USCG Vessel Documentation and Mariner Credentials during Government Shutdown

The United States Coast Guard has released information for those who may have pending mariner credentials or vessel documentation applications.  The USCG’s National Vessel Documentation Center and National Maritime Center have been closed during the shutdown, presenting uncertainty about expiring documents and unprocessed applications.

On October 15th the USCG published Lapse in Appropriations and Government Shutdown UPDATE #2,  on mitigation efforts and extensions for those with pending mariner credentials and certificates.

On October 29th the USCG published Marine Safety Information Bulletin number 06-25 with further information including pending vessel documentation applications.

Pacific cod Satellite Tagging in the Gulf of Alaska Outreach Update - 2021 to 2025

The Pacific Cod Tagging Team has finalized a high-level outreach report of key findings to date. The team includes the Aleutians East Borough, The University of Alaska College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Atka Blue LLC and Kingfisher Marine Research LLC. 

The Pacific Cod Tagging Team outreach update for October 2025 includes key findings and data from the study and can be found at this link: http://www.aebfish.org/outreach_goa_update_oct_2025.pdf

Petition Filed to Relist all North Pacific Gray Whale as Endangered

Only the Western Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of North Pacific Gray whale is currently listed as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act. 

A petition to relist all Pacific Gray Whales has reportedly been filed by Rick Steiner.

In 2015 Steiner nominated all of Southwest Alaska as the Aleutian Islands National Marine Sanctuary.

Steiner is also a longtime opponent of a proposed land exchange and a Road from Cold Bay to King Cove.

NPFMC Chum Bycatch Final Action set for Feb 2026

The Council's October meeting will be virtual, September 29-October 9, 2025. The draft schedule is available now; eAgendas will be published in August. Final Action on Bering Sea Chum Salmon Bycatch Management is now scheduled for a February Council meeting in Anchorage, Alaska on February 2-11, 2026. Scheduling final action for February 2026 is not anticipated to impact the implementation timeframe of any chum bycatch alternatives if the Council chooses to take action. This timing decision is intended to best ensure that the Council can take up this agenda item in-person, given ongoing uncertainties about the timing of Council funding distributions and December/February meeting logistics, and barring unforeseen circumstances. The Council’s 3-meeting outlook has been updated, as has the webpage listing dates of future Council meetings. Note that the February 2026 meeting replaces the previously-scheduled April 2026 Council meeting.

We will update www.npfmc.org as information becomes available.

As emailed out by North Pacific Fishery Management Council Staff Serine Reeves 7/11/2025.

Proposed Changes to Waterfowl Hunting Regulations

A notice of changes to waterfowl regulations, including for Game Management Units 9 & 10, has been posted by the Alaska Board of Game. Comments on the proposed regulations are due by July 23, 2025.

According to the notice of proposed regulations changes, daily bag limits for Canada geese are to be decreased, hunting seasons for Brant are to be shortened and hunting seasons for Emperor geese are to be closed statewide.

The notice of proposed waterfowl hunting regulations by the Board of Game can be found in the State of Alaska Online Public Notices:

https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Notices/View.aspx?id=219958   

ADFG South Alaska Peninsula 2025 Salmon Preseason meeting

 The Alaska Department of Fish & Game held the South Alaska Peninsula commercial salmon pre-season meeting Friday May 30th at the Sand Point AEB office and via Teams. 

ADFG Slide Presentation. 

Archived meeting audio courtesy KSDP, apradio.org.

 

AEB Fish News 5/15/25

The recent AEB Fish News focusing on the South Alaska Peninsula 2025 salmon fisheries can be found at www.aebfish.org/FishNews051525.pdf