Bycatch in the spotlight

The Alaska House Special Committee on Fisheries will meet at 10 a.m. Monday for "an informational hearing on bycatch in Alaska fisheries."

The committee won't be taking public testimony. Click here for the list of invited witnesses.

Congressional hearing set on fishery disasters

Details in this press release.

Washington watch

We have a major congressional hearing Thursday on "North Pacific Perspectives on Magnuson-Stevens Act Reauthorization."

Click here for details, including the witness list.

Congress to explore sustainable seafood labeling

A U.S. Senate subcommittee is holding a hearing today on "The Role of Certification in Rewarding Sustainable Fishing."

The star witness will be Jeff Rice of Walmart.

Stefanie Moreland, a special assistant to Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell, also will testify.

Hearing to focus on Magnuson-Stevens Act

A congressional committee will hold a hearing Wednesday on reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

Looks like a couple of Alaska industry players are on the list of witnesses, including Joe Plesha, chief legal officer for Trident Seafoods Corp., and Bob Dooley, president of the trawl group United Catcher Boats.

How about a (bigger) loan?

Down in Juneau today, the House Special Committee on Fisheries has a 5 p.m. hearing scheduled on two interesting items.

The first is House Bill 261, which provides for larger state loans to help Alaska residents buy commercial fishing permits.

This sponsor statement explains more fully what the bill is about.

The Bristol Bay Economic Development Corp. has sent in a letter supporting HB 261.

Cordova District Fishermen United also likes the bill.

The second item on the committee's agenda is this resolution seeking to designate one sportfish seat and one subsistence seat on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.

Was this anything?

The House Natural Resources Committee today held a hearing in Seattle on how "unsubstantiated" federal science on the Steller sea lion is jeopardizing Alaska's fishing industry.

Here's a one-sided and rather sloppy press release from the committee majority — the headline references "Stellar" sea lions, and quotes "Doug Vincent-Land of the Alaska Department of Fish and Wildlife." Uh, that would be Doug Vincent-Lang of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

The chairman of the committee is Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Wash.

In September, Hastings held a similar hearing stacked with witnesses urging oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Environmentalists called that hearing "political theater."

One wonders which will happen first: the National Marine Fisheries Service saying nevermind on fishing restrictions meant to protect an endangered species, or drilling rigs poking holes in ANWR.

Alaska Legislature schedules a halibut hearing

The House Special Committee on Fisheries is scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. Sept. 1 in Anchorage for an "overview hearing on Pacific halibut management."

Presumably, the hearing will focus heavily on the catch sharing plan the federal government is considering to allocate halibut between the commercial and charter boat sectors.

State Rep. Steve Thompson, R-Fairbanks, chairs the committee. Other members are listed here.

Science and jobs

Here's a congressional note of interest.

The House Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs will hold a hearing next Tuesday on "NOAA's Fishery Science: Is the Lack of Basic Science Costing Jobs?"

Hmm, now that's a provocative topic.

At first I thought this might be a New England inquisition. But after looking at the subcommittee membership, I'm not so sure.