The pandemic could change U.S. fisheries forever. Will it be for better or for worse?

The Counter

by Katarina Zimmer

2.18.2021

Not unlike its effect on humans, the pandemic’s impact on the seafood industry has been variable, erratic, often devastating. The first symptoms appeared long before Covid-19 gained a stronghold on U.S. shores, as China went into its first lockdown and a critical export market disappeared overnight—seafood processors and dealers in Maine saw international demand for lobsters temporarily vanish. Then as social distancing rules kicked in here, another major organ of the U.S. supply chain—restaurants, where most seafood purchases are made—fell limp. Then Covid outbreaks at processing plants caused the system to further buckle, leaving many fishermen with nowhere to sell their catch. Prices for many species plummeted. Some fishers gave up for the season, leaving boats tied up at the docks. 

Read the entire article here

Setting Biden's seafood policy table -- Op Ed in The Hill

BY LINDA BEHNKEN AND MIKE CONROY, OPINION CONTRIBUTORS — 02/16/21 10:30 AM EST 80

The Hill

Fishermen have been invited to be partners with the Biden administration on ocean policy and we are prepared to engage. Hard work, honest dialog and commitments to justice and equity will ensure that we remain at the table and not on the menu.

January’s executive order tackling climate change includes ambitious provisions that set agencies on a course to climate mitigation. Most importantly for America’s commercial fishing families, the order established two parallel processes to secure direct input from fishermen on, respectively the appropriate ways to conserve 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030, an initiative known as 30x30, and ways to make our fisheries more resilient to climate change.

To read the entire op-ed, click here

https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/538931-setting-bidens-seafood-policy-table

Young Fishermen’s Development Act offers training, resources for the industry’s newest participants

KCAW - Raven Radio

Feb 16, 2021

Click here to listen to a radio interview with Linda Behnken, the director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association, and Marissa Wilson, the director of the Alaska Marine Conservation Council. Both worked over the last few years to advocate for the Young Fishermen’s Development Act, which was signed into law in December. They discuss how the law was created, and how it will benefit young people hoping to enter the fisheries.

One Alaska king salmon is worth the same as two barrels of oil right now

Anchorage Daily News

Author: Laine Welch | Fish Factor

• Published February 9

Seafood sales “are on fire” in America’s supermarkets and one king salmon from Southeast Alaska is worth the same as two barrels of oil.

That’s $116.16 for a troll-caught chinook salmon averaging 11 pounds at the docks vs. $115.48 for 2 barrels of oil at $57.74 per barrel on Feb. 3.

As more COVID-conscious customers opted in 2020 for seafood’s proven health benefits, salmon powered sales at fresh seafood counters. Frozen and “on the shelf” seafoods also set sales records, and online ordering tripled to top $1 billion.

Those are some takeaways from a National Fisheries Institute Global Marketing Conference hosted online by SeafoodSource News.

Here is a sampler of what experts called “eye-popping” 2020 retail sales reflecting America’s trend to eat more fish:

IRI, a world leader in market data, said overall sales at in-store fresh seafood counters jumped 28% to $871 million, led by salmon with a 19% increase to $2.2 billion.

Read the entire article by clicking here

Biden administration should steer clear of environmental colonialism -- Op Ed in Anchorage Daily News

Op Ed in Anchorage Daily News

Author: Linda Behnken

 Opinion

In the next few weeks, the Biden administration is expected to take sweeping climate action as promised. The president has already done so on day one, including laudable actions such as rejoining the Paris Agreement and promulgating systematic review of Trump administration environmental rollbacks.

But very soon, we expect to see an executive order advancing an initiative called “30x30″ (pronounced ‘thirty-by-thirty’) that calls for the protection of 30% of the world’s oceans to commercial extractive use by 2030. For Americans, this could mean sealing off our access to an area of the ocean larger than Texas off the continental U.S. and Alaska. The move is staggering in its scope, and it could do severe harm to fishing communities.

Let me be clear: Commercial fishermen are on the front lines of climate change, and we have been calling for meaningful climate action for years. We support reductions in carbon emissions globally, and our organization has worked to reduce the Southeast Alaska fleet’s emissions. Nationally, we have led the world in our sustainable fisheries management, including prohibiting bottom trawling in more than 76% of our oceans already, without the need for blanket prohibitions. We proudly provide sustainable high-quality protein to both domestic and foreign markets, and this year provided over 400,000 seafood meals for free to families in need to address regional food insecurity. Despite all this, fisheries stakeholders have had no meaningful opportunities whatsoever to engage in policy discussions around this initiative.

The 30x30 initiative is an example of what is commonly called “environmental colonialism.” Policies that would wall off traditional fishing grounds and inhibit access without proper consultation increase corporatization of resources, disrupt local food systems and crush small-scale food producers in favor of mega-industrialized approaches. Just like in the US, small-scale fishermen around the world support coastal economies and food security. Although small-scale fishermen are seldom the cause of overfishing, they often bear the brunt of colonial policies simply because their catch is not monetized and therefore under-valued by global market assessments. Closures that place fisheries out of reach for artisanal fisheries abroad, or community-based fisheries here at home, will increase poverty, hunger and ultimately increase, not decrease, pressure on local resources.

Social justice, food security and climate solutions in the ocean require deep engagement of local stakeholders and triple-bottom-line solutions that integrate ocean, community and people. Marine reserves that exclude low-impact fisheries and ignore the essential contribution of sustainable fisheries to community health and food security cannot be part of the ideal model. Marine reserves that exclude food producers but allow sport fishing represent the worst aspects of white privilege colonialism — setting aside parts of the ocean for those who can afford to play at catching fish while disenfranchising those who support local economies and regional food security.

In his inaugural address, President Joe Biden issued a clarion call for the new administration: “Let’s begin to listen to one another again. Hear one another, see one another, show respect to one another. Politics doesn’t have to be a raging fire, destroying everything in its path.” Community-based fishermen have been loud and clear, seeking to be heard, acknowledged and respected, not consumed in a fire of colonialist policies that would sweep us aside. Ocean climate solutions must happen not to us, but with us.

Surely the Biden-Harris administration is committed to deeper engagement with the working people who risk their lives to feed the nation. The fishermen of America are standing by to be made a part of the team.

Linda Behnken is a commercial fisherman based in Sitka, and serves as executive director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association. She served nine years on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, two years as a U.S. Commissioner to the International Pacific Halibut Commission, and has been involved in state, federal and national policy for almost 30 years. In 2016, she received a White House Champion for Change of Sustainable Fisheries award and in 2020 received the Heinz Foundation award for the Environment for her work promoting sustainable fisheries.

Seaweed Farm Training Program -- February 2, 2021

Alaskans can now register for an online webinar to be eligible to attend a seaweed farm training technical workshop.

Registration for the program is now available on the Alaska Sea Grant website and will remain open until February 1, 2021. In 2020, this program was held in Kodiak, Ketchikan, and Sitka as part of Phase 2 of the Alaska Mariculture Initiative. In February of 2021, this program will be held again for a new cohort of participants, and will be conducted virtually via Zoom due to COVID-19 health and safety mandates.

Registration Deadline February 1st, 2021
Webinar February 2nd, 2021 @ 4-6pm AST
To register, visit: alaskaseagrant.org or https://alaskaseagrant.org/event/seaweed-farm-start-ups-training-program/

More information is available at: afdf.org

Click link to see flyer on workshop: https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:b4a273cd-7fa6-4ed5-b872-b66f48b2ad2e

This virtual format will allow significant expansion of the training program, from 48 participants in 2020 to over 100 in 2021. Registration for the training program will be completed in two parts: 1) all interested Alaska residents are invited to register for a webinar to be held on February 2, 2021 at 4:00pm-6:00pm AST; and 2) webinar attendees will then be eligible to register for an in-depth series of virtual technical multi-day workshops over one week beginning on February 22 (2-3 hours each session). Participation in the February 2 webinar is required to be eligible for the technical workshop series. Please see attachment for a press release on the training program.

Coast Guard issues warning to mariners turning off AIS

Bulletin from the U.S. Coast Guard

ASTORIA, Ore. --- The Coast Guard is issuing a warning to mariners and commercial fisherman about the dangers and legal consequences of disabling a vessel's Automated Identification System.

The Coast Guard has seen an alarming increase of commercial fishing and crabbing vessels disabling their AIS, purportedly in an attempt to keep their fishing spots secret from competition.

"AIS is a vital tool in a host of Coast Guard missions including Search and Rescue and Port Security," said Lt. Collin Gruin, boarding team supervisor at Coast Guard Sector Columbia River. "It's not only illegal to turn it off but also incredibly dangerous."

AIS is a maritime navigation safety communications system adopted by the international community to help save lives and facilitate safe transit of navigable waterways. 

 AIS automatically transmits vessel information to shore stations, other ships, and aircraft. That includes vessel identity, type, position, course, speed, navigational status, and safety-related information.

The regulation (33 CFR 164.46) in part states that all self-propelled vessels, at a length of 65-feet or more, engaged in commercial service and operating on the Territorial Seas (within 12-nautical miles of shore) must maintain AIS in effective operating condition, which includes the continual operation of AIS and its associated devices (e.g., positioning system, gyro, converters, displays) at all times while the vessel is underway or at anchor, and, if moored, at least 15 minutes prior to getting underway. Effective operation condition also includes the accurate input and upkeep of all AIS data fields; an AIS encoding guide has been provided to facilitate complying with this requirement.

Violators of this regulation can expect to receive a civil penalty up to a maximum of $35,486 per violation.

 "Crabbers may think that they are protecting their businesses, but they are actually making search and rescue efforts more difficult if an emergency happens at sea," said Gruin.

-USCG-

Commentary: A haulout will benefit more than Sitka’s boats by Mia Anderson

Click here to listen to commentary on Raven Radio or read transcript below.

Hello, my name is Mia Anderson. I am a high school junior at Mt. Edgecumbe High School and I am also a fisherwoman.

For the past few years, I have spent my summers working on a commercial fishing boat. During my first summer, I traveled to Wrangell, Alaska, to help out with maintenance work that needed to be done on the boat. I helped with work such as painting and fiberglassing, while the captain did much of the electrical and mechanical work. However, despite the amount of work we did on our own, there was still a lot that required the help and work of people with more expertise. As a city-run operation, the Wrangell haulout provides over 100 local tradesmen with a clientele base to support their income, and that, plus the general operation, amounts to a majority of Wrangell’s economy. Wrangell’s haulout exemplifies the opportunities that a new marine haulout could provide for Sitka, economically and community-wise. According to SEDA, Sitka is home to “the largest commercial fishing fleet in Southeast Alaska.” We have a total of five harbors, amounting to 1,272 stalls and over one mile of transient docks. In 2020 alone, 600 vessels have docked in the Sitka Harbor system. In prior years, with no global pandemic, Sitka typically had 1,200 transient vessel visits. Taking these numbers, consider the wide range of opportunities and benefits that a city-run marine haulout could create for Sitka. 

A Sitka-based haulout would be a great convenience and service not only to local fishermen and families but also to commercial fishermen who fish Southeast. It would be more cost-effective for fishermen to have their boats hauled out here than to travel to other areas such as Wrangell, Hoonah, and Bellingham. This would save local fishermen time and money, allow them to spend more time with their families, and keep money in the local economy as they purchase materials and supplies from local vendors and engage the services of local tradesmen. In addition, as people utilize the haulout, this will encourage other highly skilled workers to move to Sitka as they recognize the potential to earn a living. This would help build the population of our community, which has been decreasing in recent years due to high costs of living. Because Sitka is larger, it has more services available (like 24-hour grocery stores, multiple restaurants, two laundromats, two hardware stores, a fishing supply store, etc.), so it would likely be the haulout location of choice for many. All of these businesses and vendors profiting from the haulout would be paying sales tax, which would go back to the city as a profit. Profits could then be used for other public services like schools and libraries. 

In conclusion, the marine haulout, especially a city-run one, would help to develop a stronger infrastructure for Sitka and, ultimately, a more sustainable future for the community. It would greatly support and benefit the local economy and community as a whole. At first, it may be difficult to see the profit and value of a haulout, but it will have a trickle-down effect that will ultimately profit the city, the local economy, the community, and the citizens.

SEAFOOD TRADE RELIEF PROGRAM DEADLINE APPROACHING JANUARY 15, 2021

Fishermen applying for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Seafood Trade Relief Program need to get their applications in by Friday, January 15, 2021.   The USDA extended the application period in large part to give Alaska fishermen more time because the largest pool of applicants are Alaska fishermen, many of whom were actively fishing through the end of 2020.

The program provided roughly $530 million for disbursement as payments on a per pound basis to fishermen impacted by tariffs on sixteen commercially harvested marine fish species.  Fish caught by Alaska and West Coast small boat hook-and-line and fixed gear fishermen such as tuna, salmon, sablefish, geoducks, Dungeness, king and tanner crabs are among the qualifying species.  

The Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency is administering the program.  As of early December, the Farm Service Agency has disbursed roughly $140 million after processing roughly 6,000 applications with another 2,700 applications in process.

To apply, commercial fishermen must complete a “2020 Seafood Trade Relief Program Application” and submit the application to their local Farm Service Agency office.  Eligible applicants must have been active commercial fishermen in 2020 and have harvested specific seafood species in 2019 with a valid federal or state fishing permit or license.  Applicants will have to certify the amount of commercial landings in pounds for the 2019 season.  

The payment amount per fishermen depends on the amount of pounds harvested.  Payment rates reflect the estimated severity of the impact of trade disruption.  Sablefish and salmon payments will be $.10 and $.16 per pound, respectively with higher amounts of $.47 per pound for Dungeness crab and $.76 per pound for geoducks.  If a fisherman caught 100,000 pounds of salmon, the Farm Service agency would calculate the payment as 100,000 x $.16.  There is a $250,000 cap on payments.  Fishermen with an average adjusted gross income of $900,000 or more may or may not be eligible and should contact a Farm Service Agency representative for criteria and other information applicable to this income threshold.

In some cases the Farm Service Agency may require fishermen to submit additional documentation for eligibility, including commercial fishing permits, documentation of landings and other forms.  Agency personnel processing the applications have found it helpful when fishermen submit processor payment summaries or similar documents with the application.  The application includes multiple forms but many of the forms for individual commercial fishermen are for registration purposes and require just basic personal information.

The online application, and other information about the Seafood Trade Relief Program, is available at:  https://www.farmers.gov/manage/seafood 

 There is a Call Center available for fishermen who may need individual support with the application process: (877) 508-8364 and a powerpoint about the program available here:

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDA-FSA-Public/usdafiles/Outreach/Presentations/STRP/STRP%20Producer%20Webinar-for%20pub%20site-no%20speaker%20notes-2020Sept25.pdf 

Sullivan, Markey, Murkowski Welcome Signing of Young Fishermen’s Development Act

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today welcomed the signing of the Young Fishermen’s Development Act, legislation to mitigate the challenges facing the next generation of entrants into the fishing industry by supporting regional training opportunities and apprenticeship programs. Congressmen Don Young (R-Alaska) and Jared Golden (D-Maine) were the lead sponsors of the legislation in the House. 

“Just like the proud men and women of the agriculture sector, Alaska’s fishermen work tirelessly to harvest a valuable renewable resource that feeds our country and the world,” said Senator Sullivan. “The Young Fishermen’s Development Act will build on the success of the USDA’s farmer and rancher development program and invest in the next generation of fishermen by lowering the barriers of entry, expanding training opportunities, and harnessing the experience and wisdom of our more seasoned fishermen. I thank my congressional colleagues and the President for championing our bill to reverse the ‘graying’ of the fishing fleet and ensure Alaska remains the unquestioned superpower of seafood.” 

To read the entire press release, click here