Fishermens News

17Apr

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Fishermen's News Online, News

New CEO Joins Bumble Bee Seafoods

Seafood industry veteran Andrew Choe has joined Bumble Bee Seafoods as the San Diego-based company’s chief executive officer. His appointment, effective April 1, was announced by Bumble Bee Board of Directors Chair Jerry Chou. In his statement, Chou said that Choe “has priceless knowledge and expertise in our complex industry and is a people-focused leader with a history of helping talented teams succeed.” For eight years, Choe was CEO of StarKist Co., highly engaged in all aspects of the business, including supply chain management, manufacturing, customer and broker relations, innovation and brand building. Most recently Choe served as CEO for SENSEE World, a company that provides products to help the visually impaired. Choe holds degrees in psychology and economics from t...

17Apr

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U.S. Senator Sounds the Alarm on Alaska Fisheries

Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, says his first priority in dealing with the economic woes facing the state’s seafood industry is sounding the alarm in Congress and the Alaska Legislature. Sullivan told participants at the state fisheries meeting ComFish Alaska on April 13 in Kodiak that he has told every member of the Legislature that this is a big deal, and that he’s also sounding the alarm with the federal government. “The executive branch of the federal government can do a lot more,” Sullivan said. “If this was a crisis impacting Wall Street or American farmers, they would have been all over this months ago.” Sullivan said that immediate action and long-term policy actions need to be considered for fisheries challenges all over the state. He also propped up his National Sea...

NPAFC Schedules Salmon Abundance Workshop

17Apr

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NPAFC Schedules Salmon Abundance Workshop

A workshop on salmon abundance and distribution trends has been scheduled by the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission (NPAFC) for June 4-5 in Richmond, B.C., with both in-person and virtual accessibility. The tentative program and abstracts, which were announced April 12, are available on the NPAFC’s website, https://workshop.npafc.org/. While the workshop is free, space is limited, and registrations are being accepted on a first come, first served basis. Details on how to register and make hotel reservations by the cut-off date, May 9 are available on the workshop’s website. NPAFC officials identified as research objectives of the organization’s science plan as improving knowledge of the relative biomass, distribution, migration and fitness of Pacific salmon in the ocean ...

17Apr

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USDA Updates WIC Food Packages to Include More Seafood

Final changes to the new food packages for women, infants and children (WIC) approved by the Department of Agriculture include six ounces of canned fish to food packages for children ages 1-4 and allow canned light tuna, chub mackerel, salmon, sardines and Atlantic mackerel for children. The final changes announced April 9 also include the addition of 10 ounces of canned fish to food packages for pregnant and postpartum participants, and 15 ounces for partially breastfeeding participants. Amounts for fully breastfeeding participants has been adjusted from 30 to 20 ounces. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who has advocated for inclusion of Alaska salmon in WIC food packages since 2014, called the updated program great news for America’s mothers and children. Alaska’s wild salmon is ...

Northern Dynasty, State of Alaska, Seek to Vacate EPA Veto on Pebble

17Apr

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Northern Dynasty, State of Alaska, Seek to Vacate EPA Veto on Pebble

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy is continuing the state’s legal pursuit for the permitting of the proposed Pebble mine by asking the U.S. District Court in Alaska to find the Environmental Protection Agency’s order on state land in Bristol Bay unlawful. A complaint filed April 11 argues that the state is protecting its interests as the landowner from unlawful federal actions, including being dispossessed of its right to manage its own property. The Pebble prospect abuts the Bristol Bay watershed, home of the world’s largest run of wild sockeye salmon. The fishery annually provides thousands of jobs and contributes millions of dollars to the state’s economy. Opponents of the mine contend that the potential adverse environmental impact of the mine would prove a disaster for the fisher...

From the Editor: California’s Salmon Struggles

10Apr

By Mark Edward NeroNo Comments

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From the Editor: California’s Salmon Struggles

California isn’t within the commercial fishing industry’s epicenter, but it is a notable component of the industry as a whole. And currently the state, particularly the northern half, is experiencing a challenge that is literally an existential threat: struggling salmon populations. Salmon once thrived in the rivers that run throughout the state, but due to the construction of dams, they’ve been blocked from reaching many of the cold mountain streams where they once spawned. Additionally, multiple droughts in the state over the years and climate change effects have not helped. In fact, during some periods of the state’s massive drought from 2020-22, the water flowing from dams became so warm that it was lethal for salmon eggs, thereby further diminishing the potential supply of a...

10Apr

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Silver Bay, Peter Pan Reach Agreement on Valdez Facilities

Silver Bay Seafoods has acquired Peter Pan Seafoods’ Valdez, Alaska, processing facilities and also plans to operate Peter Pan’s facilities in Port Moller and Dillingham for the 2024 salmon season, the two processors said in an April 4 joint announcement. Shifting operations of these facilities to Silver Bay Seafoods is a component of a larger restructuring effort, which is still being finalized, the two seafood giants said. The larger restricting plan would have Silver Bay acquiring Peter Pan’s’ processing facilities and support sites after the 2024 salmon season. Peter Pan would remain active in conducting the remaining activities needed to close out 2023 operations, including sales and accounting functions. The two companies said that they’re committed to a seamless tra...

10Apr

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Alaska Legislature Boosts Available Injury Payouts from Fishermen’s Fund

Alaska legislators have boosted from $10,000 to $15,000 the maximum payout allowed for crew injuries and disablement via the state’s Fishermen’s Fund. The fund, which predates statehood, is administered by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. It’s considered an emergency fund payer of last resort. The $5,000 upgrade to the fund was contained in Senate Bill 92, which was approved by legislators on April 4. Clay Bezenek, a commercial salmon and herring gillnetter in Ketchikan, who serves on the board, said that demands on the fund are fewer than they used to be because commercial boat owners are more likely these days to carry medical insurance to cover crew members. He also said the board supports any legislation that modernizes the fund, recalling the d...

IPHC Invites Queries From Potential Management Strategy Advisory Board Members

10Apr

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IPHC Invites Queries From Potential Management Strategy Advisory Board Members

The International Pacific Halibut Commission is inviting inquiries to fill eight vacancies on its Management Strategy Advisory Board (MSAB). The MSAB currently meets at least once annually, in May, for two to four days, with an additional one -to- three -day meeting in October, if needed. Board members serve without compensation from the halibut commission, but travel expenses to board meetings and associated per diem are fully paid for non-government members. The primary role of the MSAB is to advise the commission on the management strategy evaluation (MSE) process. The MSE is a stakeholder-informed, scientifically driven process that supports development of a revised IPHC harvest strategy policy. Primary objectives of the advisory board include recommending clear measurable...

Seafood Solutions Alliance Calls for Emphasis on Humane Working Conditions

10Apr

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Seafood Solutions Alliance Calls for Emphasis on Humane Working Conditions

A global entity of non-government organizations, seafood businesses and others representing over 150 organizations in 30 countries is calling for more environmentally responsible global seafood production, with safeguards in place to ensure social responsibility. The Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions on April 8 that it would release new guidelines on April 11 urging supermarkets, restaurants and other businesses to accelerate efforts to eradicate human and labor rights abuses from their supply chains. The alliance, founded in 2008, represents top retailers, including Costco, Kroger, Target and Aldi, which have sustainable seafood partnerships with non-profits within the alliance. The announcement comes in the wake of new investigations that show forced labor issues i...