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The deadline to sign up for the 2017 EM Pool is Tuesday, September 20. If you participated in 2016 and want to participate again, you will need to opt-in again. As always, if you change your mind, you can opt-out at any point. The selection rate is 30% and trips will be selected through the same ODDS system as the human observer program. Previously, boats installed and removed the wiring when selected for a trip. This winter there is grant money to pay for the wiring needed for boats and vessel owners can choose to install the wiring permanently. The camera portion of the set up will still be installed before an observed trip and removed at the end of the trip. If you would like to opt-in for 2017, please contact Liz Chilton via email at [email protected], or call her at (206) 526-4197. Read more…

The State has offered to allow Petersburg Borough to take over ownership and maintenance of the State docks at Entrance Island, Papke’s Landing, and Kupreanof. You can fill out a short questionnaire here and submit it via the email addresses at the top of the form or in person to the Clerk’s Office.

Alaska Salmon Harvest Summary and Forecast Analysis -Statewide, 2015 was a record salmon harvest at 1.07 billion pounds, and 28 million pounds greater than 2013. -Projected harvests for Southeast are 366,000 Chinook, 1,273,000 Sockeye, 2,831,000 Coho, 34,000,000 Pink, 11,349,000 Keta for a total of 49,819,000 salmon. -2016 projected harvest is 161 million salmon and would be the largest even-year harvest since 2010. -In 2016, Bristol Bay’s forecast is up 10% above the 10-year average. -Typically, most of the Chinook and Coho salmon harvested in the State come from Southeast. https://gallery.mailchimp.com/bcd6d5bec392f12ce703f7e00/files/Spring2016_Alaska_Salmon_Harvest_and_Forecast_Summary.pdf Alaska Salmon Market News -An algal bloom in Chile killed over 25 million farmed salmon, Read more…

The Seine Management Plan is out. You can read the full plan here: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/FedAidPDFs/RIR.1J.2016.05.pdf -The estimated Pink harvest is 34 million fish, the 10-year average is 37.4 million fish. -277 permits fished in 2015 and 260 in 2014. The total number of permits is 315, and the 10-year average is 241 participants. -The telephone message recording system for purse seine new releases has been canceled. -New in 2016 will be a test fishery that could occur in various seine areas throughout the region. The primary intent will be to raise revenue to assist the department with costs of managing the fishery. The department will solicit bids for these test fisheries in May and June. Scheduled Openings -Sunday, June 19 will be the first opening consisting of a portion Read more…

Please check your EPIRBs, Kannad Safelink EPIRBs have been recalled. These are part numbers K1202311 and K1202367. If you have a Kannad, please see their website http://www.safelinkepirbsupport.co.uk and enter the CSN number found on the yellow label for more information on replacements. You can also call them at 1(800)262-8722 or email them at [email protected].

Haines — The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced today that due to a low preseason forecast for Chilkat River king salmon abundance, commercial, sport, and subsistence fisheries in upper Lynn Canal, Chilkat Inlet, and the Chilkat River will be managed conservatively. Commercial, sport, and subsistence fisheries in Lynn Canal and Chilkat Inlet are managed under the directives of the Lynn Canal and Chilkat River King Salmon Fishery Management Plan (5 AAC 33.384). This plan directs the department to manage fisheries based upon the stock assessment program to achieve an inriver run of 1,850 – 3,600 large (three ocean age and older) king salmon. The inriver run goal was not achieved in 2012, 2013, and 2014, and the 2016 preseason inriver forecast is for a Chilkat River king Read more…

Southeast Alaska Fishermen’s Alliance (SEAFA) received a grant from the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation to increase the use of acoustic whale pingers to reduce whale entanglements. SEAFA will rebate $25 per whale pinger for up to 5 pingers per vessel/permit. The rebate procedure can be found here. Whale pingers can be purchased from PVOA business member’s Lummi Fishery Supply (LFS) and Bullet Proof Nets.