August 2021 – Page 2 – Fishermens News

Spinrad Confirmed as 11th NOAA Administrator, Coit as Fisheries Asst. Administrator

Rick Spinrad, who served as chief scientist of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under the Obama administration, has returned to the federal agency as Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, and 11th NOAA administrator. NOAA Fisheries has also announced the appointment of Janet Coit as NOAA Fisheries assistant administrator. Spinrad is tasked with leading the agency’s strategic direction and oversight of $7 billion in proposed FY22 annual spending to tackle challenges ranging from weather modeling and prediction, and the climate crisis to leveraging non-governmental and private partnerships and promoting a sustainable blue economy. His appointment was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on June 17. Spinrad also previously served as NOAA’s assistant administra...

Me, the Sea & the Frances E

It was the month of October and I was salmon fishing out of Coos Bay, Oregon. At the time I owned a 34-foot salmon boat. Although the season was about over, I was day fishing and catching eight or 10 salmon a day. Days were getting short and I knew it was wise to head for my home port of Crescent City, Calif. On this particular day, I quit early and after delivering my salmon, I tied up in an empty slip. There was a bigger fishing boat on the other side of the float with a “For Sale” sign in the window. I needed a bigger boat as I was crab fishing in the winter. My vessel at that time was not a very good boat for crab fishing. I was fishing 38-inch traps and could only get seven traps in the fish hold at once. The for-sale boat was a 48-foot vessel with lots of open stern deck,...

From the Editor: Offshore Wind

Offshore wind energy development is a subject that has piqued the interest of quite a few in the maritime industry over the past several months, partly because in late June the Biden Administration announced plans to open a number of areas off the California coast to offshore wind development. The issue is so important that there’s an article devoted to it in this month’s issue of the magazine, including comments from representatives of the commercial fishing community. And although the various concerns about the feds’ proposal are legitimate and completely warranted, it’s worth noting that on the other side of the country, offshore wind energy has apparently not harmed fishing, as some thought it would. In fact, according to studies, it has seemed to actually help improve fishing in the...

Marine Propulsion What’s New in the Industry in 2021

Of all the equipment housed on a commercial fishing vessel, propulsion is obviously among the most important. After all, if you can’t be propelled out into middle of the ocean, then your chances of successful deepwater fishing are very limited, at best. Plus, when dealing with rough seas, strong winds and/or high waves, fishing vessels have to be able to cope with the extreme weather conditions at sea at all times. Whether they’re trawlers, live fish carriers or longliners, adapting the equipment optimally to the fishing vessel’s operational profile is vital for efficient operations. Fortunately for the commercial fishing industry, a number of companies around the globe make it their business to advance the state of marine propulsion technology, and create new and different produ...

Canned Octopus with a Kick

Wildfish Cannery of Klawock, Alaska, has partnered with Barnacle Foods, in Juneau, to produce its latest gourmet product, Wildfish Cannery Octopus in Bullwhip Kelp Hot Sauce. Cannery owner Mathew Scaletta, holding octopus ready to can, said he’s wanted to add a spiced octopus to the line-up for years, but needed to work with another Alaska manufacturer that shared his values. Wildfish Cannery’s smoked octopus is a fan favorite with customers who also snap up the company’s salmon geoduck and herring items.

Efforts Increase to Protect Transboundary Rivers from Adverse Impacts

British Columbia Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation Bruce Ralston is moving to boost communications with Alaska to collaborate further on protect habitat in the salmon-rich Stikine Unuk and Taku rivers flowing into Southeast Alaska. Ralston said in correspondence to the Southeast Alaska Indigenous Transboundary Commission (SEITC) in June that the province is committed to ensuring that the effect of mining projects proposed within British Columbia are appropriately assessed in environmental assessment and permitting processes, including appropriate consideration of downstream and cumulative effects. Six years ago, BC and Alaska signed a memorandum of understanding based on resolving mine pollution issues on the transboundary waters. They also agreed to enhance engagement ...

Plan to Restore Roadless Rule to Tongass National Forest Receives Kudos, Criticism

A Biden Administration decision to repeal or replace a U.S. Forest Service rule allowing road construction and industrial old-growth logging in Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska is receiving kudos from fishermen and criticism from the region’s economic development entity. Remarks for and against a U.S. Department of Agriculture plan, which was prompted by the administration’s concerns about climate change, ranged from relief from commercial fish harvesters and conservationists to concerns from the state’s Southeast Conference over potential loss of jobs and economic development. “This fisherman sure feels this is welcome news and most every fisherman in the region would welcome this news,” said Tyson Fick, a Southeast Alaska gillnetter and owner of Yakobi Fisheries and captain ...

Why Healthy Fish Habitats Are Crucial to Our Fisheries

Part 2 of 2: This year, due to yet another year of forecasted low ocean salmon abundances, California commercial salmon harvesters have roughly 85 less days on the water (184 vs. 286 days) compared to 2020, and less in 2020 than in most previous years. This steady reduction in opportunity is intended to ensure that escapement goals for Sacramento River Chinook runs are met. The California portion of the Klamath Management Zone (CA/OR border to Fort Bragg) is also closed completely to commercial harvesters for the second year in a row, due to low fall Chinook returns forecasted for the Klamath River. All across the board, fishing opportunities have been steadily declining – but not as a result of fishing pressures or the need to prevent overfishing. Rather, fishery declines – particular...

Alaska Sea Grant Study Underway Could Aid Rockfish Management

Researchers with the Alaska Sea Grant program are studying rockfish off Gulf of Alaska waters, including interviews with harvesters and fishery managers, in an effort to inform better management decisions for rockfish populations in decline. An Alaska Sea Grant report published on June 23 notes that with increased commercial and sport fishing of nearshore rockfish, fishery managers in Alaska need more information about their size, distribution and relative abundance to make more informed management decisions. The work by researchers Anne Beaudreau and Jesse Gordon is demonstrating how local ecological knowledge has the potential to augment scientific knowledge, improving on what’s known about rockfish and how to better manage them, the report said. Beaudreau, who holds a doctorate in aq...