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Fish Factor: Fishery observers program "restructured" By LAINE WELCH - Coming soon to a small halibut boat near you: fishery observers.

New rules set for 2013 will change how observers are placed on fishing boats as small as 40 feet – and for the first time, they will be aboard longliners.

Onboard observers have been deployed on larger U.S. vessels since the early 1990’s, when fisheries were “Americanized” and all foreign fishing within a 200 mile zone of the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska was terminated. Prior to that, fleets from Japan, Russia, Poland and other nations were tapping Alaska’s groundfish and crab resources starting in 1933.

Fishery observers, who are trained and overseen by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Monitoring and Analysis Division, do not play an enforcement role; rather, they take biological samples of the catch, track bycatch and collect other data for fishery managers and scientists. Observers also are on the job in Alaska processing plants during fish deliveries. Currently, there are about 400 observers working in Alaska’s seafood industry.

Observers were originally deployed according to vessel length. Boats less than 60 feet were exempt from coverage; vessels from 60-125 feet carried observers 30% of the time, and larger vessels had 100% or more coverage.

The “restructured” observer program will expand coverage to vessels “all the way down to 40 feet, and NMFS has the authority to place observers on vessels below that,” explained Julie Bonney, a trawl  industry consultant and director of Alaska Groundfish Data Bank in Kodiak.

And for the first time observers will be aboard longline vessels.

“There’s never been observer coverage in the IFQ halibut fisheries, so now we’ll have information from that sector, as well as all the small vessels,” Bonney said.  “We all have issues and we all need to work hard to address those. So getting that information will help us understand how we can move forward in the best practices.”

Another fisheries first - for both Alaska and the U.S. – collecting data via video cameras that monitor the catch.

“Vessels in the 40 to 57.5 foot sector that are not capable of carrying another person on board  can have that as an option,” Bonney explained.   

 “It’s kind of exciting because electronic monitoring has not been approved in any regional areas in the US as a monitoring tool. So this will really push the envelope to move that technology forward through the observer restructuring package.”

The 2013 launch of the retooled observer program depends on getting a $3.8 million jump start from Congress. Alaska is the only state where for over 20 years, the seafood industry has paid for fishery observer coverage.   Senator Mark Begich said it is time for the federal government to kick in a little.

 “We’ve been doing it all along with our own money. This is an important national resource it is a small amount that can be added to make sure we maintain our sustainable fisheries,” Begich said at a press conference.

 “The good news is that it has made it through the process to date, which is very positive. They are working under the financial limitations and caps of the budget, so that’s good,” he added. - More...
Friday - November 18, 2011

Alaska: Alaska Priorities Secured in Funding Bill - Numerous Alaska priorities including funding for aviation, weather satellites, fisheries enhancement and rural development are contained in an appropriations bill supported by U.S. Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK) & U. S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) which passed the Senate yesterday. The appropriations bill, which funds numerous federal departments, is now on its way to President Obama’s desk.

“Alaska has unique needs, from accurate weather forecasting to safe aviation for our rural communities, and I’m pleased we successfully fought to fund them in this legislation,” Sen. Begich said. “These critical investments in Alaska’s ferries, airports and communities will provide businesses the access and resources needed to create jobs and promote efforts to revitalize our economy."

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski supported final passage of an appropriations bill that combines three appropriations bills – meaning millions for Alaska’s infrastructure and industry in the next fiscal year have been sent to President Obama for his signature.  Murkowski serves on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee and 6 different Appropriations Subcommittees.

When signed, many Alaskan imperatives can now count on resources for the next year, including:

Village Safe Water: Also known as Rural Alaska Native Village Grants, the program is funded at approximately $23 million. VSW funds are used to build ‘washeterias,’ septic tanks, piped systems and holding tanks to provide potable water to a community.

Alaska Ferry Construction: $7.5 million will be directed to maintain current ferries and/or new ferries, along with related infrastructure. - More...
Friday - November 18, 2011

Alaska: Fire Safety for the Holidays - Cooking and heating-related incidents are the leading cause of residential structure fires in Alaska, accounting for almost 75% of the state's total reported residential structure fires. With the holidays approaching, warm, cozy homes and holiday feasts play a major role in our preparations for family gatherings. Unsafe cooking during these holiday gatherings can increase the risk for fire.

These fires can be prevented by simply following a few safety precautions: - More...
Friday - November 18, 2011

Alaska: ALASKA'S MINERAL INDUSTRY GROWS IN STRENGTH AND VALUE - This week the state released Alaska’s Mineral Industry 2010, an annual report published by the Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys (DGGS) and the Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development’s Division of Economic Development (DED). This is the divisions’ 30th consecutive annual report on the state’s mineral industry. The 96-page report shows that Alaska’s mineral industry grew significantly in 2010 in terms of exploration spending, production value, and jobs. - More....
Friday - November 18, 2011

Columns - Commentary

Will Durst: Turkey Holocaust Day, 2011 - Let me be among the first 40-foot, helium-filled balloons to kick-start our national parade of giving thanks. That's right, we're just about to butt heads with Turkey Holocaust Day, and to be perfectly honest, it's about time. A little tryptophan poisoning might be the perfect prescription for these trying times.

Doubly comforting because this particular holiday isn't about greasing the wheels of capitalism with the fire-hose of consumer debt like that other holiday about a month down the road, which shall remain nameless. And this one doesn't hide under any religious robes either. It's purely about the journey to Comfort City through the Gluttonous Woods. Food, family, friends and football. Four of the five F's.

So, allow me to express my gratitude for the fourth Thursday of November. One of the little things that go a long, long way to making life worth living. And here are a couple other examples of what a middle-aged, round-headed political pundit bows his head and gives thanks for. - More...
Friday - November 18, 2011

Danny Tyree: Beating The Stuffing Out Of Thanksgiving - This year I can't think of Thanksgiving without thinking of Barry Manilow's melancholy song "Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again."

Google news items about "Thanksgiving," and amidst the tofu turkey recipes and 2010 versus 2011 price comparisons, you'll find a growing number of stories about (a) Christmas decorations popping up before Halloween, (b) Thanksgiving getting lost in the holiday shuffle and (c) traditionalists denouncing the encroachment of "Black Friday" sales onto Thanksgiving Day.

As both a Christian and someone who knows which side his bread is buttered on (retailers DO pay the bills at the newspapers carrying my column, of course), I can see both sides of the holiday desecration issue. - More...
Friday - November 18, 2011

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