New Management Plan. Here’s the Plan that will guide our season: “2016 Southeast Alaska Drift Gillnet Fishery Management Plan”
Whale Pinger rebate. If you’re planning to buy whale pingers this year, WAIT until after May 1 to get a $25 rebate per pinger (up to five). Three of USAG’s business members carry whale pingers: Seattle Marine & Fishing Supply (206) 285-5010 in Seattle; LFS Inc (800) 426-8860 in Sitka and Bellingham; and Western Auto Marine (907) 780-4909 in Juneau. If you aren’t in these places, they’d probably be happy to mail them to you. Here’s more info and the rebate form.
Legislature. During this extended regular session our legislators are working on large ticket items such as income tax and PFD so are not focused on fish-related items at this time. Thanks to those who commented on CSHB249 which combines HB251 Fisheries Taxes, HB 253 Mining Taxes, and HB 249 Motor Fuel Tax. We’ll continue to watch this and others including the income tax bill HB 250and CFEC HB 112 version N.pdf.
B.C. Mine. Chieftan Metals defaulted on its loan so is appearing unlikely to be financially capable of cleaning up its Tulsequah Chief mining mess along the Taku River. The company has been asked repeatedly to clean up the site by its own government and numerous groups and individuals including USAG. Canadian Minister of Mines Bill Bennett saw and was shocked by the leakage last August.
Grant Opportunity. Value Added Producer Grants in Alaska are due June 24. They are Federal funds administered by the state. Commercial fishermen are considered ‘harvesters’ in the application.
If you support us, THANK you! If you don’t, please consider doing so HERE.
-Cynthia Wallesz
Executive Director
United Southeast Alaska Gillnetters
PO Box 2196
Petersburg, AK 99833
(208) 995-7400 (cell)
ph: (253) 237-3099 Google Voice
https://www.akgillnet.org/
usag.alaska@gmail.com