Last Friday, March 13, 2020, two sites that had been down for over 120 days were brought back to operational. As of Monday, March 16, 2020, sites that the U.S. Coast Guard is unable to receive VHF communications are: Bede Mountain, Cape Fanshaw, Deception Hills, Sukkwan Island, Althorp Peak, Tuklung Mountain, and Duffield Peninsula. The Coast Guard has experienced various VHF outages in Southeast and Southcentral Alaska. Extra caution is advised in areas serviced by the VHF towers listed below. Repairs are ongoing, but due to extreme weather and remote locations, intermittent outages are expected to continue in various locations in both Southeast and Southcentral Alaska. Mariners are reminded that due to mountainous terrain, and limited VHF coverage, even with fully operational VHF Read more…
Rockfish Required Retention in Federal Waters
As a result of the North Pacific Council action taken in December of 2019, beginning March 23, 2020, NMFS has new rockfish retention requirements. This action contains two main provisions: requiring full retention and landing of rockfish by CVs using hook-and-line, pot, or jig gear while fishing for groundfish or halibut in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the BSAI or GOA, even if the species of rockfish is closed to directed fishing or on prohibited species status. limiting the amount of rockfish that can enter commerce, the maximum commerce allowance (MCA). The MCA would limit the amount of rockfish allowed to enter commerce through barter, sale, or trade. Rockfish in excess of these limits could not be sold but could be kept for personal use, donated, processed into fishmeal, Read more…
USCG VHF Outages
The Coast Guard has experienced various VHF outages in Southeast and Southcentral Alaska throughout the summer and into the winter. Extra caution is advised in areas of Northern Shelikof Strait, Southern Cook Inlet, and portions of Southeast Alaska. Repairs are ongoing, but due to extreme weather and remote locations, intermittent outages are expected to continue in various locations in both Southeast and Southcentral Alaska. Mariners are reminded that due to mountainous terrain, and limited VHF coverage, even with fully operational VHF sites, the USCG cannot hear VHF calls in all areas, and mariners should have secondary means on communications onboard at all times, file a float plan with a trusted person, and carry safety equipment onboard in the event you are in a survival situation. Read more…
AMSEA Drill Conductor Class in Petersburg
AMSEA will hold a Drill Conductor class in Petersburg on February 10th from 8am-7pm at the Tides Inn conference room. You can register only at www.amsea.org or by calling (907)747-3287. See the flier here.
Public Hearing on Humpback Whale Critical Habitat in Petersburg 1.6.2019
There will be a public hearing held by NOAA concerning the Humpback Whale critical habitat designation in Petersburg from 4pm-7pm January 6th, in the Petersburg Borough Assembly Chambers. The meeting will begin with a brief presentation by NOAA Fisheries giving an overview of critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act and an opportunity for the public to provide oral comments on the record regarding the proposed designation. We strongly encourage you to attend the meeting and provide comments. If you are uncomfortable with public speaking, please attend the public hearing and submit written comments here. To date, NOAA has heard strong support for the critical habitat designation from NGOs. It is important they hear from commercial fishermen who may be affected by this Read more…
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Meeting
There will be a public meeting with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), tomorrow, December 3rd at 3:00pm in the Assembly Chambers regarding the South Harbor Dredge Project. The Project Partnership Agreement will be reviewed and there will be time for questions and answers.
Southeast Sea Otter Stakeholder
The Southeast Sea Otter Stakeholder Meeting is being held in Juneau tomorrow, November 6th, from 8:30am-5:00pm at the Lecture Hall at the Alaska State Library, Archives, and Museum. You can attend in person, or stream the meeting live. In response to concerns expressed by numerous groups about the growth and health of the Southeast sea otter population, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is leading an effort to organize and hold a Southeast Sea Otter Stakeholders Meeting. The intent is to bring together organizations and individuals from across southeast Alaska and other parts of the state to review the latest science and research about sea otters and—with the guidance of a professional facilitator—to discuss potential approaches to mitigating and/or resolving resource conflicts. Read more…