$300 million for fisheries

The U.S. Senate last night passed a gigantic coronavirus economic rescue package that includes $300 million in assistance to "fishery participants."

Here's the actual language from the bill (H.R. 748). The language begins:

"The Secretary of Commerce is authorized to provide assistance to Tribal, subsistence, commercial, and charter fishery participants affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), which may include direct relief payments."

The $2 trillion bill still needs House and presidential approval.

Seafood industry plea

A who's who of seafood producers is requesting $4 billion in federal funding to help the industry weather the coronavirus storm.

Could coronavirus hurt Alaska's top salmon fishery?

The Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association, which represents drift gillnet fishermen, today issued this update on the coronavirus situation:

BBRSDA recognizes the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) crisis has the potential to cause significant disruptions to the Bristol Bay salmon fishery. Response working groups have been created at a local, industry, and state level (including the Alaska Economic Stabilization Team created by Governor Dunleavy). Each group has already begun working to address emerging and potential issues. BBRSDA is either directly participating in or is in contact with all these groups to monitor the situation and develop contingency plans as critical needs develop. BBRSDA is also in communication with industry groups working with federal lawmakers to minimize the far reaching impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on the seafood industry.

Staffing processing facilities and fishery operations with healthy workers is a key concern. Thus far, there have not been any mandatory quarantines or government-ordered travel restrictions placed on the Bristol Bay industry (outside of a self-quarantine for Bristol Bay Borough staff who've traveled outside the region). A wide range of potential issues are being discussed, identified, and contingency plans are being developed. Rest assured, resources are being mobilized quickly to avoid disruptions as much as possible to fishery business; however, we obviously cannot make any guarantees.

We urge all Bristol Bay fishermen to practice diligent health and hygiene habits. Additional information will be provided as potential impacts or contingency options emerge with greater clarity.

Disaster aid OK'd for cod, Chignik salmon fisheries

Alaska's congressional delegation says $24.4 million in disaster relief has been approved for the 2018 cod crash and $10.3 million for the 2018 sockeye failure at Chignik.

More details in this press release.

Juneau watch

State Rep. Chris Tuck, D-Anchorage, has introduced a bill relating to "the delegation of authority to fish under a limited entry commercial fishing permit."

'Fishermen shooting at bears from their boats'

Quite an interesting letter here from the National Park Service to the Alaska Board of Fisheries.

Halibut takes a dip

The International Pacific Halibut Commission today set a coastwide catch limit of 36.6 million pounds for this year.

That's a reduction of 5.2 percent from last year.

The commission set season dates of March 14 to Nov. 15.

The IPHC manages U.S. and Canadian halibut stocks. The bulk of the commercial catch comes from Alaska.

Here is the full slate of 2020 catch limits, by regulatory area, expressed in millions of pounds.

Regulatory area	2019 catch limits	2020 catch limits	% change
2A	1.65	1.65	Same
2B	6.83	6.83	Same
2C	6.34	5.85	-7.7
3A	13.5	12.2	-9.6
3B	2.9	3.12	+7.6
4A	1.94	1.75	-9.8
4B	1.45	1.31	-9.7
4CDE	4.0	3.9	-2.5
TOTAL	38.61	36.6	-5.2

Click here for a map of IPHC regulatory areas.