 By Laine Welch January 26, 2007
"The very development of Pebble is an industry unto itself," said UFA environmental chairman Bruce Wallace, after the annual meeting wrapped up on Thursday in Juneau. "Clearly, one of the things we're going to do is demand is that all of the appropriate testing, particularly as it relates to surface and subsurface water, be done," he added. Wallace said UFA will provide a white paper on its Pebble Mine decision in coming weeks. UFA also selected a slate of
fish issues it will bring before Alaska lawmakers this year.
"We feel that the sport charter halibut sector needs to pony up and sit at the table with us and take some responsibility for conservation and longer term allocations," said outgoing UFA president Bobby Thorstenson, Jr. Alaska fishermen are also going to bat for the Dept. of Fish and Game budget, which so far is facing a $150 million cut. "We feel that the fish and game budget has been woefully under funded for at least two decades. Meanwhile, the fishing industry has taken on more responsibility and paid more taxes and fees. Cutting the fish and game budget is unacceptable," Thorstenson said, adding that UFA will be pushing for a $4 million increase for the department. UFA also has come out strongly against a law being proposed by Senators Murray and Spanel of Washington (SB 5207) that would impose a fee on all shipping containers. The law would create and fund a "freight congestion relief account", said UFA statewide chair, Kathy Hansen. "The fee would be $50 per 20 foot container. So a 40 foot container (the shipping standard) would be $100. That's for both directions - inbound and outbound - on all products," Hansen said. David Otte of Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association said his group sends almost 1,800 vans to or from Washington each year. The container fee would add a cost of $180,000. "It may seem like a kind of innocuous bill, but it has huge ramifications for Alaska," he said. UFA also elected a new president - Joe Childers of Juneau. He replaces Thorstenson who is stepping down after seven years at the UFA helm. United Fishermen of Alaska represents 35 regional fishing groups and several thousand members, making it one of the nation's largest industry trade groups. Oh my, those omega 3s Omega 3 fatty acids will be the most popular food additive this year, according to USA Today. Omega 3s are credited with helping to prevent heart disease, strokes, arthritis and Alzheimer's, to name a few. Four in 10 adults are seeking more omega-3s in their diets, a USA Health Trend Survey revealed, especially the nation's 80 million baby boomers. Omega's can't be produced by our bodies and must be obtained from foods, notably fish and some plant sources. "It has just been in the last few decades as we've industrialized our food supply that we've almost eradicated this nutrient from our diet. When you don't get it, all kinds of bad things start happening," said Randy Hartnell of Vital Choice Seafoods. (www.vitalchoice.com <http://www.vitalchoice.com/> ) Studies now show that not all omegas are created equal. Nutrition experts claim that the most essential omega three fatty acid - called DHA - is far more abundant in fish oils than any other food source. Omega 3s were added to 250 U.S. food products last year and the number is growing fast. This month Tropicana is launching the first orange juice fortified with omega 3's and Kellogg is adding it to some cereals. Natural food company Earth's Best will include omega 3s in its infant formula to help enhance brain development. The pet industry got a jump
on the people - Iams added omega 3s to its puppy chow last year
to boost the brains of growing dogs. Proctor & Gamble's Eukanuba
feed line has included omega 3s since 1993. Hartley's Northwest Seafood LLC won the 'People's Choice' award for its entry - halibut with blue cheese and hazelnut crust at the Symphony of Seafood last Thursday in Seattle. All other winners will be announced at a gala soiree on Feb. 17 in Anchorage. The Wild Seafood Exchange connects
fishermen directly with restaurateurs and retailers. The day
long event is set for Feb. 20th in Seattle. Registration subsidies
are offered by Washington Sea Grant. (www.wildseafoodexchange.com
) Alaska historians hope to track
down a plaque supposedly given to members of a so-called "50-50
Club" - an elite group of fishermen who weathered 50 storms
in which there were 50-foot seas. Sources in Dutch Harbor, Kodiak
and Ballard claim not to have heard of the club. Is it merely
rural legend or is it real, and if so, does the plaque really
exist? Contact rwking@gci.net . American Seafoods Company is accepting applications for its Alaska community grant program. In late February an advisory board will award a total of $30,000 to projects devoted to hunger relief, housing, safety, education, natural resources and cultural activities. American Seafoods will distribute $75,000 to Alaska projects and programs in 2007. Submit applications by February 19 to Kim Lynch at kim.lynch@americanseafoods.com or 206-256-2659.
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