ADF&G to Hold Preseason Fishery Stakeholder's Meeting in Sand Point, King Cove

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game will be conducting a preseason fishery stakeholder's meeting at the Aleutians East Borough building in Sand Point at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 2, 2011 and at the Harbor House in King Cove at 6 p.m. on Friday, June 3, 2011. The purpose of these meetings is to provide all interested parties an opportunity to discuss the upcoming salmon season with ADF&G staff.

Topics covered will include:

2011 salmon outlook
2011 management strategy
2011 department test fisheries
New ADF&G News Release system
Other topics as time permits

To obtain further information, please contact the Sand Point Fish and Game office at (907) 383-2066.

ADF&G Provides New System for Commercial, Subsistence and Personal Use Fishery News Releases

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is providing a new online system for distributing and subscribing to news releases for commercial fishery openings, closings, fishing areas, times and non-regulatory updates about specific fisheries. This system will also allow users to find announcements about subsistence fisheries and those personal use fisheries managed by the Division of Commercial Fisheries.

From now until May 30, you may preview the new system and subscribe to news releases for specific fisheries. The subscriptions will be activated with the new system on May 31.

During the preview period, there will be a limited number of news releases posted to the new system. Starting on May 31, all fishery news releases and announcements will be available in the new system and subscribers will automatically receive their news releases and announcements via email.

Click on the title of this post to get to the new system, instructions for use and subscription sign up.

News from Aleutia

Aleutia's annual membership meeting will be held tomorrow (Thursday, May 26, 2011) at 7 p.m. at the Aleutians East Borough Building in Sand Point. Those in King Cove, Nelson Lagoon and False Pass can listen in and participate via telephone. Aleutia hopes to arrange for lines to be open at the King Cove Harbor House, the Nelson Lagoon Tribal Office and the False Pass City Office. Seats in Nelson Lagoon and False Pass are up for election. Those who attend in Sand Point will be able to sample Aleutia's new smoked salmon product.

Speaking of Aleutia smoked salmon, the New Sagaya retail store in Anchorage will be featuring this delicious sockeye in their stores soon. Next time you're in New Sagaya, make sure to pick up a 4-ounce package. It's a great way to support the region. Aleutia smoked salmon is now being offered at the Sand Point lounge and will soon be featured in the King Cove bar. Bill Cumberlidge is also overseeing some sales in Sand Point. Give Audrey Foster a call at (907) 383-5909 for information about the meeting or any of Aleutia's programs.

Upcoming Fishery Meetings in the Region:

• The SEDM charter sampling meeting will be held on May 17, 2011.


• The Federal Fishery Observer Meeting will also be held on May 17, 2011.


• The CFEC discussion of limited entry into the State Waters Pacific cod fishery and Alaska Peninsula crab fisheries will be held on May 18, 2011.
  
  All meetings will begin at 2 p.m. and will be held at the Aleutians East Borough offices in Sand Point.
  
  Dial in instructions will be posted in advance of the meeting.

BOF Deadline: May 16th - Last Day to Submit Proposals for Pacific Cod Fisheries

The Alaska Board of Fisheries is extending the proposal deadline from April 8, 2011 to May 16, 2011 for Pacific cod fishery regulations for the Prince William Sound Area (Registration Area E), Cook Inlet Area (Registration Area H), Kodiak Area (Registration Area K), Chignik Area (Registration Area L) and South Alaska Peninsula Area (Registration Area M). Proposed changes would address coordination of the state-waters and all regulations dealing with Pacific cod fishing seasons with Gulf of Alaska federal sector splits scheduled for implementation in January 2012.

Proposals may be submitted by mail, fax or online. For more information, visit the link below.

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/regulations/regprocess/fisheriesboard/pdfs/2011-2012/call_supplemental462011.pdf

BOF Executive Director Retires; New Executive Director Named

Jim Marcotte, the Executive Director of the Alaska Board of Fisheries, begins his retirement in just a couple of days. His last day on the job will be Friday, May 13, 2011. Marcotte has served as Executive Director for the Board of Fisheries since Jan. 4, 2006. Previously, Marcotte served as Executive Director of the Board of Game for two years before his promotion. He started with the Alaska Board Support Section in 1995.

Monica Wellard, Assistant Director for Fish & Game - Sport Fish, will soon fill his shoes as the new Executive Director for the Board of Fisheries. Wellard will take the helm on Monday, May 16, 2011.

Federal Subsistence Board Asks for Lower Gulf Salmon Bycatch

The Federal Subsistence Board announced last week that it's recommending the North Pacific Fishery Management Council significantly decrease the salmon bycatch in the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea pollock fisheries. The Board voted at its May 3 - 4, 2011 meeting in Anchorage to propose a hard cap of 15,000 Chinook caught as bycatch in the Gulf, and a hard cap of 50,000 chum salmon in the Bering Sea pollock fishery.

During its April meeting, the Council adopted a preliminary preferred alternative of a prohibited species catch limit of 22,500 Chinook salmon for the western and central Gulf of Alaska pollock fisheries. The Council is scheduled to take final action on king salmon bycatch in the Gulf of Alaska groundfish fishery during its June meeting in Nome. The Council will take final action on Bering Sea bycatch of chum salmon at its December meeting in Anchorage.

The Board also agreed with a federal recommendation that two subsistence suers be added to its membership. For more information, visit the links below:

http://www.thedutchharborfisherman.com/article/1118federal_subsistence_board_wants_lower_salmon

http://aprn.org/2011/05/04/subsistence-board-pushing-for-hard-limits-on-bycatch/