SEAGO Newsletter #9-07
November 1, 2009

In this Newsletter

• SEAGO Membership Drive - SEAGO works tirelessly on your behalf promoting the tradition of sportfishing in Southeast Alaska through reasonable regulations that ensure the sustainability of our businesses and fisheries. We are getting good results but can accomplish much more with your help. Please join or renew your membership now!

• Halibut Issues - Major Concerns for Sportfishers – A recent forecast by ADF&G forecasts 2009 charter catch of 1.3M lbs down from 1.999 lbs in 2008, down 35%. The one-fish rule is likely to continue into 2010, and the Moratorium is progressing for implementation in 2010, and the devastating Catch Share Plan if implemented as currently written, will have devastating results.

• October Board of Fisheries Meeting - SEAGO attended this session and posted status updates of the proceedings.

• International Pacific Halibut Commission, (IPHC) Meeting Notification - A webcast will be conducted in December to discuss preliminary 2010 halibut catch limits.

• Statewide Initiaive - Momentum continues on the formation of a statewide non commercial fishing organization, the Alaska Fishing Alliance.

• News from Around the Web - SEAGO’s pick of articles from the Internet that matter to you.

SEAGO Membership Drive - Special Request - We need your financial support now!

Now more than ever, you need strong representation for your business and SEAGO is there to fight on your behalf. With your financial support we can continue to be a strong voice throughout SouthEast.

Some very important meetings and organizational issues are coming up that require guide/lodge owner participation. Your membership dues will let SEAGO continue to be your representative as we face multiple key issues including: five upcoming Board of Fisheries meetings with the usual toxic proposals, a devastating halibut catch sharing plan, halibut Moratorium implementation, sport fish guide bill, the formation of the Alaska Fishing Association, and more.  

Please click here now to join or to renew your membership.

Thanks in advance for your continued support of SEAGO.

Halibut Issues - Major Concernt to Sportfishers

ADF&G published a preliminary forecast of the 2009 halibut catch in Area 2C logbooks for trips made through July 31, 2009 was 52% below the 2008 harvest for the same period. The projected harvest biomass was 1.302 M lb (±13%) for the charter fishery, 1.244 M lb (±25%) for the non-charter fishery, and 2.546 M lb overall.  Full report.

2010 will see continuation of the one-fish rule, implementation of the limited entry Moratorium, and potential implementation of the catch sharing plan, all of which will have significant impacts on sport fishing in Alaska.

Recent communications from NMFS indicate that final wording for the Halibut Moratorium is currently being completed. While a final implementation date has not yet been announced, it is anticipated that the program will go into effect in the 2010 season. More news as it becomes available.

Information about the Catch Sharing Plan that was approved can be found here:

http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/halibut_issues/
CHIPFinal_supp1008.pdf

and

http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/halibut_issues/
HalibutCSPmotion1008.pdf

SEAGO has recently met with NPFMC representatives and it appears that there is very little motivation to to change it. If this plan is implemented as currently written, sport fishermen will VERY LIKELY be subjected to one fish with a size limitation and subject to in-season closings.

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Board of Fisheries Update

The Board of Fisheries conducted its first 2009/10 working session in October. SEAGO attended the session and posted these updates:  Day One   Day Two

The BOF has also published a list of proposals to be considered at the State wide meeting next March which includes twenty nine proposals that will require our intervention. You can download a copy here: http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/fishinfo/meetinfo/2009-2010/state-props.pdf

Special Meeting Notice - IPHC Preliminary Recommended Catch Limits for 2010

A web conference will be held on Monday, December 7, 2009, 1:00pm-3:00pm PST to discuss preliminary catch limits for 2010. You can register in advance here: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/844383267

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Statewide Alaska Fishing Association Initiative

Final bylaws were approved in October and tentative charter members identified. Bylaws and initial funding requests ($2,000) will go out soon.  SEAGO has directly participated in preparation of draft organizational bylaws. It is anticipated that the bylaws will be finalized in October.   Many thanks to the Kenai River Sportfishing Association, KRSA, for taking the leadership role in this important program.

News from Around the Web

SEAGO searches the Internet for articles that have relevance to Alaska fishing. Please forward any interesting articles you find to John Blair john@seagoalaska.org  and we will publish them in our next newsletter. Note that some of the links are time sensitive and may be non-functional by the time you receive this newsletter; we apologize in advance.

• IPHC Conducts Workshop on Bycatch – Workshop was conducted on September 29, 2009. Detail presentations and background are here: http://www.iphc.washington.edu/halcom/meetings/workshop
  2009/bwback2009.htm

• Scandalous crab by-catch exposed? - Problem of the growing incidental capture of bairdi Tanner crab in trawl nets dragging for groundfish around Kodiak. Interesting to read the comments at the bottom of the report.  http://deckboss.blogspot.com/2009/10/
  scandalous-crab-bycatch-exposed.html

• The International Pacific Halibut Commission's 2009 Interim Meeting will be held in Seattle, Washington, on December 7 and 8: More information here: http://www.iphc.washington.edu/halcom/newsrel/2009/
  nr20090922a.htm

• Red, blue king crab fishing in Southeastern closed. - JUNEAU -- The red and blue king crab commercial fishery will not open in southeast Alaska this year because the available harvest is too small: http://www.adn.com/money/industries/fishing/story/
  962700.html

• Red flags on catch sharing plans - Transformation of public resources into tradable abstract assets have limited accessibility to fewer players and communities have suffered. While this is situated in New England, it applies to us as well. http://www.gloucestertimes.com/punews/local_story_29322
  4913.html Note this is an ongoing debate in New England with additional reporting here: http://www.gloucestertimes.com/puopinion/local_story_2942
  23859.html?keyword=topstory
  And  http://www.gloucestertimes.com/punews/local_story_2952
  24714.html
  And  http://www.gloucestertimes.com/punews/local_story_2942
  25800.html
  And  Anti-catch share group stifled at NH fishery forum: http://www.gloucestertimes.com/punews/local_story_2982
  25353.html

• Task force asks: Is inlet salmon allocation fair? Interesting analysis where the arguments are directly transferrable to Southeast. http://homernews.com/stories/101509/business_bu_008.shtml

• Alaska Natives may be forced to file a class action lawsuit to restore the subsistence rights… http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/101109/loc_5035
  61830.shtml
  and Feds to review subsistence - Interior secretary says Alaska management system is 'broken': http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/102509/sta_5087
  32713.shtml
  and here: http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/afn/story/
  986367.html
  and http://www.adn.com/opinion/view/story/988233.html

• Forty Thousand salmon escape from B.C.’s largest farm - The invasion of non-native species (Atlantic salmon) into the ecosystem can disturb the Pacific salmon’s egg-laying sites and compete with them for food and spawning grounds:  http://www.canada.com/Thousands+salmon+escape+from+largest
  +farm/2142064/story.html 
  and
  Escaped farm fish are capable of hunting prey. http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/
  story.html?id=39a427f7-0f93-49be-83ce-6e8036d3372e&k=53947
  Lots more information on the impact of salmon farming in BC here: http://www.callingfromthecoast.com/
  and a video on its impact on wild salmon here: http://saveourrivers.tv/
  dfo_aquanor_hires.html

• NOAA Seeks a Senior Policy Adviser for Recreational Fisheries; Applications Due November 13
  Last month NOAA Administrator Dr. Lubchenco promised to take a fresh look at the agency's relationship with the recreational fishing community. As part of that commitment, she vowed to hire a new Senior Policy Adviser for Recreational Fisheries. This position announcement is now available at USAJobs.gov. Applications will be accepted through November 13, 2009. While the nationwide search for a permanent policy adviser is underway, NOAA Fisheries' Gordon Colvin will fill that position temporarily through the end of the year. Currently, Colvin is in charge of implementing the National Saltwater Angler Registry, duties that he will continue to fulfill while helping define the role of the senior policy adviser. Colvin can be reached at gordon.colvin@noaa.gov .
  and
  NOAA chief seeks more leadership posts. Lubchenco asks for a politically appointed 'chief scientist' for agency: http://www.gloucestertimes.com/punews/
  local_story_284215957.html

• Columbia River jack Chinook counts are off the charts suggesting that adult returns will be very high in coming years. Columbia River stocks are a big driver of the Southeast Alaska Abundance Index which drives our regulations. http://www.cbbulletin.com/356408.aspx    

• Administration is designating 200,000 square miles in Alaska as "critical habitat" for polar bears, an action that could add restrictions to future offshore drilling for oil and gas. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091023/ap_on_go_pr_wh/
  us_polar_bears_habitat
  and
  Congressmen worry ocean policy will block development: http://www.adn.com/news/environment/story/988155.html

• Oceans ambassador calls for usage study in Arctic. The US must move forward with science research to make good decisions about how to manage human activities in the Arctic Ocean. http://www.adn.com/money/industries/fishing/story/982187.html

• Climate change will produce major shifts in productivity of the world's fisheries…"Our projections show that climate change may lead to a 30 to 70 per cent increase in catch potential in high-latitude regions and a drop of up to 40 per cent in the tropics,": http://www.physorg.com/news174206062.html

• Arctic seas turn to acid, putting vital food chain at risk: Carbon-dioxide emissions are turning the waters of the Arctic Ocean into acid at an unprecedented rate: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/04/arctic-seas
  -turn-to-acid

• Healthy oceans play a key role in combating climate change - Calls on governments to consider a "Blue Carbon" fund for maintenance and rehabilitation of key marine ecosystems.  Bringing ocean health into the global warming discussion. http://www.spero
  forum.com/a/20915/Healthy-oceans-new-key-to-combating-
  climate-change-UN-agencies-stress

• Trouble at Sea – Jellyfish thrive in waters that have been overfished.  http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,193
  1659,00.html?xid=rss-topstories

• CleanFish To Scale Up With $2M As Seafood Niche Stays Tasty For VCs  -This is an interesting play – VC funded fish distribution based on an aquaculture model … First time Ive seen this. Interesting to note they have a supplier of farm raised halibut, also a first for me….. http://www.cleanfish.com

• Food security recognized as a key global issue and fish should be playing an important part: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8320983.stm

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