Educational workshops on topics ranging from skipper training, sleep deprivation and emergency skills to loan opportunities and financing for commercial fishermen will be offered during a virtual midwinter Fishermen’s EXPO set for Feb. 22.
The event being held online from Sitka, Alaska, this year, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, hosted by the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association (ALFA) and the Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust (ASFT).
Commercial and subsistence fishermen of all gear types can participate at no cost in interactive classes on skipper training, bathymetry mapping updates, loan and financing opportunity, dealing with sleep deprivation while fishing, fisheries policy, management updates and more.
Presenters will include Jerry Dzugan, executive director of the Alaska Marine Safety Education Association; Lela Klingert, president and chief executive officer of the Alaska Commercial Fishing and Agriculture Bank; and Linda Behnken, executive director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association.
Those wishing to participate is asked to register free online at www.alfafish.org, where updates on EXPO will also be posted.
ALFA is an alliance of small boat commercial fishermen who support sustainable fisheries and coastal communities by involving fish harvesters in research, advocacy and conservation initiatives. ASFT is a non-profit entity dedicated to strengthening fishing communities and marine resources through research, education and economic opportunity.
Wednesday, February 10, 2021
Trident Seafoods Gains Control Over COVID-19 Outbreak at Akutan Facilities
Trident Seafoods officials responding to the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus at their remote shoreside processing facility at Akutan, in the Aleutian Chain, say their daily positive virus test results are ebbing. Since the company learned of the virus outbreak on Jan. 17 a total of 307 of 706 employees originally on-site tested positive for COVID-19. All employees have remained in quarantine, but as a precaution, Trident has chartered flights to move those employees at high risk including individuals over the age of 60 and those with underlying health conditions, from the island campus. They are quarantining in Anchorage, where additional medical support is available as needed.
Trident’s Akutan plant has more than 1,400 employees there during peak season. The plant operates year-round, with a multi-species frozen seafood operation capable of processing as much as three million pounds of raw fish daily. While the primary focus of the plant is wild Alaska Pollock, seafood workers there also process significant amounts of Pacific cod, Alaska king and snow crab, halibut and other species.
Meanwhile Trident has been utilizing its facilities at St. Paul, Kodiak and Sand Point and the M/V Independence to keep operations moving.
Stefanie Moreland, vice president of government relations at Trident, said that the daily positive rate had dropped significantly, an indication that response protocols are working. Moreland said that Trident had bolstered its onsite medical staff, was conducting twice-daily wellness checks, mass testing and rapid response to new positive cases.
The company is also working on plans for employees who have completed their quarantine to return to work. For those employees wishing to leave, the company has arranged quarantine accommodations, meals, wellness monitoring and testing in accordance with state mandates in preparation for their travel home.
Trident CEO Joe Bundrant expressed the company’s appreciation for support and guidance from state health officials, the city of Akutan, the city of Unalaska and regional medical providers, as well as Eastern Aleutian Tribes and the Iliuliuk Clinic in Unalaska.
Trident’s Akutan plant has more than 1,400 employees there during peak season. The plant operates year-round, with a multi-species frozen seafood operation capable of processing as much as three million pounds of raw fish daily. While the primary focus of the plant is wild Alaska Pollock, seafood workers there also process significant amounts of Pacific cod, Alaska king and snow crab, halibut and other species.
Meanwhile Trident has been utilizing its facilities at St. Paul, Kodiak and Sand Point and the M/V Independence to keep operations moving.
Stefanie Moreland, vice president of government relations at Trident, said that the daily positive rate had dropped significantly, an indication that response protocols are working. Moreland said that Trident had bolstered its onsite medical staff, was conducting twice-daily wellness checks, mass testing and rapid response to new positive cases.
The company is also working on plans for employees who have completed their quarantine to return to work. For those employees wishing to leave, the company has arranged quarantine accommodations, meals, wellness monitoring and testing in accordance with state mandates in preparation for their travel home.
Trident CEO Joe Bundrant expressed the company’s appreciation for support and guidance from state health officials, the city of Akutan, the city of Unalaska and regional medical providers, as well as Eastern Aleutian Tribes and the Iliuliuk Clinic in Unalaska.
Wednesday, February 3, 2021
Coast Guard Sets Virtual Formal Hearing on Sinking of the F/V Scandies Rose
U.S. Coast Guard officials have announced a virtual formal hearing on the sinking of the fishing vessel Scandies Rose by the U.S. Coast Guard in at the Edmonds Center for the Arts in Edmonds, Washington, from Feb. 22 through March 5.
The 130-foot crab fishing vessel, homeported in Dutch Harbor, sank near Sutwik Island in Alaska at about 10 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, 2019, with seven crew members aboard.
Two of them were rescued and the other five were never found, despite a search that lasted over 20 hours and covered 1,400 square miles. Four MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crews, two HC-130 Hercules airplane crews, and crew aboard Coast Guard Cutter Mellon participated in the search.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic participation will be limited, but the hearing will be live streamed each day via https://livestream.com/uscginvestigations/events/9427626.
Maritime Commons, the Coast Guard blog for maritime professionals, will provide hearing updates via www.mariners.coastguard.blog and via Twitter @maritimecommons with the hashtag #ScandiesRoseMBI The hearing is to focus on conditions influencing the vessel prior to and at the time of the sinking, including weather, icing, fisheries, the Scandies Rose’s material condition, owner and operator organizational structures and culture, the regulatory compliance record of the vessel and testimony from survivors and others.
The Coast Guard has established an email address – ScandiesRoseMBI@uscg.mil – for the public and interested parties to provide information, ask questions and make comments related to the ongoing investigation and schedule hearing. This email will be checked regularly and all correspondence will be acknowledged during the hearing and throughout the investigation, Coast Guard officials said.
The National Transportation Safety Board is concurrently conducting an investigation of the sinking of the Scandies Rose and will produce a separate report.
The 130-foot crab fishing vessel, homeported in Dutch Harbor, sank near Sutwik Island in Alaska at about 10 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, 2019, with seven crew members aboard.
Two of them were rescued and the other five were never found, despite a search that lasted over 20 hours and covered 1,400 square miles. Four MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crews, two HC-130 Hercules airplane crews, and crew aboard Coast Guard Cutter Mellon participated in the search.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic participation will be limited, but the hearing will be live streamed each day via https://livestream.com/uscginvestigations/events/9427626.
Maritime Commons, the Coast Guard blog for maritime professionals, will provide hearing updates via www.mariners.coastguard.blog and via Twitter @maritimecommons with the hashtag #ScandiesRoseMBI The hearing is to focus on conditions influencing the vessel prior to and at the time of the sinking, including weather, icing, fisheries, the Scandies Rose’s material condition, owner and operator organizational structures and culture, the regulatory compliance record of the vessel and testimony from survivors and others.
The Coast Guard has established an email address – ScandiesRoseMBI@uscg.mil – for the public and interested parties to provide information, ask questions and make comments related to the ongoing investigation and schedule hearing. This email will be checked regularly and all correspondence will be acknowledged during the hearing and throughout the investigation, Coast Guard officials said.
The National Transportation Safety Board is concurrently conducting an investigation of the sinking of the Scandies Rose and will produce a separate report.
IPHC Moves to Boost 2021 Catch Limits
Halibut catch limits are up by 39 million pounds, or 6.6 percent, for 2021 under new harvest limits set by the International Pacific Halibut Commission during its annual meeting this past week.
The new limits cover commercial, sport, subsistence and personal use catches from Alaska to British Columbia to the west coast of fisheries in Washington, Oregon and California.
The big change was the percentage boosts, calculated by Alaska Boats and Permits in Homer, Alaska, which showed increased quotas for all IPHC areas except for 4CDE in the Bering Sea.
The biggest boost came from Area 3A, the central Gulf of Alaska, with the catch limit rising from 7.05 million pounds a year ago to 8.95 million pounds in 2021, an increase of 26.95 percent.
Area 4A, in the Aleutians, saw its quota rise from 1.41 million to 1.66 million pounds, up 17.73 percent, and in Area 4B, in the Aleutians, the quota rose from 1.10 million pounds to 1.23 million pounds, up 11.82 percent. Area 2C in Southeast Alaska, saw its catch limit rise from 3.41 million pounds to 3.53 million pounds, up 3.52 percent. In Area 4CDE, meanwhile, the catch limit dropped from 1.73 million pounds to 1.67 million pounds, down 3.47 percent.
In Area 2A, in waters off of California, Oregon and Washington, the catch limit remained at 0.87 million pounds, while in Area 2B, in the waters off of British Columbia, the IPHC boosted the catch limit from 5.12 million pounds to 5.23 million pounds, up 2.15 percent.
The new limits cover commercial, sport, subsistence and personal use catches from Alaska to British Columbia to the west coast of fisheries in Washington, Oregon and California.
The big change was the percentage boosts, calculated by Alaska Boats and Permits in Homer, Alaska, which showed increased quotas for all IPHC areas except for 4CDE in the Bering Sea.
The biggest boost came from Area 3A, the central Gulf of Alaska, with the catch limit rising from 7.05 million pounds a year ago to 8.95 million pounds in 2021, an increase of 26.95 percent.
Area 4A, in the Aleutians, saw its quota rise from 1.41 million to 1.66 million pounds, up 17.73 percent, and in Area 4B, in the Aleutians, the quota rose from 1.10 million pounds to 1.23 million pounds, up 11.82 percent. Area 2C in Southeast Alaska, saw its catch limit rise from 3.41 million pounds to 3.53 million pounds, up 3.52 percent. In Area 4CDE, meanwhile, the catch limit dropped from 1.73 million pounds to 1.67 million pounds, down 3.47 percent.
In Area 2A, in waters off of California, Oregon and Washington, the catch limit remained at 0.87 million pounds, while in Area 2B, in the waters off of British Columbia, the IPHC boosted the catch limit from 5.12 million pounds to 5.23 million pounds, up 2.15 percent.
Major Food Service Says No to Genetically Engineered Salmon
A major international food service, Aramark, has announced a commitment to not sell genetically engineered salmon. The announcement early this week came in the wake of AquaBounty Technologies announcing plans to sell its first ever harvest to the United States in the first quarter of 2021.
Aramark officials sad that avoiding potential impacts to wild salmon populations and indigenous communities, whose livelihoods are deeply connected to and often dependent upon this vital resource, is core to our company’s commitment to making a positive impact on people and the planet.
The decision makes Aramark the third major food service company committed to not selling GE salmon. There has been widespread market rejection of GE salmon already by Compass Group and Sodexo as well as many U.S. grocery retailers, seafood companies and restaurants.
The Federal District Court or the Northern District of California ruled in November that the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of AquaBounty Technologies’ genetically engineered salmon was issued unlawfully. The court concluded that FDA violated several core environmental laws in issuing the approval, including the Endangered Species Act. The court ruling currently does not prevent the sale of GE salmon in the United States, although plaintiffs have sought reconsideration of that decision.
Jaydee Hanson, policy director for Center for Food Safety, said it is crucial that companies like Aramark refuse to sell GE animals to wholesalers and consumers. The recent court decision on GE salmon makes clear that they are poorly regulated and do not have clear labeling.
Aramark officials sad that avoiding potential impacts to wild salmon populations and indigenous communities, whose livelihoods are deeply connected to and often dependent upon this vital resource, is core to our company’s commitment to making a positive impact on people and the planet.
The decision makes Aramark the third major food service company committed to not selling GE salmon. There has been widespread market rejection of GE salmon already by Compass Group and Sodexo as well as many U.S. grocery retailers, seafood companies and restaurants.
The Federal District Court or the Northern District of California ruled in November that the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of AquaBounty Technologies’ genetically engineered salmon was issued unlawfully. The court concluded that FDA violated several core environmental laws in issuing the approval, including the Endangered Species Act. The court ruling currently does not prevent the sale of GE salmon in the United States, although plaintiffs have sought reconsideration of that decision.
Jaydee Hanson, policy director for Center for Food Safety, said it is crucial that companies like Aramark refuse to sell GE animals to wholesalers and consumers. The recent court decision on GE salmon makes clear that they are poorly regulated and do not have clear labeling.
Oceana Urges Increased Transparency, Traceability
of Seafood
Results of a nationwide poll released by the ocean conservation nonprofit Oceana show that Americans overwhelmingly support an end to illegal fishing and seafood fraud.
Respondents to the survey made clear that Americans want and need to know more about the seafood they’re eating,” said Beth Lowell, Oceana’s deputy vice president for U.S. campaigns.
The majority of respondents agreed that imported seafood should be held to the same standards as seafood caught in the U.S., that they support policies that prevent seafood from being sold in domestic markets caught using human trafficking and slave labor, and that they want all seafood to be traceable from the fishing boat to the dinner plate. This agreement was overwhelming among both Republicans and Democrats who participated in the survey.
The Biden administration has an opportunity to lead the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing while leveling the playing field for American harvesters and seafood businesses while protecting consumers, Oceana said. According to Oceana illegal fishing poses one of the greatest threats to the world’s oceans., since up to 30 percent of the seafood caught worldwide is a product of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing valued at $25 billion to $50 billion annually.
Up to 90 percent of all fish consumed domestically is imported, with up to one third of wild caught imports sourced from IUU fisheries. Fishing without authorization, ignoring catch limits, operating in closed areas and fishing with illegal gear or for prohibited fish or wildlife all constitutes IUU fishing.
Forced labor and human rights abuses are also commonly associated with IUU fishing, a low risk, high reward activity, especially on the high seas, according to Oceana.
In 2018, federal authorities required catch documentation and traceability for seafood at risk of illegal fishing and seafood fraud, but the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP) currently only applies to 13 types of imported fish, and only traces them from the boat to the U.S. border.
In 2019 Oceana released results of a seafood fraud investigation testing popular seafood not covered by SIMP and found that one in every five fish tested nationwide was mislabeled.
Respondents to the survey made clear that Americans want and need to know more about the seafood they’re eating,” said Beth Lowell, Oceana’s deputy vice president for U.S. campaigns.
The majority of respondents agreed that imported seafood should be held to the same standards as seafood caught in the U.S., that they support policies that prevent seafood from being sold in domestic markets caught using human trafficking and slave labor, and that they want all seafood to be traceable from the fishing boat to the dinner plate. This agreement was overwhelming among both Republicans and Democrats who participated in the survey.
The Biden administration has an opportunity to lead the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing while leveling the playing field for American harvesters and seafood businesses while protecting consumers, Oceana said. According to Oceana illegal fishing poses one of the greatest threats to the world’s oceans., since up to 30 percent of the seafood caught worldwide is a product of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing valued at $25 billion to $50 billion annually.
Up to 90 percent of all fish consumed domestically is imported, with up to one third of wild caught imports sourced from IUU fisheries. Fishing without authorization, ignoring catch limits, operating in closed areas and fishing with illegal gear or for prohibited fish or wildlife all constitutes IUU fishing.
Forced labor and human rights abuses are also commonly associated with IUU fishing, a low risk, high reward activity, especially on the high seas, according to Oceana.
In 2018, federal authorities required catch documentation and traceability for seafood at risk of illegal fishing and seafood fraud, but the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP) currently only applies to 13 types of imported fish, and only traces them from the boat to the U.S. border.
In 2019 Oceana released results of a seafood fraud investigation testing popular seafood not covered by SIMP and found that one in every five fish tested nationwide was mislabeled.
Salmonstate Voices Support for Biden Administration Oceans Conservation Plan
A new Biden administration plan calling for conservation of 30 percent of lands and oceans by 2030 is winning kudos from SalmonState to increase protection of wild salmon watersheds.
“Coming on the heels of an alarming report from the state of Washington showing salmon on the brink of extinction with climate change being a major factor, we need to take bold steps right now if we are going to have a fighting chance to preserve the healthy wild salmon runs many of us take for granted,” said Tim Bristol, executive director of SalmonState. The Alaska based initiative, which works with commercial harvesters, businesses, scientists and others, is urging the Biden administration to move quickly to protect some of the nation’s best remaining fish and wildlife habitat, include Alaska’s wild salmon watersheds.
The controversy between conservation and development of other parts of the economy remains a constant struggle, particularly as the nation wrestles with recovery now from the economic challenges of the global pandemic. Legal battles range over the wisdom of some conservation plans because of their perceived potential or immediate adverse impact on resource extraction in the mining, oil and gas and timber industries. Particular concern has been voiced, for example, over a new Biden administration decision suspending new oil and gas leasing and drilling permits on U.S. lands and waters for 60 days as the new administration moves to reverse energy and environmental policies of the previous administration.
But changing ocean and freshwater conditions in recent years have been causing Alaska’s wild salmon to return smaller and produce fewer eggs than historic norms, and studies confirm that the future of Alaska’s wild salmon will depend on stemming the pace of climate change.
Bristol said that SalmonState is looking forward to working with the new administration to address threats to fisheries from climate change. SalmonState believes this conservation plan can demonstrate quickly a positive impact on the lives of Alaskans dependent on the fisheries, specifically by protecting Southeast Alaska’s transboundary rivers via international agreement, salmon watersheds in the Tongass National Forest by reinstating the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, and Bristol Bay’s massive sockeye runs through the Clean Water Act, Bristol said.
“Coming on the heels of an alarming report from the state of Washington showing salmon on the brink of extinction with climate change being a major factor, we need to take bold steps right now if we are going to have a fighting chance to preserve the healthy wild salmon runs many of us take for granted,” said Tim Bristol, executive director of SalmonState. The Alaska based initiative, which works with commercial harvesters, businesses, scientists and others, is urging the Biden administration to move quickly to protect some of the nation’s best remaining fish and wildlife habitat, include Alaska’s wild salmon watersheds.
The controversy between conservation and development of other parts of the economy remains a constant struggle, particularly as the nation wrestles with recovery now from the economic challenges of the global pandemic. Legal battles range over the wisdom of some conservation plans because of their perceived potential or immediate adverse impact on resource extraction in the mining, oil and gas and timber industries. Particular concern has been voiced, for example, over a new Biden administration decision suspending new oil and gas leasing and drilling permits on U.S. lands and waters for 60 days as the new administration moves to reverse energy and environmental policies of the previous administration.
But changing ocean and freshwater conditions in recent years have been causing Alaska’s wild salmon to return smaller and produce fewer eggs than historic norms, and studies confirm that the future of Alaska’s wild salmon will depend on stemming the pace of climate change.
Bristol said that SalmonState is looking forward to working with the new administration to address threats to fisheries from climate change. SalmonState believes this conservation plan can demonstrate quickly a positive impact on the lives of Alaskans dependent on the fisheries, specifically by protecting Southeast Alaska’s transboundary rivers via international agreement, salmon watersheds in the Tongass National Forest by reinstating the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, and Bristol Bay’s massive sockeye runs through the Clean Water Act, Bristol said.
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