The partial shutdown of the federal government is sending serious ripples through the commercial fishing world.
Deckboss just got off the line with Jim Balsiger, head of the National Marine Fisheries Service for Alaska, who kindly provided an update on the situation.
First, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council's meeting this week in Anchorage is still on. The 11-member council will convene tomorrow morning at the Hilton hotel downtown.
Normally, a bevy of NMFS staffers attend council meetings, providing reports and expertise, but not this time. Balsiger says he'll be the only NMFS guy in attendance.
That's because nearly all NMFS personnel in Alaska, save Balsiger and a couple of people in Juneau keeping an eye on fishing levels, have been furloughed.
The council still has money for operations, so its own staffers remain on active duty and will support the meeting.
It's possible the council's
agenda will change somewhat in terms of pace or content.
The hope, said Balsiger, is the government shutdown will be brief.