In an effort to provide more specific marine weather information, the National Weather Service Forecast Offices in Alaska have realigned Alaska’s marine forecast zones, due to be implemented March 8, 2023. The planned changes will result in more geographically-representative forecasts, advisory, watch and warning products. This will be achieved with the creation of a ‘nearshore’ forecast zone that will cover areas from the coastline out to 15 Nautical Miles (NM), a ‘coastal’ forecast zone which will then exist 15 NM out to 100 NM, and the creation of new zones that will pair down very large geographic areas, including to areas in the eastern Gulf of Alaska, Prince William Sound, along the Aleutians, and within the Bering Sea. Due to the scope of these changes, most marine Read more…
Second Draft of Spend Plan for 2020-2021 Salmon Disaster Declaration
The second draft of the spend plan for the 2020 Norton Sound, Yukon River, Kuskokwim River, Chignik, Southeast Alaska; and 2021 Yukon River salmon disaster declarations has been posted for a two week review period. You can view the latest draft here: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/fishing/pdfs/2020-21_salmon_disaster_second_draft_spend_plan.pdf Comments must be submitted by Wednesday, February 15th. Comments can be submitted by email to: [email protected] or by mail to: ADF&G, Attn: Karla Bush PO Box 115526 Juneau, AK 99811-5526 Here are some changes from the previous draft relevant to Southeast AK: To simplify the information used for determining eligibility, the criteria for the SE commercial fisheries are proposed to be based on the salmon species Read more…
NMFS Workshop on Fisheries Resilience
NMFS will be traveling to Petersburg to hold a Workshop on Fisheries Resilience in Petersburg. Everyone is encouraged to join Thursday, February 2nd at 5:00 p.m. in the Borough Assembly Chambers. Understanding what makes fishing communities resilient is critical for shaping effective policies, and may be distinct across Alaska’s geographically isolated coastal communities. Researchers with NOAA fisheries are holding workshops across Gulf of Alaska communities to understand what fishermen are experiencing on the water, how they are responding to changes, and what they and their communities need for long-term resilience. Please come lend your voice to this conversation so that we may work to amplify your voices locally, regionally, and nationally. View the flier here. Read more…
USCG Dockside Exams
The USCG will be in Petersburg February 4th-7th conducting dockside exams before the start of the king and tanner fishery. You can sign-up for an exam at the Harbor Master office.
AMSEA Drill Conductor Course in Petersburg
AMSEA will be in Petersburg holding a Drill Conductor course on February 4th from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Parks and Rec Activity room. 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. Flier for the event.
Capital Construction Fund Program Updates
In December Congress also expanded the Capital Construction Fund (CCF) program. The program is designed to encourage owners of U.S.-flag vessels to accumulate sufficient capital to acquire additional U.S.-flag vessels by offering tax incentives. The program works like a combination of a traditional IRA and Roth IRA. Like a regular IRA, an income tax deduction is available when funds are set aside and deposited into a CCF account and, like a withdrawal from a Roth IRA, withdrawals for approved vessel expenditures are tax free. Earning on a deposit in a CC account also grow tax free. Here is an article with more details. Read more…
RQE Language in Omnibus Spending Bill
The omnibus spending bill approved by Congress before the end of the year included language to authorize the creation of a halibut stamp to fund a Recreational Quota Entity. This change to the Halibut Act means the Catch Sharing Plan will not be revisited by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. Here is the 1,653 page bill, from pages 802-803: (a) IN GENERAL.—The North Pacific Fishery Management Council may recommend, and the Secretary of Commerce may approve, regulations necessary for the collection of fees from charter vessel operators who guide recreational anglers who harvest Pacific halibut in International Pacific Halibut Commission regulatory areas 2C and 3A as those terms are defined in part 300 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations). (b) Read more…