Another huge Togiak herring forecast

The state today announced a harvest quota of 57,419 tons for next year's Togiak sac roe herring fishery.

More trouble for trollers

A U.S. magistrate judge is recommending, in effect, a shutdown of the winter and summer seasons of the Southeast Alaska troll fishery.

It's the latest twist in a case in which the Wild Fish Conservancy argues the fishery is starving killer whales of Chinook salmon.

Here is the magistrate's 40-page report and recommendation.

Feds declare crab crash disaster

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has declared disaster in multiple Alaska and Washington state fisheries, including the Bristol Bay red king crab and Bering Sea snow crab fisheries.

Details in this news release.

Bill aims to avoid surprise military encounters

Congress has passed a bill with language requiring the U.S. Coast Guard to work with the Defense and State departments, and the fishing community, to improve how mariners are notified of military activity within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone.

"This provision comes in response to a dangerous encounter between Russian warships and Alaska fishermen in the U.S. EEZ in August 2020," says this press release from Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska.

The press release details a number of other fishing-related provisions.

Funding for a 'quota bank'

The Rasmuson Foundation has made the following grant to the Sitka-based Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust:

$475,000 to support a Gulf of Alaska quota bank that will provide access to fishing opportunities through leases to fishermen in rural and indigenous communities. The Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust will purchase quota shares of sablefish and halibut to lease to rural coastal residents, providing a lower risk way to take part in these fisheries.

Another hefty quota for the Sitka herring fishery

Details in this announcement just out from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Big bump for pollock

The Eastern Bering Sea pollock fishery is enormous — and it's expected to be even more so next year.

On Sunday, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council set a total allowable catch of 1.3 million metric tons, a 17 percent jump from this year's TAC.

Here's the council motion showing TACs for all Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands groundfish.

Council TACs are recommendations subject to U.S. Commerce Department approval.

Bycatch task force report is out!

Gov. Mike Dunleavy just announced the release of the final report from his Alaska Bycatch Review Task Force.

Personnel file

Doug Mecum is retiring at the end of December after more than 17 years as deputy regional administrator for the National Marine Fisheries Service in Juneau.

Salmon or surimi and fish sticks?

U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola is weighing in with the North Pacific Fishery Management Council on the issue of salmon bycatch. Here's her letter.

Blotter

Catch some interesting enforcement notes on our sister blog The Brig.