United Fishermen of Alaska Update
September 8, 2014
From the Executive Director:
This is United Fishermen of Alaska’s 40th year of working to protect Alaska’s fisheries and the seafood industry. To celebrate, we will be hosting a UFA 40th anniversary banquet, awards ceremony, and silent auction on September 26th, 2014. This is a ticketed event that is set to coincide with our semi-annual UFA fall board meeting at the Hotel Captain Cook from September 26th-28th, and also the ASMI All-Hands meeting and Great Alaska Seafood Cookoff from Sept 29th- Oct 1st.
We hope that you are able to join us for our UFA 40th anniversary banquet, awards ceremony and silent auction! For ticket purchase or sponsorship & donation information, visit our new website at www.ufafish.org.
UFA needs your support! Please sponsor or donate on behalf of yourself, your business, or your vessel to help make our 40th anniversary banquet a success. UFA’s ability to work effectively on issues is linked directly to the support we receive from our members and friends. Sponsorship of this premium & unique event not only assists in covering costs, but publicly underscores your support of UFA’s broad based efforts to enhance Alaska’s prosperity and our future. UFA appreciates your consideration of our sponsorship options. Donations are also greatly appreciated and will be acknowledged. Thank you!
Julianne Curry
UFA Executive Director
From the Executive Administrator:
Dear UFA members and friends,
This year marks UFA’s 40th Anniversary. I am proud to have been a part of UFA for about a third of our history together. Your efforts in responding to our action alerts or engaging in your community, the Legislature, and hundreds of public comment opportunities have been the foundation that makes our work possible – to keep you fishing.
UFA would not be possible without your support or the support of our member organizations, and we would welcome you to join the UFA Board to celebrate our 40th anniversary, Friday Sept. 26, 2014 at the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage.
Good fishing and many thanks to you,
Mark Vinsel
UFA Executive Administrator
Julianne Curry
Executive Director
&
Mark Vinsel
Executive Administrator
United Fishermen of Alaska
Office: 907.586.2820
Cell: 907.957.4747
www.ufafish.org*NEW*
jcurry@ufa-fish.org
ufa@ufa-fish.org
Save the dates! For upcoming fisheries meetings, visit or bookmark the “UFA Fish Calendar” at https://www.ufafish.org/calendar/.
Sept. 26-28, UFA fall board meeting, Anchorage Captain Cook.
Sept. 26, UFA 40th anniversary banquet, awards ceremony & silent auction.
Sept. 29-Oct 1, ASMI All-Hands Anchorage, Marriott
Sept. 30, ASMI Great Alaska Seafood Cookoff Anchorage, Marriott
Oct 6-15, NPFMC meeting Anchorage, Hilton
Oct 15-16, BOF Work Session, Juneau, Centennial Hall
Nov 19-21, Pacific Marine Expo, Seattle – See you at UFA booth #513
GET WELL SOON: UFA wishes a speedy recovery to our board member Thea Thomas who drove herself to the hospital in Cordova after a brown bear mauling.
http://www.adn.com/article/20140813/woman-mauled-brown-
bear-cordova-hiking-trail-describes-attack
UFA MISSION: To promote and protect the common interest of Alaska’s commercial fishing industry, as a vital component of Alaska’s social and economic well-being.
Help support Alaska’s #1 private sector employer and protect your fishing business by joining UFA today! Visit ‘Become a Member’ on our NEW website to see the various membership levels and benefits. UFA members receive free subscriptions to National Fisherman and Pacific Fishing magazines.
Support UFA’s business members: Please visit our NEW UFA website www.ufafish.org and also our Business Member page which was created to show our thanks to UFA’s supporting business members.
CONTENTS
Top Action Alert: EPA Bristol Bay – comment deadline September 19 – see #31 below…
Statewide
1. Walker, Mallott Confirm Combined Ticket Against Parnell
2. Judge orders state to help Yup’ik, Gwich’in voters
3. Board of Fisheries to meet Sept. 10 on use of Rotenone for invasive Kenai Tributary Pike
4. Alaska Board of Fisheries 2014 – 2015 Meeting Cycle5. BOF 2014 Agenda Change Requests Available – Work Session in Juneau, October 15–16, 6. Cook Inlet leads Agenda Change Requests for Fish Board
7. Alaska commercial salmon harvest tops $146 million
8. Officials amend disclosures in response to APOC complaints (9/4). In the latest round of
9. FISH TALK – Gubernatorial hopefuls queried on commercial fisheries issues
10. Unalaska/Dutch Harbor Fish and Game Advisory Committee Meeting rescheduled to 9/20
11. AK Department of Labor September Trends profiles Wrangell & Gustavus
12. Southeast Conference Annual Membership Meeting September 16-18, 2014, Wrangell
National
13. Humpback Whale Status:
14. EU Outlines Measures to Help Agriculture, Fisheries Affected by Russian Import Ban
15. Russia’s seafood import ban, bogus labeling hurt Alaska fishing industry
16. Alaska Delegation: U.S. Should Push Back Against Russian Seafood Boycott
17. Rep. Young: $7.8 Million in Fishery Disaster Funding Set to Arrive in Alaska
18. Alaska Health Insurance Rates to Increase Substantially
19. Open enrollment for health insurance begins in November
20. NPFMC meets October 6-14, Anchorage Hilton
21. Additional NPFMC team & committee meetings – Seattle & Anchorage
22. MAFAC meets Sept 23-25, Silver Spring MD
23. Comment deadline Nov 4 on Regional Economic Data Collection Program for Southwest Alaska
24. NMFS posts final 2013 Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports (SARs)
25. Comment Deadline September 24 on NMFS proposed List of Fisheries for 2015
26. Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee meets Sept. 23 -24, Rhode Island
27. Comment deadline October 14 on sablefish & halibut IFQ information collection
28. Comment by October 8 on NOAA Regulator Review – Natl Marketing & Charter Halibut
29. Navy Seeking Comments on Gulf Operations
Fish Farm & Environmental
31. Comment deadline September 19 on EPA protections for Bristol Bay
32. Mount Polley mine tailings spill nearly 70 per cent bigger than first estimated
33. Elodea found in remote Mat-Su lake
34. Court says coal discharge into Resurrection Bay is illegal
35. Comment deadline October 15 on APDES General Permit for Discharges from Industrial Activity
36. DEC posts 2014 Large Commercial Passenger Vessel Wastewater Discharge General Permit
37. USCG Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking – Commercial Fishing Vessels Dispensing Petroleum Products –comment deadline November 18
38. Tongass Advisory Committee meets Sept 10 – 12, Juneau
39. Comment deadline October 27 on Gulf of Mexico Offshore Aquaculture FMP
Marketing
40. Murkowski Helps Convince Administration to Buy Millions in Alaska Pink Salmon for Americans in Need
41. ASMI Marketing Update – August 19, 2014
42. Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute All Hands Meeting Sept 29 –Oct 1, Anchorage
43. Comment by October 8 on NOAA Regulator Review – Natl Marketing & Charter Halibut
44. Monterey Bay Aquarium removes 20 West Coast groundfish species from watch list
Enhancement
45. Plentiful Mat-Su roadside streams offer scenic stops for rainbow anglers
46. September: Summer’s last stand
Subsistence
47. Alaska appeals court hears subsistence case
48. Examining Sullivan’s and Begich’s records on Alaska Native issues
49. Katie John Case Summary
50. Begich Supports Saxman’s Subsistence Rights (Rural Determination)
Other
51. NIOSH New Product Spotlight: Live to be Salty
52.AMSEA Drill Conductor, Stability, Ergonomics and others classes schedule online
53. Laine Welch’s Fish Radio – Items from this week
Statewide
1. Walker, Mallott Confirm Combined Ticket Against Parnell
Chris Klint, Senior Digital Producer ktuu.com
ANCHORAGE – Confirming a bipartisan bid against incumbent Gov. Sean Parnell, Bill Walker and Byron Mallott joined forces on a combined ticket the day after Democratic leaders gave their blessing to the political match.
The announcement took place in a Hotel Captain Cook room still adorned with signs touting Walker alone for governor — for one behind the podium hastily modified with a Mallott sign, which he wryly noted early in Tuesday’s proceedings…
http://www.ktuu.com/news/news/walker-mallott-confirm-
combined-ticket-against-parnell/27842704
2. Judge orders state to help Yup’ik, Gwich’in voters
Associated Press
ANCHORAGE (AP) — A federal judge has ordered the state to help some Alaska Native language speakers understand their ballots.
U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason ruled Wednesday in the Voting Rights Act lawsuit. Alaska Native voters had argued the state’s voting materials in both Yup’ik and Gwich’in were inaccurately translated and poorly distributed, KTUU reported (http://is.gd/UHFRxK). The lawsuit covered three census areas of Alaska, and the plaintiffs argued the state violated both the federal Voting Acts Right and the U.S. Constitution.
The lawsuit was filed more than a year ago by Yup’ik speakers Mike Toyukuk of Manokotak and Fred Augustine of Alakanuk, as well as the Hooper Bay and Togiak tribal councils. The lawsuit, which was heard over nine days earlier this summer, alleged that state elections workers broke federal law and suppressed voter turnout by failing to provide language assistance…
http://www.alaskajournal.com/Alaska-Journal-of-Commerce
/Breaking-News-2013/Judge-orders-state-to-help-Yupik-
Gwichin-voters/
3. Board of Fisheries to meet Sept. 10 on use of Rotenone for invasive Kenai Tributary Pike
Notice is given that the Alaska Board of Fisheries (Board) will hold a teleconference on Wednesday, September 10, 2014, from 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. The purpose of the meeting is for the board to consider providing consent to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to use rotenone in its continued program of invasive species control of northern pike in Southcentral Alaska. The current project under consideration will take place in a tributary of the Kenai River where the northern pike have been illegally introduced, with substantial impacts to native fish populations. Prior to using a poison to kill predatory animals the department must obtain the board’s consent per AS 16.35.200.
This is a non-regulatory meeting. The board will not take oral public testimony during the teleconference. A live audio stream of the meeting is intended to be available on the Board of Fisheries website, which can be accessed at www.boardoffisheries.adfg.alaska.gov . Listen-only teleconference sites will be provided to the public in Anchorage and Soldotna/Kenai at the following locations:
• Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association, 40610 K Beach Road, Soldotna
• Anchorage ADF&G Offices, 333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage, Aerie Conference Room
Meeting materials will also be posted on this website and will be available through the Department of Fish and Game Boards Support Section. For information about the meeting or meeting materials, contact the Boards Support Section at (907) 465-4110…
Online public notice: http://notice.alaska.gov/173903
Board of Fisheries meeting info page:
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fisheriesboard
.meetinginfo
Home page: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=
fisheriesboard.main
4. Alaska Board of Fisheries 2014 – 2015 Meeting Cycle
Meeting Cycle:
| 2015 | March 17 – 20 | Anchorage | Statewide Dungeness Crab, Shrimp, Miscellaneous Shellfish |
| 2015 | February 23 – March 3 | Sitka | Southeast and Yakutat Finfish |
| 2015 | January 21 – 27 | Wrangell | Southeast and Yakutat Crab, Shrimp, Miscellaneous Shellfish |
| 2014 | December 3 – 8 | Cordova | Prince William Sound and Upper Copper River/Upper Susitna River Finfish |
| 2014 | October 15 – 16 | Juneau | Work Session, Agenda Change Requests, Cycle Organization, and Stocks of Concern |
2014–2015 Proposal Book – by sections or download entire book:
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fisheriesboard
.proposalbook
5. BOF 2014 Agenda Change Requests Available – Work Session in Juneau, October 15–16, 2014…
The Alaska Board of Fisheries (board) 2014 agenda change requests are available for review on the board’s website. Agenda change requests are submitted by the public, advisory committees, and agencies seeking regulatory change for regions and species not up for deliberation in the current meeting cycle. The board will accept an ACR as a proposal for the 2014/2015 meeting cycle if it establishes the ACR is:
- For a fishery conservation purpose or reason.
- To correct an error in a regulation.
- To correct an effect on a fishery that was unforeseen when a regulation was adopted.
The board will meet October 15–16, 2014, at the Centennial Hall Convention Center, 101 Egan Drive, Juneau Alaska beginning at 8:30 a.m. No regulatory action will be taken at this meeting. Agenda topics include: election of officers, agenda change requests, meeting organization and establishment of committees for 2014/2015 cycle, informational reports and/or administrative issues that may come before the board. A live audio stream is intended to be available on the Board of Fisheries’ website at www.boardoffisheries.adfg.alaska.gov.
The agenda and any other meeting documents, including agenda change requests, will be available prior to the meeting on the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Board of Fisheries, meeting information webpage at: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fisheriesboard.m
eetinginfo.
The work session is open to the public, but no oral public testimony will be taken. Written comments, due by October 1, may be mailed to: Boards Support Section, P.O. Box 115526, Juneau, AK 99811-5526, faxed (907) 465-6094, or submitted online at the Boards Support website at http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fisheriesboard.forms.
6. Cook Inlet leads Agenda Change Requests for Fish Board
Alaska Journal of Commerce by Molly Dischner – September 4, 2014
Fisheries stakeholders are asking the state Board of Fisheries to consider 27 changes out of cycle in the upcoming year. The agenda change requests cover several regions, although the largest portion are targeted at Cook Inlet — a region that saw significant management plan changes during the 2013-14 meeting cycle.
In addition to nine Cook Inlet requests, five address Bering Sea tanner crab and Norton Sound king crab, three ask for changes to Kuskokwim River salmon fisheries, and two address Yukon River salmon fisheries. There are also two proposals each for Bristol Bay salmon fisheries, Southeast herring and Pacific cod, as well as one relating to purse seine lengths.
http://www.alaskajournal.com/Alaska-Journal-of-Commerce/
September-Issue-1-2014/Cook-Inlet-leads-Agenda-Change-
Requests-for-fish-board/
7. Alaska commercial salmon harvest tops $146 million
Alaska Journal of Commerce by Molly Dischner – September 4, 2014
Alaska’s commercial salmon catch continues to climb, reaching 146 million fish through Sept. 2.
Statewide, the total catch includes 42.9 million sockeye, 89.5 million pink salmon, 3.9 million cohos, 9.2 million chums and 477,000 kings, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s bluesheet estimate.
Fishermen are now primarily targeting pinks, with about 400,000 caught in the Central Region, almost 600,000 caught in Southeast and about 200,000 caught in the Western Region, from Aug. 27 through Sept. 2.
http://www.alaskajournal.com/Alaska-Journal-of-Commerce/
September-Issue-1-2014/Alaska-commercial-salmon-harvest-
tops-146-million/
ADF&G 2014 Salmon harvests bluesheet:
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=commercialbyfishery
salmon.bluesheet
& In-season summary: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?
adfg=commercialbyfisherysalmon.bluesheetsummary
8. Officials amend disclosures in response to APOC complaints (9/4). In the latest round of the Cook Inlet fish wars, the Alaska Public Offices Commission received about 200 complaints primarily from commercial fishermen against a sportfishing advocacy group.
Kenai Peninsula and Anchorage residents with ties to Cook Inlet commercial fisheries — including United Cook Inlet Drift Association Executive Director Roland Maw — submitted the complaints to the commission Aug. 25 regarding the Kenai River Sportfishing Association’s Kenai River Classic and other outreach and lobbying of public officials regarding fisheries management.
The Alaska Public Offices Commission will hear three of those complaints, but rejected the other 198 on Aug. 27. The volume of complaints was about 10 times the amount APOC typically receives over an entire year; in 2013 the commission received 12 complaints according to its biennial report.
AK Journal of Commerce: http://www.alaskajournal.com/Alaska-Journal-of-
Commerce/September-Issue-1-2014/Officials-amend-disclosures-in-r
esponse-to-APOC-complaints/
9. FISH TALK – Gubernatorial hopefuls queried on commercial fisheries issues
Audience gets an earful on topics ranging from boosting seafood’s importance to health insurance for fishermen…
Posted 09/05/2014
by – Margaret Bauman
(Editor’s note: Five days after the Aug. 28 debate, gubernatorial candidates Bill Walker, an independent, and Byron Mallott, a Democratic, announced they would run on a single ticket, with Walker for governor and Mallott as lieutenant governor. The entire audio of the debate is posted online at http://www.kmxt.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view
&id=6012&Itemid=2)
Over the course of the 2014 gubernatorial fisheries debate, three candidates for governor spoke out on topics ranging from how much weight public opinion should have on water permits to creating opportunities for young harvesters in fisheries.
http://www.thecordovatimes.com/article/1436fish-talk-gubernatorial
-hopefuls-queried-on
&&&
Gubernatorial Candidates Talk Fish in Kodiak / Brianna Gibbs/KMXT
The three primary candidates running for governor this year convened at Kodiak’s Gerald C. Wilson Auditorium … for a debate focused solely on topics related to the seafood industry. Incumbent Sean Parnell, Democrat Byron Mallott and Independent candidate Bill Walker fielded dozens of questions from a media panel, audience members and even each other during the event that was broadcast around the state…
KMXT Kodiak radio: http://www.kmxt.org/index.php?option=com_content&task
=view&id=6012&Itemid=2
Scroll down in KMXT article to hear full two-hour debate.
10. Unalaska/Dutch Harbor Fish and Game Advisory Committee Meeting rescheduled to 9/20
The Unalaska/Dutch Harbor Fish and Game Advisory Committee will be holding a public meeting in Unalaska on Saturday, September 20, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at the Unalaska Library, conference room.
Discussion items at the meeting will include: Board of Fisheries Work Session Agenda items, Agenda Change Requests, cycle organization and stocks of concern. Nominations will be accepted and elections held for three 3-year seats and one 1-year alternate seat.
The public is welcome to attend this Advisory Committee meeting.
Online public notice: http://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Notices/
View.aspx?id=173818
11. AK Department of Labor September Trends profiles Wrangell & Gustavus
September Trends profiles Alaska’s twentysomethings, a large a growing segment of the population. Alaska has more twentysomethings now than it’s had since the pipeline construction of the 1970s and oil boom of the 1980s, when this group made up about a quarter of the state’s population.
Also this month we profile the communities of Gustavus and Wrangell, and briefly examine the small “arts, entertainment, and recreation” sector in Alaska…
…Online at http://labor.state.ak.us/trends/
12. Southeast Conference Annual Membership Meeting September 16-18, 2014, Wrangell
The Southeast Conference agenda is now available online at: http://www.seconference.org/annual
Southeast Conference home page: http://www.seconference.org/.
National
13. Humpback Whale Status:
UFA submitted comments regarding the status of humpback whales in the North Pacific. UFA Humpback Whale Delisting Support Letter (August 26, 2014)
14. EU Outlines Measures to Help Agriculture, Fisheries Affected by Russian Import Ban
The Fish Site – September 5, 2014
EU – In order to help agriculture and fishing businesses affects by Russia’s import ban, the European Commission (EC) is now monitoring carefully the market prices for affected products in each member state each week, writes Lucy Towers, 5m Editor. Although it is too early to assess the full economic affects of the ban on the EU, the EC is remaining positive that the EU can bounce back and find new markets to sell to in the medium term. However, it is clear that some producers will face serious difficulties in the short term, most notably the fruit, vegetable and dairy sectors.
http://www.thefishsite.com/fishnews/24025/eu-outlines-measures
-to-help-agriculture-fisheries-affected-by-russian-import-ban#sthash.
OkgJKo1X.dpuf
15. Russia’s seafood import ban, bogus labeling hurt Alaska fishing industry
Larry Cotter in ADN, September 2, 2014
Most of you have heard about the Russian prohibition on the importation of seafood products from the United States, the EU, Canada and others. This is a big deal, with a lot of unknown consequences, and will have a significant impact on the U.S. seafood industry. A lot of salmon roe from Alaska goes (or has gone) to Russia during the past several years. Closure of the market will mean oversupply in the remaining accessible markets, which will mean reductions in the value of our roe products. The impacts are not isolated to Alaska: Currently, 1,000 metric tons of West Coast hake (a type of white fish), previously destined to Russia, are sitting in cold storage with prices falling…
http://www.adn.com/article/20140902/russias-seafood-import-ban
-bogus-labeling-hurt-alaska-fishing-industry
16. Alaska Delegation: U.S. Should Push Back Against Russian Seafood Boycott
Lawmakers Urge Action as Russia Uses Food as a Weapon
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Alaska’s Congressional Delegation today reached out to the White House, encouraging strong and immediate action from the administration to respond to Russia’s boycott of American food imports, including seafood. In a letter (attached) to the White House, Senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich and Congressman Don Young suggest America increase the intensity of its negotiations with Russia, and if needed, that the nation respond with a ban on Russian seafood imports…
Senator Murkowski press release:
http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID
=532b03cb-182a-46b2-b3e0-4e41f1e12199
Senator Begich press release: http://www.begich.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=f5a6
42a1-df1c-46f5-b75c-f32ba6c86b61
&&&
FISH FACTOR: Banning Russian seafood would pinch its king crab sales
By Laine Welch, Fish Factor/For the Journal
http://www.alaskajournal.com/Alaska-Journal-of-Commerce/
September-Issue-1-2014/FISH-FACTOR-Banning-Russian-s
eafood-would-pinch-its-king-crab-sales/
&&&
Seafood industry, delegation seek Russian ban
http://www.alaskajournal.com/Alaska-Journal-of-Commerce/August
-Issue-5-2014-1/Seafood-industry-delegation-seek-Russian-ban/
17. Rep. Young: $7.8 Million in Fishery Disaster Funding Set to Arrive in Alaska
Young and Murkowski Applaud Action to Make Fishing Communities Whole
Anchorage, AK – Nearly two years after the Department of Commerce declared fisheries disasters for the Yukon River, Kuskokwim River and the Upper Cook Inlet Chinook fisheries, $7.8 million in relief funding will soon be distributed to local fishermen. Today, the Alaska Congressional Delegation received notice that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will provide grant funding for the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission to distribute direct payments “to commercial fishermen in the Yukon River and Cook Inlet Regions of Alaska to compensate them for losses incurred from the Chinook Salmon Disaster during 2012.”
Congressman Don Young press release: http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?
DocumentID=390920
18. Alaska Health Insurance Rates to Increase Substantially
(SitNews) Anchorage, Alaska – The Alaska Division of Insurance announced that rates for health insurance plans covering nearly 16,000 Alaskans will increase substantially in 2015 with the Division saying this is the result of the Affordable Care Act.
A thorough and lengthy review by the Division of Insurance shows that as a direct result of the ACA, insurers offering health plans in the individual market require historic rate increases, as high as 37 percent in 2015. Despite these increases, extensive cost and loss data show that these insurers will still incur millions of dollars in losses.
“Governor Parnell has expressed concern from the beginning that Obamacare’s one-size-fits-all approach to health care for Alaskans is not going to work in our state, and that heavy-handed federal mandates, taxes, and penalties will only add to Alaska’s health care costs,” said Susan Bell, commissioner of the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development. “His concerns are, unfortunately, proving to be true.”
http://www.sitnews.us/0914News/090614/090614_health
_insurance.html
19. Open enrollment for health insurance begins in November
Now is the time to begin planning to sign up for affordable health insurance for 2015. Open enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace begins Nov. 15. Those that have already signed up for insurance through the Marketplace will have through Dec. 15 to make changes to their coverage. There may be additional plans available and different prices, so it is recommended that even those satisfied with their current plan browse through the options. Changes to current plans will go into effect Jan. 1, 2015…
Juneau Empire – subscription may be required:
http://juneauempire.com/neighbors/2014-09-07/open-enrollment
-health-insurance-begins-november
United Way of Alaska 2-1-1- Help for Health Care navigating and more: http://www.alaska211.org/
Enroll Alaska: http://www.enrollingalaska.com/home.aspx
Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Health Insurance Marketplace Navigation Help:
http://dhss.alaska.gov/amhb/Pages/InsuranceNavigation.aspx
20. NPFMC meets October 6-14, Anchorage Hilton
The Council will meet October 6-14 at the Anchorage Hilton & Broadcasting at www.npfmc.adobeconnect.com
Agenda: http://legistar2.granicus.com/npfmc/meetings/2014/10/894
_A_North_Pacific_Council_14-10-06_Meeting_Agenda.pdf
Schedule: http://www.npfmc.org/wp-content/PDFdocuments/meetings/
1014Schedule.pdf
NPFMC home page: http://www.npfmc.org/
21. Additional NPFMC team & committee meetings – Seattle & Anchorage:
NPFMC Public Outreach meeting on Bering Sea Fishery Ecosystem Plan – Sept 15, Seattle
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a public outreach meeting on the Bering Sea Fishery Ecosystem Plan – September 15, 2014, from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the School of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, University of Washington, 1122 NE Boat Street, Room 203, Seattle, WA…
The Council is considering whether to prioritize time and resources to develop a Bering Sea Fishery Ecosystem Plan. The Council is interested in hearing from local residents and communities, as well as agencies, organizations and the general public, about the objectives and structure of the FEP, prior to decision-making..
Federal Register meeting notice: https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-20533
NPFMC home page: http://www.npfmc.org/
&&&&
NPFMC Bering Sea Aleutian Islands BSAI Crab Plan Team meets September 15 – 18, at the Alaska Fishery Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Building 4, Seattle…
Federal Register: https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-20532
&&&&&
NPFMC Ecosystem Committee will meet September 16, 2014, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Alaska Fishery Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Building 4, National Marine Mammal Laboratory conference room, Room 2039, Seattle, WA…
Federal Register: https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-20600
&&&&&
NPFMC Observer Advisory Committee (OAC) meets September 18, 2014, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and September 19, 2014, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m at the Alaska Fishery Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Building 4, Observer Training Room, Seattle, WA…
Federal Register: https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-20752
&&&&&
NPFMC Fixed Gear Electronic Monitoring (EM) workgroup will meet September 23-24, 2014, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, 605 W 4th Avenue, Suite 205, Anchorage, AK..
Federal Register: https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-21175
&&&&&
Gulf of Alaska (GOA) and Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands (BS/AI) groundfish plan teams will meet September 23-26, 2014. The meetings will begin at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, September 23, and continue through Friday, September 26, 2014.
The meetings will be held at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Building 4, National Marine Mammal Lab Room 2039 (GOA Plan Team) and Traynor Room 2076 (BS/AI Plan Team, Joint meeting), Seattle, WA.
Federal Register: https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-21176
22. MAFAC meets Sept 23-25, Silver Spring MD
… The meeting will be held September 23-25, 2014 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m… at the Silver Spring Civic Center, One Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring, MD..
The meeting is convened to hear presentations and discuss policies and guidance on the following topics: Improving recovery of protected resources, recreational fisheries policy, the proposed rule for the aquaculture plan for Federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico, climate science advice and the regulatory process, regulatory discards and the EU landings obligation, and cost recovery/cost sharing models…
Federal Register meeting notice Sept 8: https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-21315
Marine Fishery Advisory Council home page: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ocs/mafac/
23. Comment deadline Nov 4 on Regional Economic Data Collection Program for Southwest Alaska
…This request is for a new information collection…
Regional or community economic analysis of proposed fishery management policies is required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and Executive Order 12866, among others. To satisfy these mandates and inform policymakers and the public of the likely regional economic impacts associated with fishery management policies, appropriate economic models and the data to implement them are needed. Much of the data required for regional economic analysis of Southwest Alaska fisheries are either unavailable or unreliable. Accurate fishery-level data on employment, labor income, and expenditures in the Southwest Alaska fishery and related industries are not generally available but are needed to estimate the role of fisheries and effects of fishery policies on local, regional and national economies. The Southwest region for this survey includes six boroughs and census areas (BCAs)—Aleutians East Borough, Aleutians West Census Area, Bristol Bay Borough, Dillingham Census Area, Lake and Peninsula Borough, and Kodiak Island Borough…
Written comments must be submitted on or before November 4, 2014.
Federal Register: https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-21125
NOAA Fisheries Economics Program home page: http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/economics/
24. NMFS posts final 2013 Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports (SARs)
As required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS has incorporated public comments into revisions of the 2013 marine mammal stock assessment reports (SARs)…
Federal Register Notice 8/19/14: https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-19623
Marine Mammal Stock Assessments home page: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/
25. Comment Deadline September 24 on NMFS proposed List of Fisheries for 2015
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) publishes its proposed List of Fisheries (LOF) for 2015, as required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The proposed LOF for 2015 reflects new information on interactions between commercial fisheries and marine mammals…
Comments must be received by September 24, 2014…
(Includes participant numbers updates for many AK fisheries)
Federal Register notice 8/25/14: https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-20159
NOAA Fisheries List of Fisheries home page: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/interactions/lof/
26. Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee meets Sept. 23 -24, Rhode Island
The Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee will meet in Providence, Rhode Island to discuss various issues relating to safety in the commercial fishing industry. This meeting will be open to the public…
The Committee will meet on Tuesday, September 23 and Wednesday, September 24, 2014, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m…
All submitted written materials, comments, and requests to make an oral presentation at the meeting should reach Jack Kemerer, Alternate Designated Federal Officer for the Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee, no later than September 16, 2014…
Agenda includes:
-Status of Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Rulemaking projects resulting from requirements set forth in the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 and the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2012…
-Presentation and discussion on fatality rates by regions and fisheries and update on safety and risk reduction related projects by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
– Subcommittee/working group sessions on (a) standards for alternative safety compliance program(s) development, and (b) training program requirements for individuals in charge of a vessel and engineer officer qualifications…
– Public comment period…
Federal Register notice Sept. 3: https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-20883
Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee home page???
Fish Safe Commercial Fishing Safety Program home page: http://www.fishsafe.info/
27. Comment deadline October 14 on sablefish & halibut IFQ information collection
Written comments must be submitted on or before October 14, 2014…
This request is for an extension of a currently approved information collection.
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) established the Individual Fishing Quotas (IFQs) Program to improve the long-term productivity of the sablefish and Pacific halibut fisheries by further promoting the conservation and management objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Conservation Act…
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology…
Federal Register Notice 8/15/14: https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-19316
NOAA Fisheries Halibut & Sablefish IFQ Program home page: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/ram/ifq.htm
28. Comment by October 8 on NOAA Regulator Review – Natl Marketing & Charter Halibut
Written comments must be received by NMFS by October 8, 2014…
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) requires that NMFS periodically review existing regulations that have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, such as small businesses, small organizations, and small governmental jurisdictions. This plan describes how NMFS will perform this review and describes the regulations that are being proposed for review during the current review cycle…
The purpose of the review is to determine whether existing rules should be left unchanged, or whether they should be revised or rescinded in order to minimize significant economic impacts on a substantial number of small entities, consistent with the objectives of other applicable statutes…
By December 31, 2014, NMFS will review the following rules issued during 2007 and 2008:
6. Fish and Seafood Promotion Act Provisions; Seafood Marketing Councils. RIN 0648-AS09 (72 FR 18105; April 11, 2007). NMFS issued a final rule in response to renewed fishing industry support for marketing and promotion-related activities. The rule enacted regulations implementing the Fish and Seafood Promotion Act of 1986 for the establishment, organization, and operation of Seafood Marketing Councils. Council marketing and promotion plans were to be designed to increase the general demand for fish and fish products by encouraging, expanding, and improving the marketing and utilization of fish and fish products both in domestic or foreign markets, through consumer education, research, and other marketing and promotion activities. The intent of this rule was to increase benefits from domestic fisheries while maintaining consistency with NMFS’ stewardship goals and mission statement.
7. Pacific Halibut Fisheries; Guided Sport Charter Vessel Fishery for Halibut. RIN 0648-AV47 (72 FR 30714; June 4, 2007).
Federal Register notice Sept 8: https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-21268
29. Navy Seeking Comments on Gulf Operations
The U-S Navy is seeking feedback on proposed training operations in the Gulf of Alaska. It’s a continuation of projects that have been going on for several years.
The Navy is currently conducting trainings in the Gulf of Alaska under the project name Northern Edge. It’s working on setting up the next phase of that project, to begin in 2016…
Nakahara says the public comment period is open through October 20th.
“All those comments will be considered in the development of the final EIS. That will take another year or so to be able to incorporate everything, properly, into that final document before we then release it back to the public.”
Public meetings are scheduled for September 8th through September 12th respectively in Kodiak, Anchorage, Homer, Juneau, and Cordova…
KMXT Radio:
http://www.kmxt.org/index.php?option=com_content&task
=view&id=6020&Itemid=2
Gulf of Alaska Navy Training and Proposed Action home page: http://goaeis.com/TheNavysProposedAction.aspx
Public meetings:
Kodiak, AK, Monday, Sept. 8, 2014, Elks Lodge 102 W. Marine Way
Get Directions
Anchorage, AK, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014, Z.J. Loussac Library, Public Conference Room, 3600 Denali St.
Get Directions
Homer, AK, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2014, Best Western Bidarka Inn, Sea Breeze Room, 575 Sterling Highway
Get Directions
Juneau, AK, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014, Juneau Arts & Humanities Council
350 Whittier St.
Get Directions
Cordova, AK, Friday, Sept. 12, 2014, Mt. Eccles Elementary School, Simpler Gymnasium, 201 Adams St.
Get Directions
Meeting page: http://goaeis.com/GetInvolved/HowCanthePublicBeInvolved.aspx
Navy Get involved page: http://goaeis.com/GetInvolved/HowCanthePublic
CommentontheDraftEISOEIS.aspx
Fish Farm & Environmental
31. Comment deadline September 19 on EPA protections for Bristol Bay
About EPA’s Bristol Bay Assessment:
http://www2.epa.gov/bristolbay/about-epas-bristol-bay-assessment
EPA Public Involvement page:
http://www2.epa.gov/bristolbay/public-involvement-bristol-bay-
404c-process#comments
Comments must be submitted by 8pm (Alaska time) September 19, 2014.
1. (Preferred method): Submit comments online at www.regulations.gov. Specify Docket # EPA-R10-OW-2014-0505.
2. Send an email to OW-Docket@epa.gov . Include Docket # EPA-R10-OW-2014-0505 in the subject line.
3. Send a letter to the EPA Bristol Bay Docket at:
Water Docket # EPA-R10-OW-2014-0505
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Mail Code: 2822T
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20460
Federal Register notice (July 21): https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-16920
Commercial Fishermen for Bristol Bay action alert page:
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/50802/p/dia/action3/common/
public/?action_KEY=14603
Commercial Fishermen for Bristol Bay (CFBB) Take Action Page (comprehensive): http://bit.ly/1APztYL
CFBB Hard-Copy Organizational Letter Template Page: http://bit.ly/1uSTg85
Bristol Bay Sockeye (BBS) Take Action Page: http://bit.ly/UTbo22
BBS Hard-Copy Organizational Letter Template Page: http://www.bristolbaysockeye.org/send-a
-letter-to-the-epa/
32. Mount Polley mine tailings spill nearly 70 per cent bigger than first estimated
Vancouver Sun (Canadian Press) by Gordon Hoekstra – September 3, 2014
Imperial Metals’ estimate of the size of the spill from its Mount Polley mine tailings dam collapse is nearly 70 per cent greater than the initial estimate. The B.C. government has estimated that 10 million cubic metres of water and 4.5 million cubic meters of finely ground rock containing potentially-toxic metals was released by the collapse of the dam on Aug. 4.
http://www.vancouversun.com/Mount+Polley+mine+tailings+spill
+nearly+cent+bigger+than+first+estimated/10172302/story.htm
l#ixzz3CSLEMvSU
33. Elodea found in remote Mat-Su lake
DNR seeking public input on recreational use of impacted waterways
(Anchorage, AK) – Elodea, an invasive freshwater aquatic plant known to threaten fish habitat, disrupt recreational activities, and lower property values, has recently been found in Alexander Lake in Southcentral Alaska. This is the first confirmed infestation of Elodea in the Matanuska-Susitna Basin, and as a result, the number of infested lakes and slow-moving rivers in Alaska has grown to 18. Infestations have previously been discovered in Fairbanks, Cordova, Anchorage, and the Kenai Peninsula.
Elodea spreads easily. Its leafy stems detach from the parent plant, float away, root, and start new plants. Even small fragments of Elodea have the potential to start a new infestation. This popular aquarium plant can arrive via the dumping of aquariums and hitchhike to new waters on boats, trailers, float planes, and other recreational equipment. Remote locations such as Alexander Lake are not immune to the impacts of Elodea.
DNR Press release: http://plants.alaska.gov/pdf/ElodeaMediaRelease.pdf
34. Court says coal discharge into Resurrection Bay is illegal
By Dan Joling, Associated Press
ANCHORAGE (AP) — A permit covering storm-water runoff does not apply to coal falling from a conveyor belt into Resurrection Bay at Seward, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday.
A three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a decision by U.S. District Court Judge Tim Burgess and ruled that coal dropped into the ocean by the Alaska Railroad at its Seward Coal Loading Facility would violate the federal Clean Water Act.
The ruling was made in a lawsuit brought in December 2009 by Alaska Community Action on Toxics and the Alaska chapter of the Sierra Club.
AK Journal of Commerce: http://www.alaskajournal.com/Alaska-Journal-of-Commerce/Breaking-
News-2013/Court-says-coal-discharge-into-bay-is-illegal/
35. Comment deadline October 15 on APDES General Permit for Discharges from Industrial Activity
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation is in the process of developing an Alaska Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (APDES) General Permit.
Proposed Permit: DEC proposes to reissue an Alaska Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP or permit) for discharges associated with industrial activity. The permit authorizes and sets conditions on the discharge of pollutants associated with industrial activity to waters of the United States within the state of Alaska. In order to ensure protection of water quality and human health, the permit describes control measures that must be used to control the types and amounts of pollutants that can be discharged from industrial activities.
Review Period: August 29, 2014 through October 15, 2014
Permit documents can be accessed from the ADEC Wastewater Discharge Authorization Program website under the Public Notice section.
Online Public Notice: http://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Notices/
View.aspx?id=173799
AK DEC APDES Wastewater Discharge Authorization home page: http://dec.alaska.gov/water/wwdp/index.htm
36. DEC posts 2014 Large Commercial Passenger Vessel Wastewater Discharge General Permit
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commercial Passenger Vessel Environmental Compliance Program has issued the 2014 Large Commercial Passenger Vessel Wastewater Discharge General Permit (Permit number: 2013DB0004). This general permit will satisfy the regulatory provisions of Alaska Statute (AS) 46.03.460 through AS 46.03.490 as amended in 2013 by House Bill 80.
This general permit will apply to the discharge of wastewater such as treated sewage, treated graywater, and other treated wastewater discharges from large commercial passenger vessels operating in marine waters of the state (AS 46.03.462). Large commercial vessels include passenger vessels for hire that provide overnight accommodations for 250 or more passengers, determined with reference to the number of lower berths. The General Permit, Fact Sheet and other information is available at the DEC’s web site at the following address: http://dec.alaska.gov/water/cruise_ships/gp/2014gp.html …
Online public notice: http://notice.alaska.gov/173866
Home page: http://dec.alaska.gov/water/cruise_ships/gp/2014dgp.html
37. USCG Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking – Commercial Fishing Vessels Dispensing Petroleum Products –comment deadline November 18
The Coast Guard proposes revisions to its regulations for commercial fishing vessels carrying flammable or combustible liquid cargoes in bulk. The proposed revisions would reflect a 1984 statutory change that eliminated fishery-specific and geographical limitations on a statutory exemption that, effectively, permits certain commercial fishing vessels to carry and dispense flammable and combustible material including petroleum products; additionally, this proposed revision would simplify regulatory text. This notice of proposed rulemaking promotes the Coast Guard’s maritime safety mission…
DATES: Comments and related material must be submitted on or before November 18, 2014…
Federal Register Notice 8/20/14: https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-19142
38. Tongass Advisory Committee meets Sept 10 – 12, Juneau
The Tongass Advisory Committee (Committee) will meet in Juneau, Alaska…
The meetings will be held on the following dates:
Wednesday, September 10, 2014—8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (AKDT)
Thursday, September 11, 2014—8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (AKDT)
Friday, September 12, 2014—8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (AKDT)
The meetings will be held at the Travelodge Hotel Conference Room, 9200 Glacier Highway, Juneau, Alaska
Additional information concerning the Committee, including the meeting agenda, can be found by visiting the Committee’s Web site at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/R10/Tongass/TAC.
Federal Register notice 8/26/14: https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-20292
39. Comment deadline October 27 on Gulf of Mexico Offshore Aquaculture FMP
NMFS proposes regulations to implement the Fishery Management Plan for Regulating Offshore Aquaculture in the Gulf of Mexico (FMP), as prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). The FMP entered into effect by operation of law on September 3, 2009. If implemented, this rule would establish a comprehensive regulatory program for managing the development of an environmentally sound and economically sustainable aquaculture industry in Federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf), i.e., the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The purpose of this rule is to increase the yield of Federal fisheries in the Gulf by supplementing the harvest of wild caught species with cultured product…
Written comments on this proposed rule must be received on or before October 27, 2014…
Federal Register notice August 27, 2014: https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-20407
NMFS Southeast Fishery Bulletin:
http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/fishery_bulletins/documents/pdfs/2014
/fb14-064_aquaculture_proposed_rule.pdf
Gulf Aquaculture Plan home page:
http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/gulf_fisheries/
aquaculture/index.html
Marketing
40. Murkowski Helps Convince Administration to Buy Millions in Alaska Pink Salmon for Americans in Need
Food Bank of Alaska Calls Decision “A Win-Win”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Just more than a month after Senator Lisa Murkowski urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture to consider Governor Sean Parnell’s proposal to use existing federal funds to buy extra Alaska canned pink salmon for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack has agreed to purchase up to $13 million worth. This news is welcomed by Alaska’s seafood industry, which has been burdened by a glut of pink salmon from last year’s record harvest, and boosts the nutrition options for low-income Americans facing the lingering recession.
Senator Murkowski press release: http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/p
ressreleases?ID=6762236d-b3ec-4adf-b55c-98b1e390d2a4
&&&
USDA Purchases $13 Million of Canned Pink Salmon
KDLG story: http://kdlg.org/post/usda-purchases-13-million-canned-pink-salmon
&&
Previous item: Parnell Asks USDA to Buy Surplus Canned Pink Salmon http://www.ktuu.com/news/news/parnell-as
ks-usda-to-buy-surplus-canned-pink-salmon/27146182
41. ASMI Marketing Update – August 19, 2014
Topics include:
-Homer Chef Represents Alaska in Great American Seafood Cookoff
-New Alaska Canned Salmon Recipe Book
-ASMI Sponsors Chef Joanne Weir’s Upcoming Series
-ASMI Retail at University of Arizona
-Buyers Mission From Brazil
-Seafood in the News
Alaska Seafood Events
…Read it online at:
http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=bcd6d5bec392f12ce
703f7e00&id=16d7183ee5&e=e040e6a524
42. Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute All Hands Meeting Sept 29 –Oct 1, Anchorage
Meetings of the ASMI Specie/Operational Committees and Board of Directors (All Hands on Deck)
will be held September 29 – October 1 at the Hotel Marriott Downtown, at 820 West 7th Avenue in Anchorage, Alaska, beginning at 9:00 AM.
For more information about this event, please contact Deb Tempel at the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute at (907) 465-5560 or dtempel@alaskaseafood.org..
Online public notice: http://notice.alaska.gov/173834
ASMI home page: http://www.alaskaseafood.org/
43. Comment by October 8 on NOAA Regulator Review – Natl Marketing & Charter Halibut
(see # 28 above under National items )
44. Monterey Bay Aquarium removes 20 West Coast groundfish species from watch list
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Twenty-one species of fish made the leap Tuesday off a watch list of seafood to avoid as unsustainably overfished, leaving conservationists and many fishermen and chefs celebrating the turnaround of a West Coast fishing ground declared an economic disaster area by the federal government just 14 years ago.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium upgraded the 21 species of West Coast bottom-dwelling fish known as ground fish — including rockfish, sablefish, and other workhorses of the white-fish seafood fillet market — from its “avoid” category on the Seafood Watch list, meaning the food industry and consumers now should feel free to sell and eat those fish without guilt…
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/tech/science/environment
/2014/09/03/recovery-removes-fish-species-from-watch-list/
15010249/
Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch home page: http://www.seafoodwatch.org/
Enhancement
45. Plentiful Mat-Su roadside streams offer scenic stops for rainbow anglers
Matt Tunseth
September 3, 2014
Note: No fish were harmed in the writing of this column.
WILLOW — It’s often pointed out that Alaska’s road system is sorely lacking, with only a tiny percentage of our vast state accessible by motor vehicle. In fact, a 2013 report by the Reason Foundation ranked our state dead last in quality and cost effectiveness, according to a Juneau Empire story.
That study must not have taken fishing into account.
When it comes to road-accessible fishing spots, our state would have to vault near the top of any ranking system…
http://www.adn.com/article/20140903/plentiful-mat-su-roadside
-streams-offer-scenic-stops-rainbow-anglers
46. September: Summer’s last stand
Scott McMurren, September 4, 2014
The kids are in school. Labor Day has come and gone. Still, are you ready to say goodbye to the sizzling summer of 2014?……
…….. Ziplines are springing up everywhere in Alaska. The first one I tried was in Ketchikan, at Alaska Canopy Adventures. There are two courses set up at Herring Cove. Since there is a salmon hatchery nearby, it’s not uncommon to see black bears strolling the grounds. Down at sea level, you load up into an all-terrain monster truck for the trek halfway up the mountain. At the high camp, you’re outfitted with your harness, your gloves and your hard hat. From there, you get to hike up and start your series of zips and suspension bridges. It’s a blast!
http://www.adn.com/article/20140904/september-summers
-last-stand
Subsistence
47. Alaska appeals court hears subsistence case
Published 3:14 pm, Wednesday, August 27, 2014
BETHEL, Alaska (AP) — The Alaska Court of Appeals is considering a case involving western Alaska subsistence fishermen who are appealing their convictions of illegal king salmon fishing on the Kuskokwim River during a weak run in 2012.
Attorneys for both sides argued before the appellate court in Anchorage Tuesday, KYUK (http://is.gd/esNGmw) reported. The 13 Yup’k Eskimo fishermen, who were convicted last year, contend the state failed to weigh their spiritual right to fish for king salmon before imposing tight restrictions…
http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Alaska-appeals-court-hears
-subsistence-case-5716358.php
48. Examining Sullivan’s and Begich’s records on Alaska Native issues
Heather Kendall-Miller,Lloyd Miller
August 31, 2014
Now that the primary is over and Dan Sullivan is the Republican nominee running against Alaska Sen. Mark Begich, it’s time to closely examine his record on issues of import to Alaska Natives. The Native community has long assessed political candidates based on their positions on subsistence, tribal sovereignty, Indian child welfare and voting rights. In each of these areas, Dan Sullivan’s record is clear: He is a staunch opponent of Native rights.
Perhaps no issue is of greater importance to Alaska Native people than the right to hunt and fish according to ancient customary and traditional practices, and to pass on the subsistence way of life to future generations. Dan Sullivan has aggressively opposed subsistence interests through litigation, legislative initiatives and support for state policies that marginalize tribal voices…
http://www.adn.com/article/20140831/examining-sullivans-
and-begichs-records-alaska-native-issues
49. Katie John Case Summary
September 3, 2014
The following is the case summary update regarding Katie John v. Norton. This report was prepared by the Native American Rights Fund as part of their Litigation Update for the Yupiit Nation Annual Convention, dated August 20, 2014.
SUBSISTENCE RIGHTS & ISSUES
Katie John v. Norton
In 2005, Katie John, represented by NARF, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska challenging Federal Agencies’ final rule implementing the prior Katie John mandate as being too restrictive in its scope. Katie John alleged that the Federal agencies should have included Alaska Native allotments as public lands and that the federal government’s interest in water extends upstream and downstream from Conservation Units established under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.
The State of Alaska intervened and challenged the regulations as illegally extending federal jurisdiction to state waters…
http://www.deltadiscovery.com/story/2014/09/03/in-our-native
-land/katie-john-case-summary/2433.html
50. Begich Supports Saxman’s Subsistence Rights (Rural Determination)
Urges Administrative Action to Retain Saxman’s Rural Status
U.S. Senator Mark Begich today urged the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to make a final determination, as authorized under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), that Saxman is a rural community for subsistence purposes.
In a letter to DOI Secretary Sally Jewell and USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, Begich also asked for expedited adoption of a new regulation for rural determination proposed in April 2014 by the Federal Subsistence Board (FSB)…
Senator Begich press release:
http://www.begich.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases
?ID=8177eabb-f2e3-443c-ac97-7704d1f45ff5
Other
51. NIOSH New Product Spotlight: Live to be Salty
Falling overboard is the second leading cause of death among commercial fishermen, nationwide. And the reason for that? Not wearing a personal flotation device (PFD). In fact, none of the 191 fishermen who died in the U.S. between 2000 and 2013 were wearing a PFD when they drowned.
Live to be Salty is a multi-media health communication intervention developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and our partners in an effort to reduce drownings, by promoting the use of PFDs on board commercial fishing vessels.
Visit Live to be Salty to learn about the comfortable PFD options currently available for use by commercial fishermen:
http://www.livetobesalty.org/
CDC/NIOSH Commercial Fishing Safety home page: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/fishing/
52.AMSEA Drill Conductor, Stability, Ergonomics and others classes schedule online
http://amsea.org/
53. Laine Welch’s Fish Radio – Items from this week:
-Bristol Bay salmon/2014 = $197 million, 2nd highest ever
-Gov candidates Walker and Parnell talk fish advisers, mining threats
-Plug in to your boat’s electronics!
– “The Deadly Winch.” A Kit to Prevent Injuries and Fatalities On Deck.
-Fish farts tell where fish are, what they are doing
These items and more, online at http://www.alaskafishradio.com/
Inclusion of an item does not mean that UFA endorses or agrees.
To support UFA by joining or renewing your membership, visit
https://www.ufafish.org/become-a-member/
Email list additions or corrections? Send to ufa@ufa-fish.org .