Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell, who is running for a new term, has done a lot of tough talking this year about that darned federal government.
Here's a little more:
Aug. 5, 2010
State Fights Federal Actions that Threaten Alaskan Jobs
ANCHORAGE — The state of Alaska is taking steps to fight two recent federal government actions that threaten Alaska fisheries and jobs.
Ocean Zoning — Marine Spatial Planning
President Obama recently signed an executive order creating a new federal bureaucracy tasked with setting ocean policy and requiring marine spatial planning — that is, ocean zoning — in all U.S. waters.
"The federal bureaucracy is too cumbersome already," Gov. Sean Parnell said. "Creating more councils, committees and approval processes won't accomplish anything in this instance except create delay and greater obstacles to Alaska jobs and Alaska fisheries."
The governor was responding to Executive Order 13547, signed by the president, which creates regional planning bodies to develop marine spatial plans for all coastal waters. Ocean zoning is of great concern to fishermen, boaters and resource developers. The policy could have significant adverse impacts on commercial use and development in the oceans and coastal zone.
"Before statehood, when a distant federal bureaucracy managed our resources, Alaskans experienced devastating economic effects," Gov. Parnell added. "In the midst of an economic downturn, the federal government should be more focused on private-sector job creation, not killing off opportunities for Alaskans."
The governor is also concerned the marine spatial plans would include state waters and potentially even upland areas, raising significant jurisdictional issues.
Steller Sea Lions and Alaska Fisheries
In addition, the National Marine Fisheries Service has proposed closing certain Alaska mackerel and cod fisheries to protect sea lions, despite an overall increase in the Steller sea lion population.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is conducting an evaluation of the federal government's recommended fishery restrictions while pushing for an independent scientific review.
The Department of Law is conducting a legal review of both of the recent federal government actions. Gov. Parnell indicated the state is prepared to litigate to protect Alaskans' livelihoods and fisheries.
Friday, August 6, 2010
UFA likes Murkowski for six more years
United Fishermen of Alaska, the state's top commercial fishing organization, today endorsed the re-election bid of U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski.
Murkowski is facing what appears to be a tough challenge from Joe Miller of Fairbanks.
The two square off in the Aug. 24 Republican primary.
Murkowski is facing what appears to be a tough challenge from Joe Miller of Fairbanks.
The two square off in the Aug. 24 Republican primary.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Don Young says he's in the clear
This was posted today on U.S. Rep. Don Young's website:
A Statement From The Office Of Congressman Young
Washington D.C., Aug 4 —
Congressman Young's legal team has been notified that after full cooperation from the Congressman, the Public Integrity Section of the Department of Justice has concluded their investigation and declined prosecution of Congressman Young.
A Statement From The Office Of Congressman Young
Washington D.C., Aug 4 —
Congressman Young's legal team has been notified that after full cooperation from the Congressman, the Public Integrity Section of the Department of Justice has concluded their investigation and declined prosecution of Congressman Young.
NMFS pledges independent review of BiOp
Here's a National Marine Fisheries Service white paper that was posted briefly on the agency's website Monday and then removed.
Deckboss spoke with Jim Balsiger, head of NMFS for Alaska, who explained the document was a rough draft that was posted inadvertently.
Anyway, he said the gist of the paper is true: NMFS will subject its new Steller sea lion biological opinion to an "independent scientific review" via the Miami-based Center for Independent Experts.
This is good news for the commercial fishing industry, which faces big losses due to planned closures along the Aleutian chain. The BiOp calls for these fishing closures to protect food supplies for the endangered sea lions.
According to the white paper, NMFS might develop a new BiOp depending on the outcome of the independent review.
The fishing industry, of course, sees lots of other potential culprits in the decline of Steller sea lions, such as voracious killer whales and environmental shifts.
Deckboss spoke with Jim Balsiger, head of NMFS for Alaska, who explained the document was a rough draft that was posted inadvertently.
Anyway, he said the gist of the paper is true: NMFS will subject its new Steller sea lion biological opinion to an "independent scientific review" via the Miami-based Center for Independent Experts.
This is good news for the commercial fishing industry, which faces big losses due to planned closures along the Aleutian chain. The BiOp calls for these fishing closures to protect food supplies for the endangered sea lions.
According to the white paper, NMFS might develop a new BiOp depending on the outcome of the independent review.
The fishing industry, of course, sees lots of other potential culprits in the decline of Steller sea lions, such as voracious killer whales and environmental shifts.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Steller impact greatest in western Aleutians
Below is the meat of a press release the National Marine Fisheries Service issued today along with its Steller sea lion biological opinion.
And here's a handy map for reference.
The greatest concern is in fishery management area 543, in the western Aleutians. From 2000-2008, adult numbers declined 45% in this sub-region. Pup production declined 43%, making the ratio of pups to adult females on rookeries in this sub-region the lowest in the entire western Steller sea lion population. This continued low birth rate is an indicator of nutritional stress, or lack of food.
"We need to mitigate the potential for competition for food in areas where sea lion numbers are declining," said Jim Balsiger, regional administrator for NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Region.
A definitive cause for the decline of sea lions has not been identified, and it is likely that other factors are important in understanding the lack of recovery, Balsiger said. "Even though factors other than fishing also affect the sea lion population, under the Endangered Species Act we are required to ensure that the actions our agency takes to authorize fisheries do not jeopardize these endangered animals."
NOAA Fisheries has included a Reasonable and Prudent Alternative (RPA) in the draft biological opinion that would modify groundfish management in the Aleutian Islands to limit competition between commercial fishing for groundfish and the sea lions. The RPA provides a proposed approach to avoid jeopardizing the western population of Steller sea lions and impacts to designated critical habitat (0-20 nautical miles from rookeries and haulouts). Because Atka mackerel and Pacific cod are the two most prominent species in the Steller sea lion diet in this region, the alternative calls for the closure of the Atka mackerel and Pacific cod fisheries in area 543. Additional but less restrictive measures are also needed in adjacent areas 541 and 542 in the central Aleutians, where sea lions continue to decline as well, albeit at a much slower rate than in area 543.
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council and the public will review the draft biological opinion at a special meeting in Anchorage August 16-20.
"NOAA Fisheries will work with the Council to develop management measures for the groundfish fisheries to ensure fishing operations are consistent with the mandates of the ESA," said Balsiger. "The ultimate goal is the recovery of the western Steller sea lion population so that the species can be removed from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife."
A final biological opinion is expected in January 2011. The new fishery management measures are expected to be implemented in January 2011.
And here's a handy map for reference.
The greatest concern is in fishery management area 543, in the western Aleutians. From 2000-2008, adult numbers declined 45% in this sub-region. Pup production declined 43%, making the ratio of pups to adult females on rookeries in this sub-region the lowest in the entire western Steller sea lion population. This continued low birth rate is an indicator of nutritional stress, or lack of food.
"We need to mitigate the potential for competition for food in areas where sea lion numbers are declining," said Jim Balsiger, regional administrator for NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Region.
A definitive cause for the decline of sea lions has not been identified, and it is likely that other factors are important in understanding the lack of recovery, Balsiger said. "Even though factors other than fishing also affect the sea lion population, under the Endangered Species Act we are required to ensure that the actions our agency takes to authorize fisheries do not jeopardize these endangered animals."
NOAA Fisheries has included a Reasonable and Prudent Alternative (RPA) in the draft biological opinion that would modify groundfish management in the Aleutian Islands to limit competition between commercial fishing for groundfish and the sea lions. The RPA provides a proposed approach to avoid jeopardizing the western population of Steller sea lions and impacts to designated critical habitat (0-20 nautical miles from rookeries and haulouts). Because Atka mackerel and Pacific cod are the two most prominent species in the Steller sea lion diet in this region, the alternative calls for the closure of the Atka mackerel and Pacific cod fisheries in area 543. Additional but less restrictive measures are also needed in adjacent areas 541 and 542 in the central Aleutians, where sea lions continue to decline as well, albeit at a much slower rate than in area 543.
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council and the public will review the draft biological opinion at a special meeting in Anchorage August 16-20.
"NOAA Fisheries will work with the Council to develop management measures for the groundfish fisheries to ensure fishing operations are consistent with the mandates of the ESA," said Balsiger. "The ultimate goal is the recovery of the western Steller sea lion population so that the species can be removed from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife."
A final biological opinion is expected in January 2011. The new fishery management measures are expected to be implemented in January 2011.
Feds want fishery closures to save sea lions
The National Marine Fisheries Service today released its long-awaited draft biological opinion on the effects of commercial fishing on the endangered western population of Steller sea lions, concluding the fisheries are likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the animals and "adversely modify" their critical habitat.
OK, so what does that mean?
The agency is proposing a "reasonable and prudent alternative," or slate of changes in the harvest of groundfish such as Pacific cod and Atka mackerel.
The idea behind the RPA is to minimize "local competition" between fishing boats and the sea lions for food fish.
The proposed fishing changes appear to be confined to waters in the central and western Aleutian Islands, where the sea lion population decline is most problematic.
Here is the RPA, taken directly from the massive biological opinion:
This RPA requires changes in groundfish fishery management in Management Sub-areas 543, 542, and 541 in the Aleutian Islands Management Area.
RPA for Area 543
Pacific cod fishery
1. Close the directed fishery and prohibit retention of P. Cod in Area 543.
Atka mackerel fishery
1. Close the directed fishery and prohibit retention of Atka mackerel in Area 543.
RPA for Area 542
Groundfish fishery
1. Close waters from 0-3 nm around Kanaga Island/Ship Rock to directed fishing for groundfish by federally permitted vessels.
Pacific cod fishery
1. Close the 0-10 nm zone of critical habitat to directed P. cod fishing by federally permitted vessels using fixed gear year round. Close the 10-20 nm zone of critical habitat to directed fishing for P. cod by federally permitted vessels using fixed gear January 1 through June 10.
2. Close the 0-20 nm zone of critical habitat year-round to directed fishing for P. cod by federally permitted vessels using trawl gear.
3. Prohibit P. cod fishing November 1 through December 31 in Area 542.
Atka mackerel fishery
1. Close the 0-20 nm zone of critical habitat to directed fishing for Atka mackerel by federally permitted vessels year round.
2. Set Atka mackerel TAC for Area 542 to no more than 47% of ABC.
3. Eliminate the HLA platoon system for Atka mackerel harvest.
4. Change the Atka mackerel seasons to January 20 through June 10 for the A season and June 10-November 1 for the B season.
RPA for Area 541
Pacific cod fishery
1. Close the 0-10 nm zone of critical habitat to directed fishing for P. cod by federally permitted vessels year-round.
2. Close the 10-20 nm zone of critical habitat to directed fishing for P. cod using fixed gear by federally permitted vessels January 1 through June 10.
3. Close the 10-20 nm zone of critical habitat to directed fishing by for P. cod using trawl gear by federally permitted vessels June 10 through November 1.
4. Prohibit P. cod fishing November 1 through December 31 in Area 541.
Atka mackerel fishery
1. The available data do not indicate a need to further modify fishery management measures to conserve Atka mackerel forage availability within this fishery management area. However, the elimination of the platoon management system provides an opportunity to further disperse the Atka mackerel seasons to January 20 through June 10 for the A season and June 10 through November 1 for the B season.
OK, so what does that mean?
The agency is proposing a "reasonable and prudent alternative," or slate of changes in the harvest of groundfish such as Pacific cod and Atka mackerel.
The idea behind the RPA is to minimize "local competition" between fishing boats and the sea lions for food fish.
The proposed fishing changes appear to be confined to waters in the central and western Aleutian Islands, where the sea lion population decline is most problematic.
Here is the RPA, taken directly from the massive biological opinion:
This RPA requires changes in groundfish fishery management in Management Sub-areas 543, 542, and 541 in the Aleutian Islands Management Area.
RPA for Area 543
Pacific cod fishery
1. Close the directed fishery and prohibit retention of P. Cod in Area 543.
Atka mackerel fishery
1. Close the directed fishery and prohibit retention of Atka mackerel in Area 543.
RPA for Area 542
Groundfish fishery
1. Close waters from 0-3 nm around Kanaga Island/Ship Rock to directed fishing for groundfish by federally permitted vessels.
Pacific cod fishery
1. Close the 0-10 nm zone of critical habitat to directed P. cod fishing by federally permitted vessels using fixed gear year round. Close the 10-20 nm zone of critical habitat to directed fishing for P. cod by federally permitted vessels using fixed gear January 1 through June 10.
2. Close the 0-20 nm zone of critical habitat year-round to directed fishing for P. cod by federally permitted vessels using trawl gear.
3. Prohibit P. cod fishing November 1 through December 31 in Area 542.
Atka mackerel fishery
1. Close the 0-20 nm zone of critical habitat to directed fishing for Atka mackerel by federally permitted vessels year round.
2. Set Atka mackerel TAC for Area 542 to no more than 47% of ABC.
3. Eliminate the HLA platoon system for Atka mackerel harvest.
4. Change the Atka mackerel seasons to January 20 through June 10 for the A season and June 10-November 1 for the B season.
RPA for Area 541
Pacific cod fishery
1. Close the 0-10 nm zone of critical habitat to directed fishing for P. cod by federally permitted vessels year-round.
2. Close the 10-20 nm zone of critical habitat to directed fishing for P. cod using fixed gear by federally permitted vessels January 1 through June 10.
3. Close the 10-20 nm zone of critical habitat to directed fishing by for P. cod using trawl gear by federally permitted vessels June 10 through November 1.
4. Prohibit P. cod fishing November 1 through December 31 in Area 541.
Atka mackerel fishery
1. The available data do not indicate a need to further modify fishery management measures to conserve Atka mackerel forage availability within this fishery management area. However, the elimination of the platoon management system provides an opportunity to further disperse the Atka mackerel seasons to January 20 through June 10 for the A season and June 10 through November 1 for the B season.
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