Get Involved
Introduction
Click on the links for ways to get involved with ALFA.
2008 Raffles Winners Announced!
Ten Prizes each consisting of 20 lbs of halibut, sablefish, rockfish, and salmon with FEDEX shipping. And the winners are:
Peggy Parker, Demas, WA
Anita Behnken, Norwalk, CT
Don Muller, Old Harbor Books, Sitka, AK
Lucy Riggs, Sitka, AK
Dorothy Childers, Anchorage, AK
Marcy Friedman, Philadelphia, PA
Jan Love, Sitka, AK
Luke Padberg, Sitka, AK
Becky Angelone, Ringoes, NJ
Ona Curran, Esperance, NY
Thanks for your support!
Get Involved
ALFA Correspondence
ALFA comments 2009 BOF Finfish proposals (124kb PDF file)
Bristol_bay_scoping_letter_LB[1].pdf (PDF file - 78kb)
IPHC_NPFMC_19Sep2008 (PDF file - 102 kb)
HC_to_NPFMC_on_2C3A_Catch_Sharing_Plan_24Sep2008 (PDF file - 279 kb)
HC to NPFMC Rebuttal of Halibut Charter Task Force NEW PROPOSAL 26Sep2008 (PDF file 191 kb)
Balsiger letter to Behnken (PDF file 528 kb)
Area2C3A_CSP908 (PDF file - 972 kb)
ALFA_comments_to_NPFMC_halibut_Oct_08_meeting_FINAL_22Sep2008[1] (PDF file - 144 kb)
ALFA_comments_3A_oct_08 (PDF file 38 kb)
ADFG_halibutdata908 (PDF file - 33kb)
ALFA letter to Balsiger - National Standards - Halibut Charter (PDF file - 51kb)
HC to NMFS on MSA NEPA Proposed Rule 11Aug2008 (PDF file 64kb)
Note: You will need a free PDF reader application to view or print these PDF files. Windows users will need to download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader application from http://www.adobe.com/reader. Mac OS X users may use the built in Preview.app to view or print PDFs, or you may also download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader for Mac OS X.
Management Agency News Releases
SSL Delisting Petition (Eastern DPS) (PDF file): Petition to Remove the Eastern Distinct Population Segment of the Steller Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) from the List of Endangered and Threatened Species under the Endangered Species Act
2009 Chatham Sablefish Quota down 29%! (85Kb PDF file)
2009 directed lingcod (191Kb PDF file)
2009 IFQ closed area SE (155Kb PDF file)
SSEI 2009 sablefish (76kb PDF file)
http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/ram/letters/ifq_09season_feb09.pdf (off site)
bycatch regs 2009.pdf (202kb PDF file)
EYKT DSR Closure 2009.pdf (69kb PDF file)
iphc.pdf (24kb PDF file)
Note: You will need a free PDF reader application to view or print these PDF files. Windows users will need to download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader application from http://www.adobe.com/reader. Mac OS X users may use the built in Preview.app to view or print PDFs, or you may also download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader for Mac OS X.
Get Involved
Hot Topics
Word Doc
Council launches amendment to reduce Gulf of Alaska halibut bycatch
Word Doc
IPHC Bycatch Workshop Announcement
Halibut Commission Bycatch Workshop
Preliminary Announcement
A one-day workshop on halibut bycatch mortality in non-target fisheries (including mortality of sublegal fish in halibut fisheries) will be held in Seattle, WA on Tuesday September 29th, 2009. The exact location and times for the workshop will be announced at a later date. The workshop will be held to review issues associated with how bycatch mortality is estimated and incorporated into the assessment and management of Pacific halibut stocks. Among the topics to be covered at the workshop are:
- Review of current and historical levels of halibut bycatch mortality
- Review of historical methods by which the Commission has accounted for bycatch mortality in management of the halibut stock
- Methods of estimation of bycatch mortality in non-target fisheries
- Incorporation of bycatch mortality estimates in the halibut stock assessment and harvest policy
- General impacts of bycatch mortality from non-target fisheries on halibut productivity and yield
- Impacts of non-local bycatch mortality on fisheries yield of individual IPHC Regulatory Areas
- Progress on bycatch control and management in other jurisdictions
- Methods for reduction of non-target halibut bycatch mortality in the northeast Pacific Ocean
The results of the workshop will be made available to the participants and will be posted on the IPHC webpage.
If you are interested in attending this workshop, please notify Laura Black (voice: 206-634-1838 ext 201; fax: 206-632-2983) by July 31st, 2009.
CHATHAM SABLEFISH QUOTA
ADF&G REDUCES CHATHAM SABLEFISH QUOTA 29% for 2009 (80kb PDF file)
Halibut Coalition Booklet
Halibut Coalition Insert Booklet (409kb PDF)
(Read the PDF document above or for a larger, readable view of these pages below, click on the thumbnail, then right click on the enlarged image and select "View image" on the menu. This will open the image in another tab. Click on the image to enlarge.)
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Charter Lawsuit
HC PR Intervention in Charter Lawsuit 26May2009 (241 kb PDF file)
2009 Raffle
BOF Increases Sport Sablefish
EPA looking for Volunteer Test Vessels for Discharge Sampling
Please take a look at these documents and give the ALFA office a call, 747-3400, if you would like to participate.
GSAP March 18, 2009 (1mb PDF file)
Vessel Guidance for EPA Sampling 3_18_09 (55kb PDF file)
Nagle_letter_to_volunteers0001 (333kb PDF file)
NOAA Proposed Rule Charter Moratorium
NOAA Proposed Rule Charter Moratorium 20Apr2009 (122kb PDF file)
Comments due by June 5
Halibut Biomass Apportionment Workshop 2009
Based on staff research and discussions with industry before, during, and after the 2009 Annual Meeting, two dominant themes for apportionment are apparent: historical catch shares and survey-based (target exploitation rate) apportionment. Many harvesters support historical catch shares because they reflect their long-term production and they believe that these shares have resulted in a sustainable harvest. While staff identified numerous apportionment alternatives at BAW I in September 2008, none of these other alternatives has gained broad endorsement by industry. As part of this workshop, more dialogue will be undertaken concerning the migration issues which govern the necessary approach to assessment and apportionment. Staff will also discuss the metrics of management performance and the stock characteristics that we routinely monitor. Particular criteria or reference points that we use (e.g. B40, YPR), are important to fishery biologists and managers in terms of evaluating stock health, but their importance for fisheries management may not always be clear to harvesters. We believe that additional explanation and dialogue on these topics will be extremely helpful.
At the 2009 Annual Meeting, the Commission directed the staff to continue dialogue with industry concerning the apportionment issue, including the hook competition analysis conducted in 2008. Accordingly, the staff will hold an interactive two-day workshop to further examine the basis and implications of using either of the two apportionment methods. The BAW II will encompass two six-hour sessions over a two-day period, which will provide opportunity both for extended investigation of these two methods as well as reflection on the initial work of the first day. The methods will be examined in a simulation framework that will involve users in defining simulation scenarios. Performance of the apportionment schemes, in relation to several population conservation metrics, will also be evaluated and discussed.
This will not be a decision-making workshop, rather it is to explore a limited number of alternatives more thoroughly and potentially identify a superior alternative. The workshop will be summarized and reported to the Commission and participants in the same manner as previous workshops.
The workshop will have the following structure for the two days:
Day 1
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Introduce the two methods to be examined. |
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Identify performance metrics for evaluation of the methods: average age, proportion of older fish, Spawning biomass level, Exploitable biomass level, others as identified by workshop participants. |
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Explain the background for each of the criteria and their use in biological evaluation or fishery management. |
|
Introduce and define framework for the simulations (this will be based on a revised and expanded version of the widget developed for BAW I) |
|
Run simulation scenarios using various assumptions and settings for biological, fishery, and management parameters and processes. |
|
Identify additional scenarios to run during the workshop. |
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Review basis for hook competition adjustments made in 2008 assessment and solicit comments from users |
Day 2
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Review results of Day 1 work |
|
Run additional scenarios based on discussions during Day 1 |
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Summarize performance of alternate apportionment methods based on identified metrics |
|
Identify preferred method of apportionment based on workshop results |
IPHC staff surveyed industry and agency participants concerning a date for the second Biomass Apportionment Workshop this spring. The survey indicated that April 29-30 are the preferred dates for potential participants (53 respondents). The survey also indicated a strong preference for a morning start, rather than a midday start, on the first day of the workshop.
Therefore, the workshop will be held in Seattle on April 29-30, beginning at 9 a.m. on the 29th. Hotel Max.
We look forward to your participation.
https://tundra.iphc.washington.edu/iphc/blog/
http://www.iphc.washington.edu/halcom/meetings/workshops.htm
Click on link for a proposal form Halibut/Sablefish IFQ Proposals
Evidence of hook competition in longline surveys
Cara J. Rodgveller , Chris R. Lunsford, Jeffrey T. Fujioka
http://fishbull.noaa.gov/1064/rodgveller.pdf
Comments Due April 26th for BOF proposal to increase sablefish bag limits!
The Board of Fisheries is considering raising the daily bag limit of sablefish from 2 fish per day to 4 fish per day. This will impact commercial fisheries for sablefish. Please submit written comments prior to April 26th. http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/fishinfo/meetinfo/2008-2009/april%2028%20teleconf/blurb-4-28-09.pdf
ALFA Meeting
Annual Membership Meeting to Elect New Board member.
Monday March 16 at 5 PM, 1st floor classroom, Sage Building, 834 Lincoln Street
new members always welcome.
Elections will be held, discussions on halibut and the Fishery Conservation Network
refreshments will follow
2009 BOARD OF FISHERIES MEETINGS
PDF documents
Pre-summary SE finfish Feb 2009 (Sitka) (284Kb PDF file)
Prelim summary Jan 2009 BOF Petersburg (138kb PDF file)
ALFA comments 2009 BOF Finfish proposals (124kb PDF file)
Southeast and Yakutat Finfish Proposals (435kb PDF file)
Tentative Committee Structure (19kb PDF file)
Tentative Agenda (28kb PDF file)
Staff Comments on Regulatory Proposals (7.6mb PDF file)
GCI Southeast Alaska Fiber Optic Cable Project -- As-Build
GCI Letter (PDF file, 99kb)
AU-West BU Extension and AU-SE As Laid.xls (Excel file, 131 kb)
Chartletts
All Chartletts in a PDF file (PDF file, 1198kb)
Individual Chartletts
Important Contact Information
TWENTY-SIXTH ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE FIRST SESSION 2009
S E N A T E
State Capitol, Juneau, AK 99801-1182
(Interdepartmental Mail Stop: 3100)
Internet Address: Senator_First Name_Last Name@legis.state.ak.us
CAPITOL
| NAME | PHONE # | FAX # | TOLL FREE # | OFFICE LOCATION |
| BUNDE, Con | 465-4843 | 465-3871 | 800-892-4843 | Room 504 |
| DAVIS, Bettye | 465-3822 (H&SS) | 465-3756 | 800-770-3822 | Room 30 |
| DYSON, Fred | 465-2199 | 465-4587 | 800-342-2199 | Room 121 |
| ELLIS, Johnny | 465-3704 (Majority Leader) | 465-2529 | 888-330-3704. | Room 103 |
| ELTON, Kim | 465-4947 (Education) | 465-2108 | Room 506 | |
| FRENCH, Hollis | 465-3892 (Judiciary) | 465-6595 | 866-465-3892 | Room 417 |
| HOFFMAN, Lyman | 465-4453 (Finance co-chair) | 465-4523 | 866-465-4453 | Room 518 |
| HUGGINS, Charlie | 465-3878 (Rules) | .465-3265 | 800-862-3878 | Room 119 |
| KOOKESH, Albert | 465-3473 (Transportation) | 465-2827 | 888-288-3473 | Room 11 |
| MCGUIRE, Lesil | 465-2995 (Energy)(WTT)(Resources co-chair) | 465-6592 | 800-365-2995 | Room 125 |
| MENARD, Linda K | 465-6600 (State Affairs) | 465-3805 | 877-465-6601 | Room 9 |
| MEYER, Kevin | 465-3879 (LB&A) | 465-2069 | 888-269-3879 | Room 101 |
| OLSON, Donald | 465-3707 (C&RA) | 465-4821 | 800-597-3707 | Room 514 |
| PASKVAN, Joe | 465-3709 (Labor & Commerce) | 465-4714 | Room 7 | |
| STEDMAN, Bert | 465-3873 (Finance co-chair) | 465-3922 | 877-463-3873 | Room 516 |
| STEVENS, Gary | .465-4925 (President) | 465-3517 | 800-821-4925 | Room 111 |
| THERRIAULT, Gene | 465-4797 | 465-3884 | 800-860-4797 | Room 427 |
| THOMAS, Joe | 465-2327 | 465-5241 | 800-336-7383 | Room 510 |
| WAGONER, Thomas | 465-2828 | 465-4779 | 800-964-5733 | Room 423 |
| WIELECHOWSKI, Bill | 465-2435 (Resources co-chair)(Armed Svcsco) | 465-6615 | 800-550-2435 | Room 115 |
Note: You will need a free PDF reader application to view or print these PDF files. Windows users will need to download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader application from http://www.adobe.com/reader. Mac OS X users may use the built in Preview.app to view or print PDFs, or you may also download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader for Mac OS X.
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Get Involved
Action Alerts
Proposed Rule: Subsistence halibut
74 FR 39269, August 6, 2009 (PDF file). Proposed regulations to revise the criteria for rural residents to participate in the subsistence fishery for Pacific halibut in waters in and off Alaska. Comments must be received no later than September 8, 2009. NEW!
September 3, 2008 Action Alert (PDF file 263kb)
July 2008 Action Alert (PDF file 17kb)
Note: You will need a free PDF reader application to view or print these PDF files. Windows users will need to download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader application from http://www.adobe.com/reader. Mac OS X users may use the built in Preview.app to view or print PDFs, or you may also download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader for Mac OS X.
Important contact information:
State of Alaska
Governor Sarah Palin, http://gov.state.ak.us/govmail.php
Cora Crome, Fisheries Advisory to the Governor, cora.crome@alaska.gov
P.O. Box 110001
Juneau, AK 99811-0001
Phone (907) 465-3500
Fax (907) 465-3532
ADF&G
Commissioner Denby Lloyd, ADF&G, Denby.Lloyd@alaska.gov
Sue Aspelund, Assistant to the Commissioner, Sue.Aspelund@alaska.gov
John Hilsinger, Director of Commercial Fisheries (907) 267-2324,
john.hilsinger@alaska.gov
Charlie Trowbridge, Director of Sport Fisheries (907) 465-4180
Headquarters
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
1255 W. 8th Street
P.O. Box 115526
Juneau, AK 99811-5526
465-4100 Commissioner's Office
465-4210 Comm. Fish
Fax (907) 465-2772
CFEC
Bruce Twomley, Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission, (907) 790-6944 Bruce.Twomley@alaska.gov
NMFS
Jim Balsiger, Acting Director , NMFS (301) 713-2239, Jim.Balsiger@noaa.gov
Doug Mecum, Alaskan Regional Supervisor, (907) 586-7221, doug.mecum@noaa.gov
Sue Salveson, Assist. Regional Administrator, (907) 586-7229, sue.salv
eson@noaa.gov
Mail: P. O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802. Fax: (907) 586-7557. Hand delivery to the Federal Building: 709 West 9th Street, Room 420A, Juneau, AK.
Secretary of Commerce, Carlos Gutierrez cgutierrez@doc.gov
Secretary Gutierrez U.S. Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20230
Congressional Delegation
Mark Begich
(202) 224-3004
Senator@Begich.Senate.Gov
Senator Murkowski
(202) 224-6665, arne_fuglvog@murkowski.senate.gov
Contact Form for Sen. Murkowski
Congressman Don Young
(202) 225-5765
Contact Form for Rep. Young
North Pacific Fishery Management Council
Chairman Eric Olson, Executive Director Chris Oliver
605 West 4th, Suite 306, Anchorage, Alaska 99501-2252 • Phone: (907)271-2809 • Fax: (907) 271-2817
Halibut Coalition, Box 22073 Juneau, AK 99802-2073
www.halibutcoalition.org
Get Involved
Calendar
August 15: Chatham Strait Sablefish fishery opens
http://www.cf.adfg.state.ak.us/region1/pdfs/groundfish/09_nsei_ll_ves_reg.pdf
http://documents.cf1.adfg.state.ak.us/AdfgDocument.po?DOCUMENT=21123
· August 28: Submission deadline: Agenda Change Requests, Alaska Board of Fisheries
http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/fishinfo/forms/facrform.php
· September 15-18: Plan Team Meeting, NMFS, Seattle
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/membership/plan_teams/Sept_2009_Agenda.pdf
· 9/17 10 AM Sablefish Update, CIE Review Results
· September 29: IPHC Bycatch Workshop
http://www.iphc.washington.edu/halcom/meetings/workshops.htm#bycatch
· October 1-7: NPFMC, Anchorage
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/threemeetingoutlook.pdf
· November 15: IFQ season closes
· November 16-20 Plan Team, NMFS, Seattle
· November 19-21: Pacific Marine Expo, Seattle
· December 1-2, IPHC Interim Meeting, Seattle
· December 7-9: Young Fishermen’s Summit, Anchorage
http://seagrant.uaf.edu/map/workshops/2009/ayfs/index.html
· December 7-14: NPFMC, Anchorage
· January 26-29, 2010: IPHC Annual Meeting, Seattle
IPHC Bycatch Workshop Announcement
Halibut Commission Bycatch Workshop
Preliminary Announcement
A one-day workshop on halibut bycatch mortality in non-target fisheries (including mortality of sublegal fish in halibut fisheries) will be held in Seattle, WA on Tuesday September 29th, 2009. The exact location and times for the workshop will be announced at a later date. The workshop will be held to review issues associated with how bycatch mortality is estimated and incorporated into the assessment and management of Pacific halibut stocks. Among the topics to be covered at the workshop are:
- Review of current and historical levels of halibut bycatch mortality
- Review of historical methods by which the Commission has accounted for bycatch mortality in management of the halibut stock
- Methods of estimation of bycatch mortality in non-target fisheries
- Incorporation of bycatch mortality estimates in the halibut stock assessment and harvest policy
- General impacts of bycatch mortality from non-target fisheries on halibut productivity and yield
- Impacts of non-local bycatch mortality on fisheries yield of individual IPHC Regulatory Areas
- Progress on bycatch control and management in other jurisdictions
- Methods for reduction of non-target halibut bycatch mortality in the northeast Pacific Ocean
The results of the workshop will be made available to the participants and will be posted on the IPHC webpage.
If you are interested in attending this workshop, please notify Laura Black (voice: 206-634-1838 ext 201; fax: 206-632-2983) by July 31st, 2009.