KTOO
April 1, 2021 by Sage Smiley, KSTK - Wrangell
New research reaffirms the global importance of Southeast Alaska’s temperate rainforest for combating the effects of climate change. That’s according to data released Tuesday by a coalition of environmentalists and tribes opposed to old growth logging in Tongass National Forest.
Click here to read article on KTOO
by Robert Woolsey, KCAW | May 18, 2021
The map accompanying the Sitka Community Boatyard proposal. If approved, most of the remaining available lots (shown in yellow) eventually could be leased for the project.
The board of Sitka’s industrial park has determined that a grassroots proposal for a new marine haulout facility is worth pursuing further — but wants to hammer out a few details before sending the deal to the assembly.
Find the complete Sitka Community Boatyard proposal, and the Gary Paxton Industrial Park request for proposals, in the May 12, 2021 board packet.
Effort to conserve 30% of the nation’s federal lands and waters faces uphill battle
By Margaret Bauman -
May 15, 2021
A Biden administration plan to conserve at least 30% of federal lands and oceans by 2030 is winning applause from the seafood industry, but questions abound elsewhere, raising political obstacles.
Just about 12% of the nation’s land area is currently under some form of environmental protection, along with about 26% of the country’s ocean areas.
ScienceDaily
Date: May 5, 2021
Source: City University of Hong Kong
Summary:
Biodiversity is of crucial importance to the marine ecosystem. The prohibition of trawling activities in the Hong Kong marine environment for two and a half years has significantly improved biodiversity, a new study has found. Research results showed that the trawl ban could restore and conserve biodiversity in tropical coastal waters.
Anchorage Daily News
May 13, 2021
Author: Mary Peltola | Opinion, Scott Van Valin | Opinion, Michael Kampnich |
The North Pacific Fisheries Management Council process is difficult to navigate. It is a world of acronyms, statistics and legal jargon; but decisions made there impact the lives of all Alaskans, and directly affect allocations of federally-managed species — including king salmon and halibut — to Indigenous, sport and commercial stakeholders. Meetings occur over weeks and can last more than 10 hours per day. It requires significant time to participate, time the average Alaskan does not have. Recently, the Council enacted a policy that makes it more difficult for Alaskans to effectively advocate for their communities, businesses and food sources.
By Jon Warrenchuk, Oceana
May 10, 2021
Fishery management discussions are often complex, with acronyms and jargon that can cloud the conversation. Real-world outcomes of fishery decisions, however, are easier to understand and many members of the public are frustrated with the results. Take, for example, the following issues associated with industrial trawling in Alaska. Any one of these could raise the ire of those who appreciate Alaska’s ocean ecosystems and rely on fish for their livelihoods or to fill their freezers:
Tanner crab fisheries remain closed off Kodiak, while bottom-trawlers dragging for arrowtooth flounder kill millions of crab.
A photo circulating on social media of two killer whales, drowned in a trawl net and dead on the back deck of a factory trawler.
Salmon derbies cancelled, subsistence and sportfishing curtailed, and salmon fisheries closed while trawlers killed tens of thousands of king salmon as bycatch.
Trawlers greatly exceeded their sablefish quotas two years in a row without repercussion.
Herring bycatch limits were lifted in the Bering Sea as soon as trawlers exceeded the cap.
Millions of halibut killed as bycatch by bottom-trawlers, while halibut fishermen see their quotas decline and sportfishing charters are limited to keeping a single halibut per client.
Deep-sea corals, sponges, and other living seafloor habitat damaged by trawling that will take decades to recover, if ever.
Trawl cod-ends stuffed with king crab bycatch and trawl impacts to crab habitat that were ignored by fishery managers while the Bristol Bay red king crab stock collapsed, according to a whistleblower complaint filed by a retired fisheries biologist.
A recent study estimated that bottom-trawling disturbance of carbon-storing ocean muds releases as much greenhouse gas emissions as the global airline industry generates burning jet fuel.
A Seattle-based factory trawler company sued the State of Alaska to avoid paying fish landing taxes.
Jon Warrenchuk is the Senior Scientist and Campaign Manager for Oceana. He lives in Juneau, Alaska.
SeafoodNews.com
April 20, 2021
Several U.S. Senators recently wrote a letter to the Committee of Appropriations urging them to include robust funding for the Young Fishermen’s Grant Program, authorized in the Young Fishermen’s Development Act.
To see entire letter, click here.
Los Angeles Times article
By ANNA M. PHILLIPS, ROSANNA XIA
MAY 6, 2021 7:15 AM PT
Faced with the possible extinction of tens of thousands of species and the growing threat of climate change, the Biden administration on Thursday announced plans to protect 30% of the nation’s land and ocean territory by the end of the decade.
The administration’s proposal comes as California and several other states are already moving ahead with their own plans to protect 30% of their land and coastal waters. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order last year directing state agencies to develop a proposal for achieving this goal.
April 27, 2021
Concerns around energy independence and high costs have led many places in rural Alaska to look for renewable alternatives to fossil fuels. The Department of Energy recently announced the awardees of a new program to help remote communities find clean energy solutions. The Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project, or ETIPP, will help five Alaska towns explore projects from hybrid fishing vessels to reducing reliance on diesel.
Electric vehicle use is on the rise in Alaska, particularly in Southeast, where many communities rely on renewable hydropower. Electric buses are hitting the streets in Juneau and Tok, and states like Washington are exploring electric ferries as a way to save money and reduce carbon footprints.
But what about fishing boats?
Remote Communities Partner with DOE Experts and National Labs to Adopt Clean Energy Solutions that Reduce Energy Costs and Power Disruptions
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced it will work with 11 remote and island communities around the United States and provide federal assistance to bolster their energy infrastructure, reduce the risk of outages, and improve their future energy and economic outlook. Due to their geographic isolation, remote coastal and island communities often face high energy costs and vulnerable energy infrastructure due to their increased risk of natural disasters and climate change. Watch this video to learn more about the program.
“Residents of remote and island communities face energy disruptions, natural disasters, and climate change impacts and pay some of the nation’s highest energy costs,” said Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “These 11 communities—working hand-in-hand with DOE’s network of experts—will implement resilient and secure clean energy solutions. It’s a win-win—environmentally impacted communities will benefit from cheaper, more reliable power in their homes and businesses while our country makes progress toward the Biden Administration’s goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035.”
DOE’s Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project (ETIPP) will leverage the world-class expertise of DOE's experts and National Labs to advance local clean energy solutions and improve resilience for these 11 communities which, like other remote and island areas, often lack the financial resources and the access to experts to plan a clean energy transition. ETIPP employs a community-led and inclusive approach by identifying the energy challenges of each community and providing strategic assistance to help them determine and direct their energy transition.
“As the threats of climate change grow more severe, it is essential that communities across the country make investments in clean, resilient infrastructure,” said Senators Susan Collins and Angus King. “This is especially true for coastal Maine towns, which have both high risks associated with climate change and an immense amount of untapped natural resources at their disposal. This funding will support the efforts of Eastport and Islesboro to build 21st century infrastructure that will support the region’s energy needs in the short-term and lay the groundwork for long-term resiliency.”
"For our island state that has long depended on imported oil, a clean energy future means resiliency and economic security. I want to thank the Department of Energy for selecting two Hawaii communities for the Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project. These projects address two of the most important steps in achieving our goal to become carbon negative by 2045—clean transportation and grid improvements," said Senator Brian Schatz.
“I applaud the Department of Energy for helping island communities plan the best way to meet their unique energy needs in a more affordable, resilient, and sustainable way. The Energy Transitions Initiative is focused on embracing local knowledge and helping community organizations use federal expertise and assistance to find solutions to the unique energy needs of each island community. Accelerating assistance will speed up Hawaii’s transition to renewable energy for our vehicles, homes, and businesses in the face of climate change challenges," said Senator Mazie Hirono.
Previous DOE initiatives helped New Orleans rebuild from Hurricane Katrina with funding for advanced microgrids to power parts of the city and trained Hawaii utilities officials on building more capacity for renewable energy sources.
The 11 selected communities are:
Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association (ALFA), Sitka, Alaska – ALFA’s fishing fleet is reliant on diesel fuel imports, the cost of which makes up most of the fishers’ earned income. With ETIPP, they will investigate the possibility of developing a hybrid fuel or electrified fishing fleet to reduce diesel reliance and increase the earning potential of their members.
Dillingham, Alaska – Barge shipments containing the fossil fuels needed to power Dillingham’s islanded grid are a significant expense to the community. Through ETIPP, Dillingham and neighboring communities will explore the impact and benefits of the Nuyakuk River Hydroelectric Project.
Eastport, Maine – To increase their energy resilience, reduce carbon emissions, and leverage their huge tidal resource potential, Eastport will explore the infrastructure and siting needs of a microgrid which integrates with the existing regional grid.
Honolulu, Hawaii – To harden their electrical infrastructure from the threat of severe weather, Honolulu will look to develop a hybrid microgrid opportunity map that identifies the best opportunities for this technology to support resilience.
Islesboro, Maine – Due to a vulnerable electric infrastructure, Islesboro relies on the mainland for their electricity, oil, gas, internet, and food. Islesboro is seeking to employ energy efficiency measures for their municipal and residential buildings, as well as researching renewable resource potential and storage options to be more self-sufficient.
Kauai, Hawaii – Through ETIPP, Kauai will explore alternative and autonomous mobility options for its residents and tourists to move away from fossil-fuel powered single occupancy vehicles and toward a modern, clean transportation system.
Nags Head, North Carolina – Nags Head is extremely vulnerable to severe weather events and long-term, rising trends in global sea level. To build up their resilience and prevent future disasters, Nags Head will explore various renewable energy and energy efficiency deployments and work toward securing 48 to 72 hours of backup generation for vital facilities used by first responders.
Ocracoke Island, North Carolina – Ocracoke is planning for an electrified future and is exploring electrifying its ferry fleet, which residents are dependent on for transportation to the mainland. ETIPP will analyze the additional grid infrastructure needs that come with an all-electric ferry fleet, and how Ocracoke can best prepare for this future.
Ouzinkie, Alaska – Ouzinkie currently relies on diesel generators and an aging hydroelectric system to power their community but is looking to understand how they can optimize their use of renewables and storage.
Sitka, Alaska – To build up their renewable energy generation to support a growing community with changing needs, Sitka would like to assess the available renewable resources in and around their community while planning for a more modern grid control system.
Wainwright, Alaska – Located in the Arctic Circle, Wainwright is a fully diesel-fired, islanded power grid looking to employ energy efficiency measures and renewable power where possible to decrease its reliance on diesel and increase its community resilience.
These projects are funded by Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Energy Transition Initiative, Solar Energy Technologies Office, Water Power Technologies Office, and are supported by the cross-cutting expertise of DOE’s Office of Electricity. Five regional stakeholder engagement partners will help communities identify and prioritize their energy resilience needs and connect them to experts from DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
In Fall 2021, new communities will be able to apply to be in the second group receiving technical assistance.
For more information, visit the ETIPP website.
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