Issue: August 2023

Legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Val Hoyle in mid-July aims to clarify whether ports can apply for infrastructure grants to support commercial fishing, and in turn boost coastal communities’ jobs and economies. Hoyle (D-OR) said current law does not make it explicitly clear whether ports can apply for Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) grants supporting commercial fishing, and that’s why she introduced the Support Commercial Fishing in Port Infrastructure Projects Act. The legislation states that any secured PIDP funds can be utilized to support the loading and unloading of commercially harvested fish and fish products. The bill would ensure that ports may apply for federal funding through the Maritime Administration’s PIDP for port infra...

Canada has called for a moratorium on commercial seabed mining, saying that it’s critical that the international community recognize its collective responsibility to safeguard the shared global ocean for future generations. The statement was issued by Canadian Ministers Melanie Joly, Foreign Affairs; Jonathan Wilkinson, Natural Resources; and Joyce Murray, Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard. It came in early July as meetings were beginning in Jamaica for Part II of the 28th International Seabed Authority (ISA) session. “Canada will continue to uphold the principles, rights, duties and obligations in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and negotiate in good faith rules, regulations and procedures, which ensure the prevention of damage from seabed minin...

NOAA Fisheries biologists say harmful algae growing rapidly along parts of the coast of Southern California is believed to be the culprit in the deaths of hundreds of sea lions and nearly 60 dolphins in early June. Reports fielded by the Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute show more than 1,000 incidents of sick and dead marine mammals from June 8-14, Ruth Dover, co-founder and managing director of the institute, said. The institute, which serves Santa Barbara and Ventura counties is part of the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network, which is coordinated by NOAA Fisheries and responds to live marine mammal strandings in both counties. Dover said the institute had been receiving over 200 reports a day of marine mammals in distress and was doing its best to keep up with ...

More than $206 million for salmon recovery and marine habitat restoration are included in the draft Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies funding bill for fiscal year 2024 that was passed by the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee on July 13. Sen. Patty Murray, who chairs the appropriations committee, said the funds, which are via the U.S. Department of Commerce, are a top priority for her. Murray (D-Wash.) has long made clear that she believes the federal government must play a role in funding salmon recovery efforts, particularly as part of its obligation to sovereign tribes. The package includes $76 million for National Marine Fisheries Service’s Pacific Salmon account, a $4 million increase over fiscal year 2023 funding levels, to support the agency’s work with Endangere...

Alaska Marine Lines (AML) has introduced a new rail dock in Seattle to accommodate an increasing demand for Alaska pollock in destinations throughout the Lower 48 states. Much of that pollock was previously routed on vessels offloaded in Bayside, New Brunswick, Canada, followed by a short rail trip within Bayside, to connect to truck bound for eastern U.S. destinations. AML officials said the new dock, announced on July 5, offers a reliable and efficient shipping solution for seafood companies in Alaska. The rail dock is designed to handle transfers from containers to refrigerated rail cars in a streamlined transportation process that enables customers to gain access to intermodal service options, AML officials said. Craig Morris, chief executive officer of Genuine Alaska Pollock Prod...