Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association (ALFA)
12-14-11: Halibut: Halibut Catch Share Plan and 2012 Charter Management Measures 12-1-11: Halibut: Halibut Catch Sharing Plan: New documents available 12-1-11: 2012 PRELIMINARY IPHC Staff Recommendations for Halibut and Sablefish Numbers 9/21/11: Halibut: Halibut Catch Sharing Plan 4/21/11: Newsletter 4/6/11: Hot Topics: Halibut by-catch amendment 4/6/11: Hot Topics: "Hired skippers" limits 3/25/11: Halibut: International Pacific Halibut Commission paper Interested in signing up for ALFA's new "e-newsletter" option? Please take a moment to complete this short survey by following the link: Survey |
Recent PostsLinda Behnken's interview with NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov/features/01_economic/behnken.html
ALFA Seafood Raffle winners
Ona CurranOna Curran
Jon Hickman
Joe D'Arienzo
Linda Wallen
Dan Cox
Henry Merrow
Joel Whitcomb
Ruth McMaster
D. Stephens
Council Final Motion on Observer Restructuring 112kb PDF file
OAC et al:
As you know, the Council took action on Friday to restructure the
observer program, selecting Alternative 3 with an ex-vessel fee of
1.25%, as its preferred alternative. Please refer to the motion
(attached) for details. It will also be posted on our website shortly.
During staff tasking, the Council also notified the public that the
Chair will be reconstituting the OAC to respond to its new focus of 1)
helping to resolve implementation issues that arise during the
development of the proposed rule; and 2) development of electronic
monitoring for specific sectors. The new Chair of the OAC is Dan Hull,
and the Council is looking to fill the committee primarily with
representatives of those included in the restructured program, and/or
with experience and interest in electronic monitoring. *If you are
interested in continuing to serve (or newly serving on) the OAC, please
send a letter of interest to the Council office by November 30.* I
assume new appointments will be announced during or after the December
Council meeting. A future OAC meeting has not yet been scheduled, but it
would likely be sometime after the February 2011 Council meeting.
Now that we have a preferred alternative, the Council will also be
writing another letter to NOAA requesting Federal start-up funds for the
restructured program. As you know, the new program is not scheduled to
implemented any sooner than 2013.
Thank you for all your efforts. Everyone on the current committee has
worked hard for a better program.
Nicole
Murkowski: EPA Overruled in Effort to Impose New Tax on
Rural Alaska Diesel Users Observer Restructuring document (PDF file)
"OAC et al:
A few documents were posted on our website today, including the public review draft analysis (EA/RIR/IRFA) for observer restructuring. The Council is scheduled to take action on this in October, and this is the analysis that we will review at our upcoming OAC meeting Sept 28 - 29. The analysis will be mailed to the Council and the OAC tomorrow, and it should arrive by Wednesday (Sept 15). We are mailing hardcopies of the document to the OAC due to size -- the analysis is about 225 pages, but the appendices with supporting documentation add another 100 pages, and it's a big file.
The link to the analysis is here: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/observer/Observer_restructuring910.pdf
Note that the OAC wanted us to include 2009 CFEC price data in this version of the analysis, and the Council directed us to do so if possible, as staff noted that the prior year's data is not finalized until fall. The 2009 CFEC data has not yet been finalized and released, thus it is not included. However, we did include a short section on p. 76, and 2009 data was included in the rolling average and price lag sections of the RIR (Section 2.9.2.2.4, starts on p. 68). The 2009 data are also included in Appendix 5, where we compare price information from CFEC and State fish taxes for the years available.
We will go through the analysis in detail, and the revisions made since June, at the OAC and Council meeting.
Nicole"
Comments due on proposed regs to revoke Quota Share that have been inactive since 1995.
September 22 Comment Period ends Proposed regulations to modify the Individual Fishing Quota Program for the Fixed-Gear Commercial Fisheries for Pacific Halibut and Sablefish in waters in and off Alaska by revoking quota share that have been inactive since they were originally issued in 1995 75 FR 51741, August 23, 2010.
Alaska Fisheries Certification Progress Updates (PDF file)
Researchers Jan Straley, Russ Andrews, and John Moran tagged 4 sperm whales last week off the Spencer Spit. Current position of these whales (as of 8/20) are shown in the figures below (click on the images for a larger version). One whale was last sighted off Table Bay in Chatham Strait. The tags are clearly visible on the dorsal fin of the whales. Fishermen are encouraged to take pictures of these whales and check the website for updates on the position.
Chatham Sperm Whale (PDF file)
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The Board and Members of the Alaska Longline Fishermen Association extend their deepest sympathy to the families, friends, and colleagues of the deceased crew of Coast Guard MH-60 6017: Lt. Sean D. Krueger, AMT1 Adam C. Hoke, and AMT2 Brett M. Bankshttp://www.uscgalaska.com/go/doc/780/474403/
Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association (ALFA) is a non-profit association of independent commercial longline vessel owners and crewmembers who are committed to continuing the sustainable harvest of sablefish, halibut, and groundfish, while supporting healthy marine ecosystems and strong coastal communities through resource stewardship and participation in federal, state, and local forums.
We invite you to browse through our website to learn who we are, how you can get involved in ALFA's activities, what species we are interested in, who we partner with and how we help Alaskan coastal communities.
