There will be a meeting on December 4, 2019 at 3:00pm at Harrigan Centennial Hall in Sitka, AK to discuss a new haul out facility at Gary Paxton Industrial Park.
Please attend to contribute your input and ideas.
Alaska Roadless Rule
Comments are being accepted on the application of the Roadless Rule in Alaska through December 17, 2019 on the internet at www.regulations.gov (RIN 0596-AD37) or through the project website .
Background: The Tongass was initially exempted from the 2001 National Roadless Rule for US National Forests. In 2011, a lawsuit extended the roadless protections to the Tongass. In 2018, the Governor of Alaska submitted a petition for an exemption from the roadless rule. The Forest Service (FS) has developed and analyzed 6 management alternatives that range from Alternative 1 – status quo—the only alternative that keeps the roadless rule in place--to Alternative 6--full exemption from the roadless rule on the Tongass National Forest-- and some variations between the two, none of which are meaningful in terms of protecting fish habitat. The FS has picked Alternative 6 as their preliminary preferred alternative.
The Forest Service has clarified that regardless of the outcome of this rulemaking, ANILCA and the Tongass Timber Reform Act (TTRA) as well as the current 2016 Tongass National Forest Plan will remain in effect. The TTRA is the legislation that requires stream buffers; that said, many stream buffers have proved to be inadequate, with significant loss of buffer trees during windstorms, and failed culverts currently block salmon from accessing 250 miles of historic spawning habitat. Alternative 6, the FS preferred alternative, exempts 9.2 million inventoried roadless acres from the roadless rule. This would allow the FS access to the 185,000 acres of high value timber watersheds in southern Southeast Alaska. Most of this high value timber is on Prince of Wales Island, which produces 60% of Southeast pink salmon and 72% of Southeast cohos.
One argument cited by Alaska’s delegation for eliminating the roadless rule is that the rule impedes locally important non-timber projects, such as hydro/dam construction. Notably, even with the Roadless Rule (status quo) in place, all individual project exemptions (e.g., hydropower, hatchery access, etc.) applied for were granted.
STATE OF ALASKA PETITON
ALASKA ROADLESS RULE FS PROJECT WEBSITE
PROPOSED RULE
ALASKA ROADLESS RULE STORY MAP/INTERACTIVE MAP allows a visual comparison of the alternatives
TONGASS TIMBER REFORM ACT - The legislation was aimed at safeguarding clean water and riparian habitats, protecting the old-growth of the Tongass National Forest
For additional information on the economic value of the forest, rivers and estuaries for non-timber uses, please visit the SeaBank program on the Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust website http://www.thealaskatrust.org/seabank-annual-report-web.
A video short and the SeaBank annual report contain a wealth of Tongass information to assist you with evaluating alternatives and drafting comments.
Please share your comments with ALFA, the Alaska congressional delegation, and the Governor.
Congress Pens Letter to USCG Expressing Concerns Regarding Alaska VHF-FM Outages
Coast Guard experiencing VHF-FM Radio outages throughout Southeast Alaska
JUNEAU, Alaska — Coast Guard Sector Juneau personnel are experiencing multiple VHF-FM radio outages throughout Southeast Alaska and may not be able to hear or respond to distress calls on channel 16.
Currently, waterways affected by Coast Guard VHF-FM radio site outages include the Gulf of Alaska between Yakutat and Sitka, Cross Sound, Peril Strait, Hoonah Sound, Southern Chatham Strait, Sumner Strait, the waters surrounding Zarembo Island and the west side of Prince of Wales Island.
All mariners transiting these waterways should remain vigilant and have another means of emergency communication such as:
Cellphone, when in range
Satellite phone
High Frequency radio communications on 4125 kHz, 6215 kHz and 8291 kHz
EPIRBs/Personal locating beacons
Satellite messengers
You can contact the Sector Juneau Command Center at 907-463-2980
Senator Lisa Murkowski Cancels Sitka Trip
In a tweet posted on Sept. 5, 2019 from Senator Lisa Murkowski’s Twitter account (@lisamurkowski) she announced, “Unfortunately we have to cancel today’s Mobile Office in Sitka due to flight cancellations. While my staff would have loved to be there in person, just a reminder on one way Alaskans can connect with my office — by reaching out via my website here: murkowski.senate.gov/contact.”
Deterring Sea Lions in Alaska
Learn the do’s and don’ts of deterring Steller sea lions in Alaska - by NOAA
Direct Marketer's Resource Guide
Jennifer Nu provided us with the Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition and Ecotrust resource guide that acts as a direct market fishermen toolkit. This resource guide was developed to support fishermen interested in direct marketing, alternative marketing, or community supported fisheries (CSFs) in Alaska. It is intended to draw together a diverse array of information and tools that exist to help direct marketers/CSFs get started and succeed. This guide does not constitute an endorsement of any of the resources, organizations, agencies, businesses listed below.
Alaska Charts the Course for America’s Young Fishermen
Along America’s coastlines, fishing communities face stiff headwinds when it comes to providing in-place economic opportunities for young people. Nowhere is this more evident than Alaska.
The problem: Today’s commercial fishermen are approaching retirement age with few young fishermen to replace them. The average age of Alaska’s fishery permit holders is now 50, up from an average of 40 in 1980. This troubling dynamic, which is not unique to our state, poses a serious and growing challenge to America’s fishing economies and the jobs that depend on them.
Alaskans can attest that this “graying of the fleet” does not reflect a lack of interest in fishing careers, but rather high entry barriers facing young commercial fishermen. We have seen this in the tremendous response to our growing efforts to engage and train the next generation of fishermen. Young people want to get out on the water, but they need opportunities to acquire a diverse set of skills, ranging from navigation and diesel mechanics to fisheries regulations and business management. Of course, they must also be good at catching fish!
Breaking down these high barriers to entry demands a serious and coordinated national response. That’s why the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association (ALFA) is proud to be a member of the national Fishing Communities Coalition (FCC), a group of conservation-minded commercial fishing organizations that is working to advance legislation to address this problem.
The bipartisan Young Fishermen’s Development Act (YFDA), which is inspired in part by Alaska’s growing community-based efforts, has been introduced in both the House (H.R.1240) and Senate (S.496). The legislation, which has picked up bipartisan and multi-coastal co-sponsors in both houses of Congress, establishes the first national grant program to support initiatives to educate, train, and mentor young and beginning fishermen. ALFA is grateful that Alaska’s Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski and Representative Don Young have taken a leadership role in this critical effort. The legislation was examined at a recent U.S. House Natural Resources Committee hearing.
The YFDA’s $2 million annual budget —which is fully funded using fines paid by fishermen who have violated rules — gives fishing associations, universities, tribal organizations, and others the opportunity to compete for grant funding to train young commercial fishermen. The grants cannot be used to purchase fishing permits, quota, or other harvesting rights.
Alaskans can attest that this approach works. As the severity of the “graying of the fleet” challenge in our community grew, ALFA connected with a local skipper, Eric Jordan, who took aspiring young fishermen on as crew and dedicated his valuable time to teaching and training them on the job. We worked with Eric to advance a common goal: providing motivated young people with safe and well-guided real-world experience in commercial fishing, the lifestyle it provides, and the vital role it plays in supporting coastal communities.
With Eric’s help and support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Fishery Innovation Fund and the City of Sitka, AK, ALFA launched a crewmember apprentice program. In each of the past two years, over 100 young people have applied to the program. This is far more than we can accommodate, and highlights both young people’s strong interest in commercial fishing careers and the demand for more entry-level opportunities. One participant, Mackenzie Gilliam, observed: “As a woman, I think it is sometimes difficult for men to take you seriously when it comes to doing physical work. This program is helping women get a foot in the door in the fishing industry and proving that we can do the job just as well as anyone else.”
As an organization representing independent, community-based fishermen, ALFA is committed to working with the FCC to support the next generation of fishermen. Federal funding to sustain our program and support the launch of similar programs in other communities will make that possible.
The Young Fishermen’s Development Act will help equip the next generation of commercial fishermen to support our nation’s sustainable fisheries and the coastal communities that rely upon them. The Act will also ensure American-caught seafood continues to be served in homes and restaurants across our country.
Supporting our nation’s young fishermen through the Young Fishermen’s Development Act is a solid investment in our fishing communities and in our country.
Linda Behnken is Executive Director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association, a member of the Fishing Communities Coalition.
UFA Alert: New Vessel Registration Requirements Update
Update on Derelict Vessel Bill Requirements:
Thank you for your patience as we sorted out the logistics of this new law requiring vessels to register with the DMV.
In short, SEAFA’s original email was accurate and the new law applies as follows:
USCG Documented Vessels are required to register with the DMV; however, you do not need to receive a title.Undocumented vessels must register and receive a title at the DMV.After speaking with Major Chastain of the Alaska Wildlife Troopers he said their main objective this year will be to educate first and enforce second.
Communication was held with the Director of Department of Motor Vehicles to educate staff regarding this new law and the requirements. We understand there has been confusion in the issuing of registrations and we hope this has been resolved.
I spoke with Senator Micciche and informed him of the issues we are having with this bill. He is hopeful that legislation can be introduced next year to change the language to include exemption for vessels registered through CFEC.
Thanks again for your patience and understanding. Please let me know if you have any difficulties or questions.
Frances Leach
Executive Director
United Fishermen of Alaska
DOCUMENTED BOATSDon’t forget to renew your USCG Documentation – this registration does not take the place of your documentation from the USCG – it is in addition to.DO NOT TITLE your boat with the State of Alaska – only file for registration.Only place on your boat the square registration decal – do not place any additional AK numbers.You will need to take a copy of your Document into the State DMV office when registering.
Study: Fishery consolidation in Alaska leaves fishermen vulnerable
Image: seafoodsource.com
Seafood Source: “Alaskan commercial fishermen are specializing more and more, leaving them more vulnerable to the immense uncertainty fishermen have to contend with, according to a new study.
Targeting a diverse array of fish types in different regions can allow fishermen to weather the ups and downs instigated by fish population changes, new regulations, deflating markets and environmental disasters. But fishermen in Alaska are increasingly specializing. Fewer fishermen are on the water than three decades ago, and those who remain are participating in fewer fisheries, according to the study, which was published in Fish and Fisheries.”
To read the whole article on Seafood Source, follow this link: https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/supply-trade/study-fishery-consolidation-in-alaska-leaves-fishermen-vulnerable