On Wednesday, May 10th, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. in the Petersburg Borough Assembly Chambers NMFS is holding public hearing on the proposed rule to list sunflower sea stars as ‘threatened’ under the Endangered Species Act. The ESA defines a threatened species as likely to become endangered in all or a portion of its range within the foreseeable future. Defines endangered as any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. Implications An ESA listing would mean NMFS will assume primary management authority for the species, with potential consequences for Alaska’s economy such as possible restrictions on state-managed fisheries. Any fishery with bycatch of sunflower sea stars could be impacted. This includes pots, nets, Read more…
Southeast Vacancy on Fishermen’s Fund Advisory Council
The Fishermen’s Fund Advisory and Appeals Council currently has two vacancies on its board. The board consists five members appointed by the Governor from five specific districts listed in statute and the Commissioner of the Department of Labor, or the commissioner’s designee, who serves as the chair. The council consults with the Commissioner (or designee) regarding negative decisions on appeals filed in relation to care of sick and disabled fishermen and advises the department on administration of the fund. The current vacancies are from District 2 (areas north of Wrangell to include include Yakutat) and District 5 (Areas north of cape Newenham, including Kuskokwim, Yukon, Kotzebue, and the Arctic). The board meets 2x per year and standard travel and per diem is covered. To be Read more…
NMFS listening session on ESA listing of sunflower seastars
Wednesday, May 10th from 4:00-7:00 p.m. the National Marine Fisheries Service will be holding a listening session in the Petersburg Borough Assembly Chambers regarding their proposed listing of the sunflower seastar (Pycnopodia helianthoides) as ‘threatened’ under the Endangered Species Act. An additional listening session will be held in Kodiak Tuesday, May 2nd from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at the Western Kodiak Inn Harbor Room. NMFS’s final decision could remain unchanged from the proposal to list the species as “threatened,” but a listing as “endangered” is possible, depending on the information the agency receives during the review. Although bycatch in fisheries is a minor threat to the species, intentional and “incidental take”—unintentional catch, harm, or harassment of a Read more…
ADF&G NSEI and SSEI industry meeting
Friday, April 28th from 2:00-4:00 p.m. ADF&G will hold the Southeast Alaska Northern Southeast Inside (NSEI) and Southern Southeast Inside (SSEI) Subdistricts sablefish industry meeting. The meeting will be delivered via Zoom and hosted at the following location: • Douglas–ADF&G Southeast Regional office, Conferences Rooms A and B, 802 3rd Street, Douglas, AK 99824. Participants can attend by clicking on the meeting link provided below and registering for the meeting. Once registered, an email will be sent containing information about joining the meeting virtually or telephonically. https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUtc- 6hpzMuHdX7KFhlWoRDhZX71wYIreB6 The agenda, presentations, and recording of the meeting, and other materials will be made available on the ADF&G Read more…
AMSEA Drill Conductor Class in Wrangell
AMSEA is teaching a Fishing Vessel Drill Conductor course in Wrangell AK on April 10th. The course is $125 for commercial fishermen and $225 for all others. You can join by calling AMSEA at (907)747-3287 or visiting their website www.amsea.org.
Proposed ESA Listing of Sunflower Sea Stars
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is proposing to list the sunflower sea star as a “threatened” species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) based on the findings of a recently published population status review. The ESA defines a threatened species as likely to become endangered in all or a portion of its range within the foreseeable future. The status review was triggered by a 2021 petition from the Center for Biological Diversity. The ESA does not allow listing of smaller, discrete population units for invertebrates, unlike vertebrate species. As such, even though sunflower sea star declines are less severe in Alaska, a listing for the species will cover its entire range. The NMFS status review focused on the wide-spread population declines following a large outbreak Read more…
State and Federal Slinky Pot Regulations
The Statewide BOF meeting concluded yesterday. Alaska Wildlife Troopers submitted proposal 153 stating they wanted to regulate slinky pot escape mechanism and would provide RC language during the meeting. This language was provided in RC51 on Saturday. Under this language, all commercial, subsistence, personal use, and sport collapsible groundfish pots, commonly known as slinky pots, must contain two openings in the mesh with each equal to or exceeding 18 inches in length, the openings must each be laced, sewn, or secured together by a single length of untreated, 100 percent cotton twine, no larger than 30 thread; the cotton twine may be knotted at each end only; the openings must be on opposite sides of the pot, if placed on the tunnel side the opening must be in an area that does not include Read more…