50 CFR 679.2 Pot gear Pot gear means a portable structure designed and constructed to capture and retain fish alive in the water. This gear type includes longline pot and pot-and-line gear. Each groundfish pot must comply with the following: (i) Biodegradable panel. Each pot used to fish for groundfish must be equipped with a biodegradable panel at least 18 inches (45.72 cm) in length that is parallel to, and within 6 inches (15.24 cm) of, the bottom of the pot, and that is sewn up with untreated cotton thread of no larger size than No. 30. (ii) Tunnel opening. Each pot used to fish for groundfish must be equipped with rigid tunnel openings that are no wider than 9 inches (22.86 cm) and no higher than 9 inches (22.86 cm), or soft tunnel openings with dimensions that are no wider than 9 inches Read more…
ASMI seeks Communications Director applicants
The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute is seeking applicants for a Communications Director position. The position is in Juneau, and supports the ASMI US and international marketing programs. Requirements include a Bachelor’s degree, strong communications skills, and fisheries and/or government affairs experience is preferred. Applications are due by 4pm on November 24th and can be sent to [email protected]. The full job description and application process can be found here.
Southeast Seine Buyback Update
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…
OUTHEAST ALASKA REGIONAL PLANNING TEAM, PURSE SEINE TASK FORCE, ROK, AND DRIFT GILLNET TASK FORCE MEETINGS SCHEDULE
Sitka. . . The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced today the following information about the Southeast Alaska Purse Seine and Drift Gillnet Task Force meetings and the Southeast Regional Planning Team meeting. The department holds annual meetings each year between fishery managers, researchers, aquaculture organizations, fishermen, gear group organizations, processing company representatives, and interested organizations to review the previous salmon season, to discuss topics of importance for management of the fisheries, and to plan for the following season. At the request of participants, task force meetings are held in conjunction with the Southeast Regional Planning Team (RPT) fall meeting. This year both task force meetings and the RPT meeting will be held in Juneau Read more…
SOUTHEAST ALASKA REGIONAL PLANNING TEAM, PURSE SEINE TASK FORCE, ROK TASK FORCE, AND DRIFT GILLNET TASK FORCE MEETINGS SCHEDULE
Sitka. . . The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced today the following information about the Southeast Alaska Purse Seine and Drift Gillnet Task Force meetings and the Southeast Regional Planning Team meeting. The department holds annual meetings each year between fishery managers, researchers, aquaculture organizations, fishermen, gear group organizations, processing company representatives, and interested organizations to review the previous salmon season, to discuss topics of importance for management of the fisheries, and to plan for the following season. At the request of participants, task force meetings are held in conjunction with the Southeast Regional Planning Team (RPT) fall meeting. This year both task force meetings and the RPT meeting will be held in Juneau Read more…
NP Council October Newsletter
-As part of the IFQ Program Review, the Council will re-create the IFQ Implementation Committee. The Committee will be tasked with providing recommendations regarding potential revisions of the IFQ program. Nominations are due by November 11, and the committee will be chaired by Buck Laukitis. As a result of the IFQ program review, the IFQ Committee will be asked to consider: -sweep-ups of small blocked QS units -use of medical lease provision -definition of ‘immediate family member’ under the beneficiary lease provision -impacts of quota share loss on Alaska’s rural communities and geographic distribution of QS -geographic distribution of new entrants -use of hired masters in the IFQ fisheries -any additional concerns identified by the committee -Preliminary selection rates for Read more…
Southeast Alaska Subsistence Regional Advisory Council
The Southeast Alaska Subsistence Regional Advisory Council will meet in Petersburg from October 4-6. Southeast fisheries proposals include: -Modify the prohibition on the use of nets in streams flowing across or adjacent to the road systems within the city limits of Petersburg, Wrangell, and Sitka. Currently, Petersburg and Wrangell do not allow the use of nets in salmon streams within ‘City Limits’ now that they are Boroughs, there are no city limits. Sitka only has roads within city limits. This proposal would prohibit the use of nets on all road system streams in Petersburg, Wrangell, and Sitka. -Allow the use of a sling bow with fish arrow as a legal gear type for pink salmon. More informations on the fisheries proposals, as well as the wildlife proposals can be found here: https://www.doi.gov/subsistence/proposal/current Read more…