NMFS moves to 'modernize' surveys, cut costs

Deckboss recently posted an industry letter to Congress expressing "urgent concern" about adequate funding for federal fisheries surveys.

Now comes word that the National Marine Fisheries Service is consolidating, reducing and suspending a number of Alaska surveys.

Trident update

Trident Seafoods says it's close to finalizing sales of its Petersburg, Ketchikan and False Pass plants.

The company also is "speaking with multiple interested buyers" for its Kodiak plant.

"Even if we don’t close a deal by this summer, Trident will still provide a market for salmon season in Kodiak," a company executive says.

More details here.

A thunderclap announcement from Trident

Trident Seafoods says it will seek buyers for its shoreside plants at Kodiak, Ketchikan, Petersburg, and False Pass.

"The restructuring effort is not confined to Alaska alone," the Seattle company says. "Trident is also streamlining and optimizing its head office support functions, resulting in a 10 percent reduction in headcount."

More details in this news release on Trident's website.

Council passes observer restructuring plan

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council yesterday voted 11-0 for an overhaul of the observer program.

This makes big changes in how observers are deployed. And it requires new classes of fishing boats including halibut longliners to sometimes carry observers, who log the makeup of the catch.

The overhaul also includes a new way to pay for observers — a fee amounting to 1.25 percent of the dockside or ex-vessel value of commercial catches.

As I understand it, the fee will apply uniformly to all fishing vessels covered under the restructured observer program. The council had considered a higher fee for some fleets and a lower fee for others.

Factory trawlers and other large vessels now required to carry one or more observers 100 percent of the time won't pay the fee. They will continue with the existing system, paying directly for observers as needed.

Remember, council decisions are recommendations. The final say belongs to the U.S. commerce secretary.