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Calif. Delays Dungeness Crab Fishery South of Sonoma/Mendocino County Line

2Nov

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Calif. Delays Dungeness Crab Fishery South of Sonoma/Mendocino County Line

Commercial fishing for Dungeness crab south of California’s Sonoma-Mendocino county line has been delayed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) due to concerns over potential entanglement with high numbers of humpback whales in the area. The commercial fishery had been scheduled to open on Nov. 15 in fishing Zones 3, 4, 5 and 6. CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham said this week that based on recent surveys large aggregations of humpback whales are continuing to forage in coastal waters of California and allowing use of crab traps would raise the risk of an entanglement. Bonham said his agency will continue to work with both recreational and commercial Dungeness crab fisheries to protect whales and sea turtles while striving to maximize fishing opportunity. Bonham said...

Feds to Allow Additional Foreign Workers in Alaska Commercial Fisheries

Federal officials on March 31 announced that an additional 35,000 visas are being made available for foreign workers willing to fill nonagricultural jobs in the second half of fiscal year 2022. The expected influx of workers is expected to help temporarily fill many jobs at Pacific Northwest seafood processing companies. The announcement was hailed by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Chris Barrows, president of the Pacific Seafood Processors Association in Seattle, as a relief for industry efforts to fill hundreds of onshore and at-sea jobs, particularly in the groundfish sector. Murkowski praised officials in the departments of Homeland Security and Labor for allowing the additional workers. “With the tourism and fishing season right around the corner, and the economic fallout we h...

ComFish Alaska Trade Show Begins March 24 in Kodiak

The ComFish Alaska commercial fisheries trade show, now in its 43rd year, begins Thurs., March 24, and runs through Sat., March 26, in downtown Kodiak, Alaska. This year’s event is back in person, but with options to view conference forums virtually. Topics at this year’s forums range from shellfish in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska to kelp mariculture, the impact of climate change on fishing communities, seafood marketing updates and opportunities and efforts to clean up marine debris. Along with state fisheries biologists and others, speakers will include Alaska Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang, Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Kodiak Port and Harbors Director Michael Sarnowski and Alaska legislators Sen. Gary Stevens and Rep. Louise Stutes, both Kodia...