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The 2010 season has opened with fair weather and a strong run of Chinook salmon. Many charter operators still have a few openings so if you haven’t booked yet, now is the time. For guides and lodge owners, key issues from regulators continue to make the headlines. In this Newsletter
We want to hear from you -Thanks for taking the time to read through our monthly newsletters. SEAGO works hard to keep you up-to-date on key issues affecting charter and lodge owners. As always, we sincerely appreciate your feedback and comments. Please feel free to forward this newsletter to other interested parties or email John Blair, john@seagoalaska.org, to be added to our mailing list.
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Both NMFS/NOAA and ADF&G Wildlife Troopers have stepped up their enforcement activity this year. Guides should expect more on-the-water safety inspections and dockside regulations checks. Here is a recount of a recent encounter by one guide:
You can expect enforcement officials to take a strong stand on daily catch limits, deck hands setting the hook for clients, boat limits, and use of sport caught fish for lodge meals. Remember that enforcement officials can board your vessel at any time for safety and regulations inspections. Also note that enforcement officials have been conducting undercover sting operations. Here are two examples that have recently made the news:
The key for all of us is to thoroughly know the rules/regulations and to follow them. If you have any questions you should contact ADF&G or NOAA enforcement. Fines could exceed $10,000 and include jail time. A quick call for clarifications could save you money, time and embarrassment. Several key initiatives came from the Department during May including:
– SEAGO is building a coalition with recreational anglers to make our combined voice more effective. Hundreds on individual sportfishers from all over the world have already joined. More information about the program is here and http://www.seagoalaska.org/documents/SportfisherFlyer.pdf We have developed a multipoint communication program to get your customers involved. It’s easy to implement (less than an hour of your time), doesn’t cost you anything, and angler feedback shows that it enhances your reputation with your clients. Please contact John Blair, john@seagoalaska.org right away for details.
Especially during tough times, our great nation has shown time again that our sense of community reaches out beyond our doorstep to help in many ways. With the stroke of a pen you can extend your community to your fellow charter operators and SEAGO.
To see how your contributions are used you can view our prior results our 2010 plans here: http://www.seagoalaska.org/documents/SEAGO-2010-Membership.pdf. Your membership fees are the engine that fuels this effort.
It only takes a minute to donate online now: http://www.seagoalaska.org/join_signup.asp Thank you in advance for your continued support.
Catch Sharing General information– In a recent communication, NMFS has indicated a potential revised implementation date of 2012 for this program. The catch sharing plan, if implemented the way it is currently written will have a profound negative economic impact on communities throughout Southeast Alaska where we live and work. SEAGO Board members and management have conducted ongoing discussions with NPFMC representatives and it appears that there is very little motivation to change any details. While catch share plans are the stated tool for fisheries management being promoted nationally by NOAA, we believe that a “commercial fishing oriented management plan” does not fit well with our sport fishing business models. As a result SEAGO believes the catch sharing plan can be improved to benefit of all involved and would like to see changes in the plan and additional fisheries management tools implemented. We have taken a pragmatic approach and developed recommendations for improvement here. Information about the Catch Sharing Plan 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 searches the Internet for articles that have relevance to Alaska sportfishing. 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. Finally, please understand that SEAGO does not necessarily agree the contents of any of these articles. Here are some recent stories we found around the internet.: Feds Cap Bering sea Chinook Catch for Pollack fleet - The plan, called Amendment 91, allows the pollock fishery to catch up to 47,591 Chinook salmon in any year, and up to 60,000 Chinook salmon in any two out of seven years without penalty if they participate in an industry run "incentive plan." http://www.adn.com/2010/05/19/1286149/feds-ok-plan-to-cap-king-salmon.html#ixzz0oU4uSPM2 Conservation group criticizes Marine Stewardship Council “sustainable” rating for Bering Sea halibut - Last year the trawlers wasted more than 8M lbs of halibut - http://www.scribd.com/doc/31630885/Oceana-on-MSC-flatfish Privatizing the ocean's fish ** - One of the tragedies of fisheries management is that it is so complicated that it alienates the people who should be the most involved. - http://www.workingwaterfront.com/online-exclusives/Field-Notes-Privatizing-the-oceans-fish/13827/ New observer rules for Alaska groundfish fleet - http://www.pacificfishing.com/news/friday/news1.html Alaska's 2010 commercial salmon season update - http://www.sitnews.us/LaineWelch/050410_fish_factor.html Wild Yukon River salmon claim top honors - by the James Beard Foundation at a celebrity studded gala in New York City. Founded in 1986, the Foundation celebrates and nurtures America's culinary heritage and diversity. - http://www.sitnews.us/LaineWelch/051110_fish_factor.html Sitka invests in local fishermen- Sitka is doing something that a lot of fishing communities spend a lot of time talking about – investing directly in future generations of both fishermen and fish. - http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/043010/fis_6_003.shtml AK Longliners release study on 2C/3A commercial halibut fishing value. http://alfafish.org/Hot%20Topics/2C%203A%20HALIBUT%20ECONOMIC%20REPORT%20April%20%202007%20McDowell.pdf Two Studies Show Loopholes and Gaps in High Seas Fisheries Management - United Nations meets to discuss the state of high seas fisheries management - King commercial fishery closed in upper Cook Inlet - http://www.adn.com/2010/05/11/1273834/king-commercial-fishery-closed.html#ixzz0nisQtGfI Slow opener for Cordova fishermen seeking salmon - http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=12480737 Return of the king? - Anglers waiting to see if salmon runs bounce back after declines: http://www.adn.com/2010/05/19/1286128/return-of-the-king.html#ixzz0oVYGTuc9 Alaskans want offshore drilling - http://www.adn.com/2010/05/17/1282321/delegation-united-in-support-of.html#ixzz0oIC7N5a5 The Critical Role of Fisheries Observers in Data Collection, Compliance Monitoring, and Sustainable Fisheries Management - The deployment of at-sea fishery observers is a central pillar of the National Bycatch Strategy - http://www.conservefish.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=category§ionid=12&id=136&Itemid=332 Homer Halibut Derby begins May 1 - http://www.adn.com/2010/04/26/1251550/homer-halibut-derby-begins-may.html Wildlife troopers warn against 'party fishing' - troopers make an example out of an Anchorage fishing guide operating out of Anchor Point - http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/050510/new_634371240.shtml SouthEast fishing guides, deckhands fined for numerous violations - http://www.adn.com/2010/05/20/1287367/fishing-guides-deckhands-fined.html#ixzz0oZgXmOVT There will be commercial salmon fishing off the west coast of the US, but it will be strictly monitored and limited, according to NMFS - http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/05/10/27155.htm Spring chinook run strengthens - upper Columbia River's spring chinook run far stronger than estimates but not quite strong enough to reopen sport fishing. Commercial gill-netters, however, may get more time on the main stem Columbia. http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/bill_monroe/index.ssf/2010/05/spring_chinook_run_strengthens.html Collateralized Fish Obligations? Fishery Management and Catch Shares - promoted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Environmental Defense Fund aims to address overfishing, but will small fishermen get squeezed out of the process? - http://www.truthout.org/collateralized-fish-obligations59079 Fed lawmakers go over NOAA chief's head - The request by 23 federal lawmakers to deliver higher, emergency catch allocations for the New England groundfishery was sent to Commerce Secretary Gary Locke over the head of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief Jane Lubchenco. - http://www.gloucestertimes.com/local/x1901494628/Fed-lawmakers-go-over-NOAA-chiefs-head 'Sectors' rule worries captain - allows fishing vessels to join together as a group for a fixed share of the total catch. - http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100503/NEWS/5030307/-1/news State shuts three more Southcentral king salmon fisheries - Alaska Department of Fish and Game closed three more Southcentral king salmon fisheries before the first salmon arrived - http://www.adn.com/2010/05/04/1263755/state-shuts-three-more-king-fisheries.html#ixzz0n5YESFzj Wilderness or oil? Service seeks views on ANWR's future: http://www.adn.com/2010/05/04/1263579/anwr-may-receive-wilderness-designation.html#ixzz0n5ns66Li Oregon conference discusses protecting wild salmon - fragile balance of endangered salmon runs are threatened by an outdated hatchery system. - http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/050610/sta_634760209.shtml Senator's subsistence fishing trial delayed – Alaska state Sen. Albert Kookesh's subsistence fishing violation trial has been delayed - http://www.adn.com/2010/05/05/1265016/senators-subsistence-fishing-trial.html#ixzz0nB9nLCop The spring chinook salmon run to the Columbia River is big - but not the monster return forecast. - http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/bill_monroe/index.ssf/2010/05/spring_chinook_run_now_expecte.html National Fisheries Institute Says Oil Spill Should Not Impact Seafood Supplies or prices - http://supermarketnews.com/news/nfi_seafood_0505/?cid=upd Shell makes push in D.C. for offshore Alaska drilling - http://www.adn.com/2010/05/06/1267121/shell-sends-engineer-to-lobby.html#ixzz0nHaKbS00 U of Alaska-Fairbanks scientists to study king salmon declines - half a million dollars to study the declines of western Alaska king salmon run. - http://newsminer.com/bookmark/7345003-UAF-scientists-to-study-king-salmon-declines New Bedford joins Gloucester in lawsuit to undo fishing rules - Mayor calls NOAA officials "disingenuous and fraudulent” - http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100507/NEWS/100509941 New England Port Cities to Sue Federal NOAA to block Catch Shares -- http://campaign.constantcontact.com/render?v=001i_oc2EXSXOs2splxKTQ4RkOY4Sg4-AE6vb5PeunDN0r2jwQ1C2HzsAXLar6kaZl6GtsoXU_V3sJj15mCKB9qgkQTFJWOvoiOgKhPHSGMMnavW39AKlk_ZX8uXFTAYWUp Chinook at ‘critical threshold,’ BC tribal council says - call for immediate and strong conservation measures to preserve dwindling stocks of early-run Fraser chinook. - http://www.merrittnews.net/article/20100507/MERRITT0101/100509970/-1/MERRITT01/chinook-at-8216-critical-threshold-8217-tribal-council-says Groups want more water over dams for salmon - http://www.krem.com/news/local/93304939.html Drug Resistant Sea Lice in BC - http://www.timescolonist.com/technology/Pesticide+likely+lose+potency+against+lice/3012490/story.html#ixzz0ndHwLGCe Over-fishing, tax evasion, free-riding: the Tragedy of the Commons happens again and again. - http://www.physorg.com/news192822387.html Fed report shows gains for fish stocks - Atlantic swordfish, Atlantic scup, Gulf of Maine thorny skate and Gulf of Mexico pink shrimp were removed from the overfished/overfishing list. - http://www.gloucestertimes.com/topstories/x334286703/Fed-report-shows-gains-for-fish-stocks Environmentalists (Oceana.org) Sue NOAA saying fish stocks are overfished - http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/05/12/27204.htm NASA Studies Find Omega-3 May Help Reduce Bone Loss - http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/may/HQ_10-108_Omega-3_Studies.html Living proof that conservation works - North Sea cod, once on the brink as a result of decades of over-fishing, has now recovered to an extent that the public should start eating it again with enthusiasm, one of the world's biggest wildlife charities has said. - http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/living-proof-that-conservation-works-1973928.html Greenpeace declares ‘war' on tuna fishing – Note they have recently attended a NPFMC meeting as well. http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/257714/greenpeace-declares-war-tuna-fishing Oceans’ fish could disappear in 40 years - United Nations - The world faces the nightmare possibility of fishless oceans by 2050 without fundamental restructuring of the fishing industry, UN experts said - http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0517/oceans-fish-disappear-40-years/ Enviro group launches input sessions on catch shares - Ecotrust, a nonprofit organization known for its cautious opinion about catch shares as a fishery management system, plans to undertake its own national research study of the controversial policy - http://www.gloucestertimes.com/local/x1174308242/Enviro-group-launches-input-sessions-on-catch-shares New fishing regulations gut fleet - http://www.wickedlocal.com/wellfleet/features/x2084246704/New-fishing-regulations-gut-Provincetown-fleet Political cowardice dooms Pacific salmon stocks - At least as important as the science is the complete lack of political will to tackle head-on the continuing decline of B.C.'s iconic fish species. http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Political+cowardice+dooms+Pacific+salmon+stocks/3066887/story.html#ixzz0oyA0RI8i Judge may deal jolt to Sacramento delta water plan: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/05/19/MNFT1DGOGD.DTL#ixzz0pA85G3Nh Columbia River Amended Salmon Plan Handed Back To Judge - http://www.newsdata.com/fishletter/275/2story.html Last of 1.3 million salmon trucked to SF Bay - http://www.redding.com/news/2010/may/20/last-of-13-million-salmon-trucked-to-bay/ |
With the stroke of a pen you can protect your business from unfair regulations, policies, and external threats.