProposal2010.pdf
Proposal Form: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/HAPC/2010HAPC_Application.doc
Crab: Emergency Exemption: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/crab/EmergExmpt410.pdf
WAG: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/crab/WAGmotion410.pdf
Motions:
ACL Discussion Paper (Tier 6: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/ACL/ACL_motion410_discpaper.pdf
Motion:
Tanner Crab Area Closures Motion 4/10: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/bycatch/GOATannerClosuresMotion410.pdf
GOA Rockfish Motion: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/groundfish/RockfishMotion410.pdf
AIET Terms of Reference: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/ecosystem/AIETtor410.pdf
Chum salmon bycatch outreach plan, April 2010 draft: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/bycatch/ChumOutreach410.pdf
NOTICE: 5/4 Teleconf. Bering Sea Chum salmon bycatch alts:
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/bycatch/ChumOutreachFlier310.pdf
Presentation: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/bycatch/chumPPT410.pdf
NPFMC April Newsletter: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/newsletters/news410.pdf
NPFMC Current Issues (4 meg pdf): http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/CurrentIssues2010.pdf
NPFMC home page:
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/
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22. Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute “30th Anniversary Report”
http://pressroom.alaskaseafood.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/2010.pdf
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23. WTC AK report: Japan – Alaska’s Major Trading Partner – $540M is seafood
Despite the economic downturn, Alaska’s exports to Japan remain substantial…
http://www.wtcak.org/Passport/PPJapan9.pdf
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24. Quake’s impact on Chilean salmon minimal
Disaster causes only slight supply hiccup
Chile’s salmon farming industry recovered quickly from the 8.8-magnitude earthquake that rocked the country’s central coast in late February. The quake’s epicenter was about 400 miles north of Puerto Montt, where the majority of salmon production occurs…
http://www.seafoodbusiness.com/index.asp?ItemID=4350&rcid=199&pcid=198&cid=199%0A%0A%0A%0A%0A
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25. Icicle floating processor R.M. Thorstenson comes to town
Keith Chaplin (Petersburg Pilot, April 15, 2010)
The R.M. Thorstenson, a 318-foot fish processor owned and operated by Icicle Seafoods Inc. and recently named in honor of Icicle founding partner Robert M. Thorstenson made a brief stop in Petersburg Friday Apr. 9.
The vessel, with 105 crew members is headed to Kodiak, but made a brief stop Friday at the PFI dock so that visitors could tour the vessel that processes crab, herring and salmon… http://www.petersburgpilot.com/www/stories/041510thorstenson.htm
Thanks to Harold Wittlesy for his inspiration to honor Mr. Thorstenson Sr.
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26. Gathering to connect links in supply chain -Alaska Food Policy Group May 18-19
Producers, distributors and others involved in food delivery and security will gather in Anchorage on May 18-19 to organize a state food policy council, to begin examining how Alaska’s food system is operating and how to improve it.
http://www.thetundradrums.com/article/1015gathering_to_connect_links_in_supply_chain
Global Food Collaborative announcement & invitation:
http://www.globalfoodcollaborative.com/news/2010/04/06/alaska-food-policy-group-organizes-.html
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27. Laine Welch’s Fish Radio –topics from this week
Tuesday 4/20/10 – Sitka invests directly in future fishermen – and fish.
Monday 4/19/10 – Pebble Mine opponents travel to London – again
Friday 4/16/10 – Surveys show support for local fishing is #1 by consumers
Thursday 4/15/10 – Price updates: halibut, sablefish, cod, winter king salmon
Wednesday 4/14/10 – Offshore aquaculture policy hearings, Nat’l call in on May 6 http://www.marineconservationalliance.org/fishradio.htm
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28. Comment deadline April 23 on Illegal Foreign Fishing and Bycatch –
In fulfillment of requirements under the international provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, NOAA Fisheries is preparing the second biennial report to Congress, which will identify nations whose fishing vessels are engaged in illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing or fishing practices that result in bycatch of protected living marine resources. On March 5, 2010, NOAA Fisheries requested information from the public that could assist in the identification of nations, with submissions requested by April 5, 2010. In order to allow more time for submissions, NOAA Fisheries is reopening the request for information until April 23, 2010. For more information, contact Michael.Simpkins@noaa.gov or visit this website for links to the notice in the Federal Register and other information.
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/msa2007/intlprovisions.html
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29. Lessons from the Galaxy: “Tragedy and Courage on the Bering Sea”:
New Crew Training DVD is Gripping Sea Story… new from John Sabella.
http://www.johnsabella.com/detail.lasso?title=650712
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30. Comment Deadline May 11 on Federal Subsistence proposals
The Federal Subsistence Board is accepting written comments through May 11, 2010 on proposed changes to Federal subsistence fishing regulations. These proposed changes would affect Federal subsistence fishing seasons, harvest limits, methods for the taking of fish, and customary and traditional use determinations for the regulatory years April 1, 2011 through March 31, 2013.
The proposals can be found on the “Public Participation” page of the Federal Subsistence Management Program Website, http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/home.html . Copies of the proposal book can also be obtained by contacting the Office of Subsistence Management at (800) 478-1456 or (907) 786-3888.
See this April 8 Notice at http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/news.cfml
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31. State of the Salmon conference: May 4–7, 2010, Portland, OR.
Hilton Portland, OR
Registration begins Fall 2009
www.stateofthesalmon.org
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32. Commercial Fishermen’s Festival, September 18 – 19, 2010
Port of Astoria, Pier 1
Celebrity Fishermen — Captain Phil Harris and Captains Andy and Jonathan Hilstrand, and the return of the crew from F/V Wizard of “Deadliest Catch” fame along with the strong interest from several other “Deadliest Catch” stars and the return of Jay Browning’s “AxeMen” crew for the much anticipated re-match of the popular Tug-of-War competition. See the fan video at http://www.commercialfishermensfestival.com/
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33. “Energy Use in Fisheries: Improving Efficiency and Technological Innovations from a Global Perspective,” November 14-17, 2010, in Seattle, WA.
This symposium will address both the direct and indirect effects of global energy costs on the seafood harvesting, processing, and marketing sectors. The desired outcomes will include a set of alternative strategies to reduce the carbon footprint of commercial and recreational fishing fleets, the associated financial gain to these industry participants, examples of the government’s role in reducing its imprint, and a set of metrics to measure the level of energy reduction or improved environmental efficacy of different fuel types used by fishing fleets. This is an important and timely issue for the future of United States and world fisheries.
http://www.energyfish.nmfs.noaa.gov/
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