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In accordance with the Paper Reduction Act of 2015, NOAA published a notice in the Federal Register seeking comments on information collection regarding Individual Fishing Quotas for Halibut and Sablefish in Alaska Fisheries. The forms under review include: Application for Eligibility to receive QS/ IFQ (TEC), QS holder form (Identification of Ownership Interest), Application for Transfer of QS/IFQ (includes sweep-up); Application for Military Transfer, Application for Emergency Medical Transfer, Application for IFQ/CDQ Hired Master Permit, Application for Registered Buyer permit, QS/IFQ Designated Beneficiary Form, Application for replacement of certificates, permits, or licenses, Registered Buyer landing report, Transshipment Authorization, Prior Notice of Landing (PNOL), IFQ Departure Report, Read more…

Governor Walker called for a 4th Special Session beginning October 23 to focus on a bill proposing a payroll tax of 1.5 percent of wages earned by Alaskans and non-resident workers, capped at $2,200 or twice the previous year’s permanent fund dividend amount—whichever is higher. The proposal is expected to generate between $300 million and $325 million. About 15 percent of which is projected to come from non-resident workers. Under this proposal, Alaskans would pay the lowest taxes on a nationwide basis. The proposed payroll tax would only apply to income that meets the federal definition of wages, retirement income such as Social Security benefits would not be taxed, and neither would money from Permanent Fund dividends, income from capital gains, or any form of government subsidy like Read more…

The Fall Dungeness Crab Announcement is out and the 2017/2018 commercial Dungeness crab fall fishing season in Registration Area A (Southeastern Alaska) will be reduced in duration. All waters open to commercial Dungeness fishing in Southeastern Alaska will open at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 1, 2017 and will close at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, October 31, 2017. Based on data from port sampling and fish tickets, the department has determined that the proportion of legal-size male soft-shelled Dungeness crabs discarded during the first week of the summer season was above the previous three-year average, but the amount was not a contributing factor in failing to meet the 2.25 million pound harvest projection threshold described in the Southeastern Alaska Dungeness Crab Management Plan. Therefore, Read more…

SSRAA and ADF&G are participating in a cooperative test fishery at Canoe Pass, located on southern Etolin Island, to establish a baseline survey. This survey is designed to evaluate the presence of non-targeted/bycatch salmon species in Canoe Pass that may occur during the normal run timing of the summer chum salmon stock during terminal fisheries. In this cooperative agreement, SSRAA will contract purse seine vessel(s) to conduct baseline fishing using traditional seine gear. The seine activities will be conducted as a one day charter each week over a 5-week period. The contract vessel(s) will be responsible for their own crew and supplies including food, fuel, and net. (full length net and minimum 3 ½ strips in depth) The sampling period is during statistical weeks 28 through 32, Read more…

The Alaska Longline FIshermen’s Association asked me to distribute this SURVEY for Chatham permit holders to Chatham permit holders. If you are willing to answer the survey, please send it back to [email protected].

Don’t forget, we have free bird avoidance lines available at the PVOA office. Stop by on week days from 9-12 to pick them up.

NMFS approved the Southeast Revitalization Association’s plan to buyback 22 southeast seine permits. The NMFS Fleet Consolidation Loan Program Manager, Mike Sturtevant, will be holding public meetings throughout Southeast AK to discuss the plan and answer questions. You can also reach him at [email protected] or (301)427-8799. This second round of permit purchases would use $5.8 million of the $10.4 available and acquire 22 permits. There are currently 315 permanent S01A CFEC permits. The voting period will begin December 13, and end on January 13 at 5pm. Any ballots There will be four outreach meetings: -Monday, November 14, from 2-4pm in Sitka at the Westmark Sitka Hotel at 330 Seward Street -Tuesday, November 15, from 3-5pm in Ketchikan at the Best Western Plus Landing Read more…