The North Pacific Fishery Management Council is meeting this week in Juneau, and Chinook bycatch is heading the agenda.
The council is set to take final action on measures to control the incidental take of Chinook in Gulf of Alaska trawl fisheries targeting species such as Pacific cod, flatfish and rockfish.
The options include an annual limit, or "hard cap," of between 5,000 and 12,500 Chinook salmon.
Chinook bycatch, of course, is a very hot topic these days given the weak Chinook returns to many of Alaska's river systems.
The council has been working methodically to rein in this bycatch.
In June 2011, the council set a cap of 25,000 Chinook in the Gulf pollock fishery.
Regulators also have set caps in the giant Bering Sea pollock fishery.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Monday, June 3, 2013
Illicit halibut charter operator fined $15,000
An Anchorage resident who took customers fishing without the required halibut charter permit will pay a $15,000 fine to settle an enforcement action, federal authorities say.
Sidney Bouschor initially was assessed a $30,300 civil penalty following an undercover operation by NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement.
"Bouschor admitted the charge, but claimed an inability to pay the entire assessed penalty," says this press release. "After supplying the required financial documentation to NOAA, which was evaluated by a NOAA financial expert, NOAA's Office of General Counsel found it appropriate to settle the case for $15,000."
The press release, unfortunately, doesn't specify which port Bouschor was operating out of, or provide other details of the undercover operation.
Sidney Bouschor initially was assessed a $30,300 civil penalty following an undercover operation by NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement.
"Bouschor admitted the charge, but claimed an inability to pay the entire assessed penalty," says this press release. "After supplying the required financial documentation to NOAA, which was evaluated by a NOAA financial expert, NOAA's Office of General Counsel found it appropriate to settle the case for $15,000."
The press release, unfortunately, doesn't specify which port Bouschor was operating out of, or provide other details of the undercover operation.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
NMFS to take action to stop 'scale fraud'
The National Marine Fisheries Service is planning to tighten regulations on scales used to weigh catches aboard factory fishing vessels operating off Alaska.
NMFS says it has "investigated several cases of potential scale tampering and fraud that may have resulted in large underestimations of catch" in the Bering Sea pollock fishery.
Federal authorities have levied more than $2.7 million in fines against American Seafoods, the largest operator of factory trawlers in the pollock fishery.
At-sea scales can provide very precise and accurate estimates of catch, NMFS says, provided the scales are not monkeyed with.
It's now apparent that regulatory changes are needed to stop scale fraud, the agency says.
This briefing paper lays out the possible changes. Among them:
• Require vessels to report scale tests daily
• Expand video monitoring of the scale area
• Have an observer present whenever scales are recalibrated
• Enhance the "audit trail" on scale adjustments.
NMFS says it has "investigated several cases of potential scale tampering and fraud that may have resulted in large underestimations of catch" in the Bering Sea pollock fishery.
Federal authorities have levied more than $2.7 million in fines against American Seafoods, the largest operator of factory trawlers in the pollock fishery.
At-sea scales can provide very precise and accurate estimates of catch, NMFS says, provided the scales are not monkeyed with.
It's now apparent that regulatory changes are needed to stop scale fraud, the agency says.
This briefing paper lays out the possible changes. Among them:
• Require vessels to report scale tests daily
• Expand video monitoring of the scale area
• Have an observer present whenever scales are recalibrated
• Enhance the "audit trail" on scale adjustments.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
It's all over at Togiak
After a number of extensions, the Togiak sac roe herring fishery finally closed for the season at noon today.
The total harvest was 28,808 tons.
That's big. Over the preceding two decades, only the 1994 harvest was bigger at 30,315 tons, state records show.
The total harvest was 28,808 tons.
That's big. Over the preceding two decades, only the 1994 harvest was bigger at 30,315 tons, state records show.
Monday, May 27, 2013
A couple of Memorial Day harvest notes
The Togiak herring fishery most likely closes at noon today. The catch has been enormous, nearly 28,400 tons.
Over at the Copper River, salmon gillnetters get their third opener of the season starting at 7 a.m. today. The sockeye fishing has been hot with a cumulative catch of 266,739 fish, more than double the number expected.
Over at the Copper River, salmon gillnetters get their third opener of the season starting at 7 a.m. today. The sockeye fishing has been hot with a cumulative catch of 266,739 fish, more than double the number expected.
Friday, May 24, 2013
APICDA to acquire Cannon Fish
Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Association is buying Cannon Fish Co., a Seattle-based processing and marketing company.
"With Cannon Fish we are, in essence, vertically integrating," says Larry Cotter, APICDA chief executive. "We will now be able to manage all aspects of our seafood operations from the boat to the table."
Read lots more about the deal here.
"With Cannon Fish we are, in essence, vertically integrating," says Larry Cotter, APICDA chief executive. "We will now be able to manage all aspects of our seafood operations from the boat to the table."
Read lots more about the deal here.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Feds and American Seafoods are talking
Last week brought news of some big enforcement actions against American Seafoods, the top operator of pollock factory trawlers in the Bering Sea.
The company is facing more than $2.7 million in fines for allegedly shorting catch weights, or "essentially stealing fish," in the words of federal authorities.
New cases have been brought involving two of the company's boats, the Ocean Rover and the Northern Eagle. A third case involving the trawler American Dynasty has been pending since early 2012.
Now, just because American Seafoods has been accused doesn't mean it has to simply roll over and pay the weighty fines.
It can try to negotiate them down.
Apparently that's the tack the company is taking.
A NOAA spokeswoman tells Deckboss the matter is now before an administrative law judge.
A hearing was scheduled for March 26 in the American Dynasty case, but the judge vacated the hearing date.
The proceeding was put off "at the request of both parties to give them an opportunity to discuss the potential for a global settlement of all three cases," the spokeswoman said via email.
The judge has ordered NOAA to file periodic status reports, and the parties are trying to reach a settlement by the end of June, the email said.
The company is facing more than $2.7 million in fines for allegedly shorting catch weights, or "essentially stealing fish," in the words of federal authorities.
New cases have been brought involving two of the company's boats, the Ocean Rover and the Northern Eagle. A third case involving the trawler American Dynasty has been pending since early 2012.
Now, just because American Seafoods has been accused doesn't mean it has to simply roll over and pay the weighty fines.
It can try to negotiate them down.
Apparently that's the tack the company is taking.
A NOAA spokeswoman tells Deckboss the matter is now before an administrative law judge.
A hearing was scheduled for March 26 in the American Dynasty case, but the judge vacated the hearing date.
The proceeding was put off "at the request of both parties to give them an opportunity to discuss the potential for a global settlement of all three cases," the spokeswoman said via email.
The judge has ordered NOAA to file periodic status reports, and the parties are trying to reach a settlement by the end of June, the email said.
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