NOAA released the draft catch sharing policy and are accepting comments through April 10, 2010.  View draft policy at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/domes_fish/catchshare/docs/draft_noaa_cs_policy.pdf NOAA released today for public comment a draft national policy encouraging the use of catch shares, a fishery management tool that aims to end overfishing and rebuild and sustain fishing jobs and fishing communities.  In […]

The Alaska Dept of Fish and Game announced the preliminary guideline harvest level (GHL) for the 2010 Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery is 18,866 tons.  This GHL is based on a 20% harvest rate of the forecast biomass of 94,332 tons of mature herring.   ADFG will release a final announcement of the 2010 GHL after further sampling in January. […]

The IPHC announced staff catch limit recommendations for 2010.  They are: 2A – 760,000  (-20{011364765f66369e3b18bfb4bff139a9c8654494d05ca41b290c33562211a86b}) 2B – 6,590,000  (-14{011364765f66369e3b18bfb4bff139a9c8654494d05ca41b290c33562211a86b}) 2C- 3,710,000  (-26{011364765f66369e3b18bfb4bff139a9c8654494d05ca41b290c33562211a86b}) 3A – 19,990,000   (-8{011364765f66369e3b18bfb4bff139a9c8654494d05ca41b290c33562211a86b}) 3B – 9,900,000   (-9{011364765f66369e3b18bfb4bff139a9c8654494d05ca41b290c33562211a86b}) 4A – 2,330.000   (-9{011364765f66369e3b18bfb4bff139a9c8654494d05ca41b290c33562211a86b}) 4B – 2,160,000   (+16{011364765f66369e3b18bfb4bff139a9c8654494d05ca41b290c33562211a86b}) 4CDE – 3,250,000   (-6{011364765f66369e3b18bfb4bff139a9c8654494d05ca41b290c33562211a86b}) For comparison the 2009 harvest limits were: 2A – 950,000 2B – 7,630,000 […]

The number of Steller sea lion pups counted in 2009 in Southeast Alaska (7,462)—part of the threatened eastern stock– exceeded any previous counts going back to the 1960s. The new data indicate that pup production has increased at a rate of almost 4% per year at Southeast Alaska’s five major rookeries since the late 1970s.  […]

The gillnet meeting will be starting at 10:00 in morning to accomodate individuals arriving on the morning flight not the 9:00 posted on the draft agenda previously. Gillnet Task Force Agenda 2009 2009 District 1 – Tree Point Presentation 2009 District 6 & 8 – Wrangell & Petersburg Presentation PART 1 2009 District 6 & […]

Check out our new seafood recipe page link on the right hand side column

NOAA and partners will use federal economic stimulus funds to renew fish passage through the Klawock River Causeway.  The intention is to install an 18 foot wide by 7 foot high bottomless box culvert in the causeway next July.  The highway construction in 1964 which raised the causway is believed to be a factor in […]

At the ASMI Board meeting today, the ASMI Board deferred taking action on assumption as MSC client until their March Board Meeting.

Special Seminar How close is too close?: Assessing the potential that short-term disturbance of seals by cruise ships spells long-term impacts John Jansen NOAA National Marine Mammal Laboratory Thursday, December 3, 2009.  3:40-5:00 pm 101 UAF Lena Point Fisheries Building in Juneau By videoconference to 138 IRV II in Fairbanks By video conference to NPS […]

NOAA has proposed critical habitat areas in Cook Inlet for Beluga Whales which were listed for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in Oct of 2008.  In the formal review of the Cook Inlet Beluga Whales, NOAA Fisheries Service estimated a 26% chance that these whales will become extinct in the next 100 years.  […]