Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Closing of West Coast Fisheries May Help Alaska

Alaska salmon could get a boost if West Coast fisheries are called off this summer. Federal managers will decide next month if salmon fisheries in Oregon and California should be shut down completely. Washington might dodge the bullet, but that remains to be seen. It would mark the first time ever that the traditional salmon season - which runs from April through mid-November - was canceled.

The crisis stems from major declines in salmon returning to the Pacific coast to spawn in their home waters. Most scientists point to 'broad scale ocean survival problems' as the primary cause for the coast wide salmon collapse. Others blame faulty fresh water management and pollution.
According to the Seafood.com news site, the shut down will jeopardize the livelihoods of nearly 1,000 commercial fishermen. The closures also will kill recreational salmon fishing for millions of anglers.

While the West Coast pain is likely to prompt a gain in interest and prices for Alaska king salmon, and to a lesser degree, coho, it does raise a few red flags. Planet conscious buyers believe they are doing the right thing by not purchasing Pacific salmon because it is endangered ­ and to them, that includes Alaska.

"It's amazing how many times we get asked - 'aren't your fish endangered?' There's a lot of confusion out there in the market place, particularly when they hear reports about all the fish in the oceans will be gone in a few years. We have a real challenge explaining to people that there is no shortage of fish in Alaska," said Ray Riutta, executive director of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI).

http://www.sitnews.us/LaineWelch/031708_fish_factor.html

See also Alaska king salmon fishing

High Moorage Rates in Juneau Drive Out Fishermen

Juneau's moorage rates are the highest in Southeast Alaska. Some fishermen say they left town partly because of them, but port directors say the fees are as low as they can go.
Aldwin Harder moved himself and his fishing boat, the 47-foot Kelcey Michele, to Hoonah three years ago. He said he spends more than $50,000 a year in goods and services in whatever town he fishes from, not including moorage and fuel.

"If you kick me out, you kick that money out," he said.

Nine other boats located on his finger in the Hoonah harbor came from Juneau, he said.
Fees are based on boat length. The annual moorage fee for a 40-foot boat costs $1,687 in Juneau, $1,280 in Petersburg, $1,040 in Ketchikan, $960 in Sitka, $720 in Hoonah, $640 in Haines, $600 in Wrangell, $480 in Skagway and $410 in Pelican.

Juneau's moorage fees rose seven years ago after the state gave up harbor administration to Alaska municipalities, Juneau Harbormaster Lou McCall said. The Department of Transportation funded the city's harbor operations, but it wasn't enough to deal with harbors that in some cases were more than 40 years old.

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/031808/loc_258951066.shtml

New Alaska Cruise Excursions

Small ship cruise line Cruise West will offer seven new shore excursions for 2008 to complement the line's eight Alaska itineraries.

Cruise West, which will have eight ships and 167 departures to Alaska for the 2008 season, has more permits than any other line to enter Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. In total, Cruise West offers more than 63 optional and 14 included shore excursions in Alaska.

Passengers on board Glacier Bay Highlights, Alaska’s Inside Passage or the Gold Rush Inside Passage cruises will enjoy five new or revised shore excursions in authentic Haines, known for its numerous artisans and scenery. A sampling includes: The Chilkat Valley Photography Tour that provides a rare opportunity for guests to focus on photographing the stunning scenery and wildlife of the Chilkat Valley with a local professional photographer.

Guests can retrace John Muir’s footsteps on the Haines Nature and Wildlife Expedition , which offers a comprehensive bus and walking excursion through the local river valleys or get an insider’s look with a knowledgeable local resident of what makes Haines so special on Haines Highlights.

http://cruises.about.com/b/2008/03/15/cruise-west-introduces-seven-new-alaska-shore-excursions.htm

Prices High for Salmon

The Prince William Sound produces the highest prices per pound for sockeye salmon, with Copper River reds fetching upwards of an excess of $12 per pound for the early run.
The bottom of the per pound values for sockeye come from Bristol Bay.

While there are experts who can undoubtedly explain variations for market access, quality, availability and a myriad of other factors, I want to raise the question of how the salmon prices may be affected by the development of oil and gas, mining, industrialization and urban sprawl.

There has been fear cast on Bristol Bay fisherman by the specter of development as a death knell for all Bristol Bay fisheries. While we must be extremely careful and be most diligent in our application of the best science to protect and enhance opportunities for subsistence, sport and commercial fisher people, we need not paralyze our economy by preventing responsible development.

http://thetundradrums.com/news/story/1734

See also salmon fishing in Alaska

Halibut Prices Go High

Alaska halibut fishermen were likely to fetch high prices again as the season got under way on Saturday, March 8.

Longliners holding quota shares of the prized flatfish will haul in about 50 million pounds during the eight-month season, a drop of 2 million pounds from last year.

Whether the startup prices will mimic last year’s blowouts of well over $5 a pound in major ports remains to be seen, but it’s a given they will be high.

"Solid prices generally aren’t locked in until fishing deliveries are made. Prices will be good to start, but I would expect a rather steep backslide to the market by midweek," a major Kodiak processor said.

He added there is some reluctance by major buyers who "got stung fairly badly" on the high opening prices last year, when the halibut cost more than the market would absorb. There also is some inventory of frozen halibut in the nation’s freezers.

"Buyers will scramble to get the fish they need, and it will be expensive," predicted market watcher Ken Talley of Seafood Trend newsletter.

http://thedutchharborfisherman.com/news/story/1695

See also Alaska halibut fishing

Board of Fisheries Appointments

Governor Sarah Palin today announced her recommendations to the legislature for three vacancies on the Alaska Board of Fisheries. Governor Palin is recommending the reappointment of John Jensen, of Petersburg, and Mel Morris, of Kodiak, and the appointment of William Brown, of Juneau, to the board.

"I am pleased to advance the names of these three fine individuals to the legislature for confirmation," Governor Palin said. "They will bring unique knowledge, expertise and balance to the process, and I am delighted that they are willing to serve on this important board."

http://alaskareport.com/news31/z49189_fish_board.htm

Fishing Events in Alaska

The annual banquet for Trout Unlimited and the Midnight Sun Fly Casters will be March 21 in the Tom Rowinski Banquet Room at the Fairbanks Elks Lodge. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at the Alaska Fly Shop and Sportsman’s Warehouse.

Anyone interested in learning the basics of fly fishing and fly tying can sign up for a workshop to be offered later this month through the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Tanana Valley Campus.

Local fly fishing and tying instructor Shann Paul Jones will be leading the “Fly Fishing and Fly Tying Basics” workshop slated for March 29 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the TVCC building on Barnette Street and Seventh Avenue.

http://newsminer.com/news/2008/mar/13/outdoor-calendar---march-13/

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Alaskan Salmon Gets Word of Mouth Marketing

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Bragging doesn't come naturally to Marvin Okitkun, but the Yup'ik Eskimo fisherman doesn't miss a beat when talking up king salmon, the valuable fish that makes life possible for villagers on the cash-poor Yukon River delta.

"Once you've tried our salmon, you wouldn't want to have any other salmon from any other place," Okitkun said. "To us, everything else is hype."

The sterling reputation of the Yukon king is buoying the fragile economies of the tiny delta villages, which are among the state's poorest communities. Strikingly high fuel costs and disastrously low fish counts in the last decade have pushed the mostly Alaska Native region deep into poverty.

To survive, local fishermen have immersed themselves in the language and mindset of the modern gourmet in what has become a successful courtship of the upscale commercial seafood market.

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5g1RYwtlaHANQyvMrUVbkgFSqcjdg

See also Alaskan king salmon

Sunday, March 9, 2008

UFA Opposes Fishing Rights Expansion

The United Fishermen of Alaska are opposing any expansion of the waters and fishing rights around Annette Island. UFA has just sent a letter to the Department of the Interior. Read the full letter here:

http://www.sitnews.us/0308Viewpoints/030608_phil_doherty.html

Location Focus - Sitka, Alaska

It's all about location, location, location. Sitka is a major pit stop on an ocean freeway used by salmon heading to British Columbia, Washington, and other Alaska waters.

Catch rates per angler are higher here than at any other marine area in southeast Alaska, and June is the No. 1 month. Mooch herring off Vitskari Rocks in the middle of Sitka Sound or outside Kruzof Island in the shadow of a towering dormant volcano

http://www.fieldandstream.com/article_gallery.jsp?ID=1000014342

More on Sitka Fishing

Fishing Crew Rescued After Fire

JUNEAU, Alaska -- Nearly 100 members of a fishing boat crew safely abandoned ship after their vessel caught fire off Alaska's Aleutian Islands, a report said Wednesday.

The U.S. Coast Guard in Juneau said more than a dozen fishermen stayed aboard the Pacific Glacier to battle the blaze as rescue aircraft and the cutter Alex Haley sped to the scene.The 253-foot Pacific Glacier is a fish processing ship based in Seattle.

It was working about 136 miles southeast of Dutch Harbor when the fire broke out Tuesday night.The Anchorage Daily News said the fire apparently broke out in the ship's laundry.

http://www.bendweekly.com/Nationwide-News/13916.html

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Yukon River Panel Appointed

Governor Sarah Palin today announced the appointment of eight advisers to the Yukon River Panel. The advisers assist the Yukon River Panel in achieving conservation of salmon stocks originating from the Yukon River in Canada through development and implementation of agreed upon research and management programs, identification of restoration and enhancement opportunities, and submission of recommendations to management entities in Canada and Alaska.

http://alaskareport.com/news28/z49161_yukon_advisers.htm

See also Alaska fishing

Alaskan Fisheries Debate on March 20

KODIAK -- It takes guts to talk fish, but five candidates hoping to snag Alaska's lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives will take on the challenge next month in Kodiak.

Congressman Don Young, state Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Kodiak, and Democrats Diane Benson, Ethan Berkowitz and Jake Metcalfe have agreed to participate in the well-known fisheries face-off. That's the catch: the debate is limited to fisheries and the seafood industry topics.
Since 1990 the fisheries debates at the ComFish Alaska trade show have attracted nearly 100 percent participation by candidates for Alaska governor and U.S. Senate. This year will be the first time that U.S. House candidates participate.

The big hook is that the debate is broadcast across Alaska via Kodiak radio station KMXT and the Alaska Public Radio Network.

"The fishing industry is Alaska's Number 1 private employer and produces more than half of our nation's wild seafood. This debate allows the candidates to share their knowledge and ideas about this vital industry," said Deb King, director of the Kodiak Chamber of Commerce, sponsor of ComFish.

The fisheries debate takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. on March 20.

http://www.adn.com/money/story/324348.html

Health Coverage For Alaska's Fishermen

Affordable health care coverage for America’s fishing families could soon become a reality.

Sens. Ted Stevens and Lisa Murkowski last week introduced the Commercial Fishing Industry Health Care Coverage Act to Congress. The bipartisan bill was co-sponsored by Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts; Congressman Don Young is introducing the same bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The measure would require the secretary of Health and Human Services to fund $50 million in matching grants for fishing states or organizations. The money would help jump-start the process for getting health-care coverage plans up and running based on each state’s needs. The money also would be used to offset individual health care costs and provide group insurance coverage for more fishing families.

http://thecordovatimes.com/news/story/1506

River Poets Film Focuses on Bristol Bay Fishing Resources

Marysville native and former Helena resident Tyson O'Connell has filmed "River Poets," a DVD documenting the invaluable natural resources of Bristol Bay, Alaska.

"The film stresses the importance of salmon fish to the Bristol Bay ecosystem and economy, and focuses on the threat of a proposed open-pit copper and gold mine, the Pebble Mine, in the heart of the world's largest salmon spawning ground," reads the video's jacket introduction.O'Connell, who is studying law at the University of Montana, has been a lifelong outdoors enthusiast.

He attended Capital High School from 1994-98, where he played quarterback for the Bruins and was a standout American Legion baseball player for the Helena Senators. After graduating from Macalester College, O'Connell spent five summers as a fishing guide in Alaska - four of those seasons on the rivers of Bristol Bay.

http://www.helenair.com/articles/2008/02/21/weekly_features/outdoors/100ot_080221_documentary.txt

Fishing Guide Organization Forms In Alaska

A new organization has formed to protect the interests of the charter boat industry in Southeast Alaska. The Southeast Alaska Guides Organization (SEAGO) debuted publicly after almost a year of organizational planning.

Currently conducting a membership drive, the organization will be led by a board of 12, with two representatives from six Southeast areas. Representing Petersburg for the interim phase is Stan Malcom, a local charter boat captain who also serves as president of Petersburg Charter Boat Association.

http://www.petersburgpilot.com/www/stories/022108charters.htm

Alaska Fly Fishing Film Tour

Winter has just about run its course for the Grand Valley, which means the local ponds will warm to the point where anglers can find at least a little flatwater angling to fight off cabin fever.
But until the numerous layers of ice and snow eventually melt from the Gunnison, Fryingpan, Roaring Fork and any other stream you might be dreaming of in late February, the best short-term bet for cabin fever reliever might be the 2008 Fly Fishing Film Tour that lands at the Avalon Theater on March 13.

The tour is brought to us by Merlin, Ore.-based AEG Media, The Angling Exploration Group, which describes itself as a production company “specializing in adventure fly-fishing entertainment.” Among the current offerings are videos from Mongolia, Argentina, Bahamas and Christmas Island.

“We spent 62 days in Mongolia, getting our butts kicked trying to find the elusive taiman, which are close to being endangered,” said Thad Robison, one of the “Fish Bums” that make up AEG Media. “We didn’t take the conservation spin but it’s mainly an adventure documentary, a video journal of four guys in the middle of nowhere, struggling with the weather, transportation, eating strange foods and getting sick.”

The tour this year features eight short videos ranging from 10 to 20 minutes long, all made by small teams of anglers and independent videographers.

http://www.gjsentinel.com/hp/content/sports/stories/2008/02/20/022008_OUT_fish_movie_WWW.html
Also see Alaska fly fishing

Challenges to Tanner Crab Regulations

When the Kodiak Fish and Game Advisory Committee met last week, it wasn’t just to elect new members and talk about letters; they were also there to discuss and make recommendations to the Alaska Board of Fisheries on proposals effecting the crabbing fleet.

The first two on the agenda were proposals 366 and 367, written by Tary Middlesworth. One proposal aimed to repeal the superexclusive registration area as it pertained to the Kodiak Tanner crab fishery. In the second, he wanted to implement crab pot limits based on vessel size.
In Proposal 366, Middlesworth wrote Kodiak’s superexclusive area discriminates against fishermen who have earned the right to fish in other fisheries. He wanted to change the superexclusive to a nonexclusive fishery.

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game crabbing regulations, a vessel that has fished for Tanner crabs in a superexclusive area cannot fish elsewhere. On the other hand, a fisherman can fish in as many nonexclusive areas as the fisherman has permits for.

Fishing Location Spotlight - Wrangell

Here's a little background information on one of Alaska's great fishing areas, Wrangell.

POPULATION: 1,911 (2006)

LOCATION: On the northwest tip of Wrangell Island, 155 miles south of Juneau and 89 miles northwest of Ketchikan, near the mouth of the Stikine River.

DESCRIPTION: A mainly non-Native community with a mixture of Tlingit, Russian, British and American historical influences. Its economy is based on commercial fishing and timber from Tongass National Forest. Fishing and fish processing are important segments of the economy; 250 residents hold commercial permits. Dive fisheries are under development -- 60 divers harvest sea urchins, sea cucumbers and geoducks. Although Wrangell offers a deep-water port, it caters to the smaller cruise ships. Stikine River sportfishing attracts independent travelers. The Alaska Pulp Corp. sawmill was sold to Silver Bay Logging and reopened in April 1998 with 33 employees. Renewed gold mining up the Stikine River has given a boost to the economy. There are three schools, attended by about 440 students.

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/319129.html

Also see other Alaska Fishing Locations