Report Finds Pebble Contamination

An independent scientific report produced by the Center for Science in Public Participation for United Tribes of Bristol Bay documents contamination at reclaimed Pebble prospect drill sites.

The report concludes that there may be long-term reclamation and maintenance issues at the copper, gold and molybdenum prospect near the headwaters of the Bristol Bay watershed. The report also notes that the Alaska Department of Natural Resources currently requires no reclamation plan and has exempted the Pebble Limited Partnership from reclamation bond.

While there is no widespread contamination, there are localized areas with elevated copper and other elements in soil and water, the report said. “About 10 percent of the sites inspected had fine-grained, oxidized drill cuttings around the casing or leading in a trail away from the casing. If these are flushing periodically, this suggests that either the holes were not cemented, or the cement has failed.”

Environmental geochemist Kendra Zamzow, who wrote the report with CSP2 president Dave Chambers, said her concerns included dead vegetation around settling ponds and wells that had been duct-taped, zip locked and sprayed with foam, but still had water slowly emerging from them. “They are supposed to, if they are not using them, cut them off below ground level after the hole has been completely cemented and grouted to be sure no water comes up,” she said.

The latest DNR field monitoring report, written in July and amended on Nov. 3, said that the mine operator had identified and addressed maintenance and repair issues on site consistent with industry best management practices.

According to state inspectors, 141 sites were inspected and 107 boreholes were observed to be in stable condition with no evidence of water or other instability, and that nine sites needed further investigation, but none posed a significant environmental or compliance risk.

The complete DNR report is online at http://dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/mining/largemine/pebble/field-reports/A166118_20160726_TripReport_FINAL.pdf

Canadian Oceans Protection Plan

Canadian government officials have announced plans for a national marine protection plan aimed at support of the nation’s fisheries, tourism and overall strengthening of Canada’s economy.

“Canada’s economy, environment and history are inextricably linked to our coastal regions,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Nov. 7.

“The $1.5 billion Oceans Protection Plan will make Canada a world leader in marine safety and takes a powerful step toward co-management of our coasts with indigenous and coastal communities, together making sure they remain healthy, clean and safe for generations to come.”

The plan hasquick support from the Clear-Seas Centre for Responsible Marine Shipping, an independent, not-for-profit research center in Vancouver, British Columbia. Clear Seas provides impartial and fact-based information about marine shipping in Canada, including risks, mitigation measures and best practices for safe and sustainable marine shipping.

Richard Wiefelspuett, executive director of Clear Seas, said the organization supports the expansion and strengthening of Canada’s Coast Guard.

A recent poll commissioned by Clear Seas confirms that Canadians understand the importance of marine shipping for the economy, but that many are concerned about the effective enforcement of marine safety policies and procedures,” Wiefelspuett said. “A strengthened Canadian Coast Guard is a timely response to these concerns and an important step towards safe and responsible marine shipping on our coasts,” he said.

Clear Seas also supports the plan’s emphasis on measures that prevent possible marine incidents from happening, including enhanced marine traffic information sharing, new navigation aids and aerial surveillance to improve marine safety.

Priorities of the plan include creation of a marine safety system that improves responsible shipping and protects Canada’s waters, restoring and protecting marine ecosystems and habitats, strengthening partnerships and launching co-management practices with indigenous communities, and investing in oil spill cleanup research.

The oceans protection plan was developed based on work over the past two years between indigenous and coastal communities and various government programs.

It is to be implemented in 2017.

A large volume of Canada’s commodities and processed good utilized the marine transportation system, which employs some 250,000 Canadians and injects over $25 billion into Canada’s economy.

Trudeau said as soon as 2017, Canadians will begin to see improvements including a Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre at St. John’s, and legislation introduced to prohibit vessel abandonment in Canadian waterways.

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The new marine safety system is to include improved marine traffic and navigation information for mariners, indigenous peoples and coastal communities, plus enhanced resources for the Canadian Coast Guard, and funding for new research into the impact of increased shipping on marine ecosystems and new oil spill response methods.

Editorial: Keep the Columbia

Parties opposed to continued commercial fisheries along the West Coast and specifically in the Columbia River have launched letter-writing campaigns as the Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting in Oregon approaches. Robert Sudar, a fish buyer and marketer from Longview, Washington, is concerned that fishermen may not be voicing their perspectives on how the Policy is affecting them and their families.

He suggests that fishermen and their friends, families and acquaintances should send a short note to the Commissions (in both states) expressing the importance of a viable mainstem gillnet fishery. It wouldn't have to be long or complicated, he says. For instance:

I want to contact you to request that your Commission modify the Columbia River Reform Policy because it has failed to prove that moving the commercial fishery out of the mainstem and into the Select Areas is the right choice for fishermen, consumers or lower river communities. Enhancement and returns to the Select Areas has fallen short of predictions. There has been no increase in sport angler trips or license sales. There has been no conservation benefit. None of the alternative gears have been shown to be economically successful or to have acceptable release mortality rates. And the gillnet fishery has shown itself to be selective in all seasons through the proven technique of time/area/gear changes to access target salmon, avoid non-target salmon and steelhead, and remain within its management guidelines. Please recognize the failings of this Policy and modify it so it can be a benefit to all residents of the Northwest.

One such fisherman has been proactive and sent a letter to both commissions last week:

As a commercial fisherman who fishes for the public in Alaska, Washington and Oregon to provide nutritious seafood for its residents, I find this current plan unfair and unjust. This fish resource is for the 99% of the residents of these states, and the entire United States who don't sport fish. This is a resource grab by the 1% of the greedy CCA and so-called sportsmen.

The definition of a good sportsman is to be considerate of others, play fairly by the rules and to think of others before oneself. That's what I learned as a youth playing sports. Furthermore the Bible teaches us, in Proverbs, it's better to have a good name than great riches. The Kitzhaber name and plan for the Columbia River do not fit this proverb. Please do not adopt this ill-conceived plan – you can do much better than this, and the public deserves better. The Kitzhaber name is soiled and mired in scandals and unethical schemes to benefit a few.

But not so fast! I have been informed from reliable sources that WDFW have been informed that if the Kitzhaber plan is adopted the Columbia River tribes will be there on the main stem, in full force, to fish the lower River, and you can all thank Liz Hamilton and CCA. That ought to be a lot of fun for you all – let me know how that works out.

I have a lot of tribal friends on the upper River. Nothing will change except there will be a bigger presence of commercial tribal fisherman than you can imagine.

Do your job and do right by the public and do not adopt this Kitzhaber plan.

John C. MacDonald
Commercial fisher who fishes for the public

We urge any fisherman interested in the continued viability of his industry to make his feelings known to both commissions:

commission@dfw.wa.gov
odfw.commission@state.or.us

Even if everyone just copied it and sent it in, Sudar says, “We would be making a statement that this is a big deal to many people. If they send 100 letters and we get 40 or 50, that would be a huge help for us, and for the Commissioners, as they try and do what's right with this public resource.”

Chris Philips 
Managing Editor 
Fishermen’s News

Northern Dynasty, EPA Could Mediate Pebble Mine

Northern Dynasty Minerals, whose Alaska based Pebble Limited Partnership seeks to build a large scale copper mine near the headwaters of the Bristol Bay watershed, now wants to mediate over related issues.

Northern Dynasty says that the Canadian mining firm and the US Environmental Protection Agency have filed a joint notice in federal court stating their intent to enter into mediation in an effort to resolve ongoing litigation under the federal Advisory Committee Act.

The Pebble Partnership alleges that the EPA violated the Federal Advisory committee Act by its interactions with, and undue influence of environmental non-government organizations and anti-Pebble activists in development of the Bristol Bay Watershed Assessment, and its regulatory action under section 404 (c) of the Clean Water Act. In November of 2014, a federal court judge granted Pebble’s request for a preliminary injunction in the FACA case, prohibiting the EPA from any further steps toward finalizing the 404 (c) regulatory action.

Section 404 (c) authorizes the EPA to prohibit, restrict or deny the discharge of dredged or fill materials at defined sites into waters of the United States whenever it determines that such actions would have an unacceptable adverse impact on various resources, including fisheries, wildlife, municipal water supplies or recreational areas.

A spokesperson for EPA’s Region 10/ Pacific Northwest Office in Seattle, says “the EPA remains committed to protecting the unique and valuable Bristol Bay fishery and way of life and stands behind the process it has started to ensure protection of this watershed.

“EPA also remains open to alternatives to litigation to resolve disputes, including mediation, which the Alaska court requires parties to consider,” the spokesperson said. “However, the parties will also be continuing to complete the discovery phase of the litigation during the mediation, so that the case can be resolved as quickly as possible. EPA remains confident regarding the outcome of the litigation,” the spokesperson said.

Alaska Continues to Lead in Volume of Seafood Landings

A new federal report on the nation’s fisheries confirms that Alaska, with six billion pounds, led all states in volume of seafood landings in 2015.

The National Marine Fisheries Service report on Fisheries of the United States rounded out the top five states in harvest volume with Louisiana, 1.1 billion pounds; Virginia, 410.3 million pounds, Washington, 363 million pounds, and Mississippi, 304.1 million pounds.

Dutch Harbor, Alaska, was again the leading US port in quantity of commercial fishery landings, with 787 million pounds, followed by Kodiak, Alaska, 514 million pounds; Aleutian Islands (Other), Alaska, 467 million pounds; Intracoastal city, Louisiana, 467 million pounds, and Empire-Venice, Louisiana, 428 million pounds. Other Pacific Northwest ports included among the top 20 for quantity were Alaska Peninsula (Other) 268 million pounds; Naknek, 176 million pounds, Cordova, 162 million pounds; Seward, 94 million pounds; Astoria, Oregon, 92 million pounds; Sitka, 87 million pounds; Ketchikan, Alaska, and Westport, Washington, 84 million pounds; and Petersburg and Bristol Bay (Other), 70 million pounds each.

New Bedford, Massachusetts, also held on to first place in terms of value of seafood delivered, at $322 million, followed by Dutch Harbor, $218 million; Kodiak, $138 million; Aleutian Islands (Other) and Empire-Venice, Louisiana, both $111 million.

Other Alaska ports among the top 20 for value were Naknek, $69 million; Cordova, $65 million; Sitka, $59 million, and Seward, $59 million.

NMFS noted that the estimated domestic per capita consumption of fish and shellfish in 2015 was 15.5 pounds, an increase of 0.9 pounds from the 14.6 pounds per capita consumed in 2014.

American consumers spent an estimated $96 billion for fish products in 2015, including $64.8 billion at restaurants, carry-out and catering services, $31 billion in retail sales for home consumption, and $199.2 million for industrial fish products.

The complete report is online at http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/Assets/commercial/fus/fus15/documents/FUS2015.pdf.

Fick Joins ABSC as Executive Director

Tyson Fick, a prominent face in the marketing of all of Alaska’s abundant seafood harvest for the past six years, will join Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers on Dec. 1 as executive director.

Dramatic cuts in quota this year for Bristol Bay red king crab and snow crab, plus a state decision to shut down the Bering Sea tanner crab fisheries this year, have presented new challenges, but still “this is an exciting opportunity to work in an iconic fishery with some really smart and talented people,” said Fick.

“Consumer demand has never been stronger. Alaska crab is well known to be the best in the world. I’m looking forward to taking on new challenges and advancing the goals and priorities of ABSC,” he said.

Fick noted that the Alaska Board of Fisheries would take up at its January board meeting in Kodiak some form of a reduced bairdi fishery in 2017. That proposal was generated by the board during its Soldotna, Alaska work session.

At ASMI’s October All-Hands meeting in Anchorage, Fick delivered an extensive report on accomplishments over the past year in support of all ASMI marketing programs, an updated Alaska seafood economic report, and the development of ASMI’s new corporate website, www.alaskaseafood.org, plus international media tours and research efforts.

Fick will be opening an office in Juneau for ABSC, which has its main office in Seattle.

For the past six years Fick has been the communications director for the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. Prior to that, Fick was the legislative liaison for the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, and before that, a legislative staffer. He has a bachelor’s degree from Washington State University in business administration and marketing.

“Tyson brings tremendous skills in seafood marketing and policy advocacy to the organization, said ABSC President Kale Garcia. “We are looking forward to having him aboard.”

ABSC is a trade organization representing harvesters of king, snow and bairdi crab in federal waters off Alaska, with a goal of ensuring the sustainability of Alaska crab fisheries. ABSC is actively involved in scientific research, policy development and marketing of crab products, Garcia said.

SeaShare Partnerships Boost Donation

A donation of 170,000 servings of pulled salmon barbeque has been delivered to food banks in Washington D.C. and Virginia, thanks to the partnership of SeaShare with two major seafood firms.

Jim Harmon, executive director of SeaShare, on Bainbridge Island, Washington, said that the non-profit dedicated to bringing seafood to food banks partnered with High Liner Foods in Newport News, Virginia, and US Foods of Rosemont, Illinois, to put the donation together.

High Liner Foods, one of the nation’s largest seafood companies, recently approached SeaShare about donating salmon for hunger relief, and SeaShare quickly identified food banks close to High Liner’s Newport News facility ready to accept such a large volume of seafood. US Foods, a major food service distribution company, provided the freight to the Capitol Area Food Bank in Washington DC, and Lorton, Virginia, and the Virginia Peninsula Food Bank in Hampton, Virginia.

The donated pulled salmon is similar to pulled pork, but with all the nutritional benefits of seafood, including high levels of omega-3 fatty acids. It is easy to cook, comes frozen, and can be steamed or boiled in the package.

“The ease of preparation is important to many families who struggle with hunger, juggling jobs and kids,” Harmon said. “Finding the time to cook healthy meals can be a big challenge for food bank clients. This is a great way to get high quality protein that is easy to prepare, in homes that would otherwise go without.”

The donation was made on behalf of the National Fisheries Institute’s Future Leaders program, of which staff at High Liner Foods and US Foods are members.

SeaShare, founded in 1994, is the only non-profit in the United States dedicated to bringing seafood to food banks. To date SeaShare has donated over 210 million servings of seafood to American food banks.