Wanted: observers

A report to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council notes "current difficulties in recruiting and retaining observers."

The report says "conversations are underway" about solutions, including "options for allowing providers to hire foreign nationals to be observers in the Alaska fisheries."

BBRSDA, BBEDC sue EPA over proposed Pebble mine

Here are the lawsuit and a press release.

Blockbuster pollock sale

Alaska processing giant Trident Seafoods recently secured an enormous sale of pollock products to the federal government.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Sept. 25 it had purchased nearly 16.8 million pounds of pollock goods — frozen fish sticks and fillets — for $38.8 million.

The fish will go into child nutrition and other domestic food assistance programs, the USDA said.

Trident underbid two East Coast companies, Channel Fish Processing and High Liner Foods.

Slim pickings for king crab

Fishery managers today announced a total allowable catch of 3.8 million pounds for the Bristol Bay red king crab fishery, which opens at noon Oct. 15. That's a 12 percent cut from last season.

Managers also announced a TAC of 34 million pounds for the Bering Sea snow crab fishery, a 23 percent increase.

The Bering Sea Tanner crab fishery will remain closed, as the estimated mature male biomass is too low, managers said. Last season's Tanner crab TAC was 2.4 million pounds.

'Serious concerns'

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council is meeting this week in Homer, and one issue confronting the panel is a flurry of complaints about high sablefish bycatch in the Bering Sea trawl fisheries. Here's an example.