In gubernatorial appointment news: the Alaska Legislature this week confirmed Governor Dunleavy's appointment of Curtis Chamberlain and reappointment of Märit Carlson-Van Dort to the Board of Fisheries, as well as his appointment of Megan O'Neil to the Fishermen's Fund Advisory and Appeals Council. But, in a 30-30 tie vote, the Legislature rejected Dunleavy’s appointment of Mike Porcaro to the Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission. Porcaro, an ad consultant and conservative talk show host, had not applied for the position and had no experience with the fishing industry. 

Federal lawmakers introduced the Fishery Improvement to Streamline Untimely Regulatory Hurdles Post Emergency Situation Act (AKA the "FISHES Act," AKA the "We're Stretching Reeeeaalllly Far to Get These Acronyms to Work Act"). The bill aims to speed up the amount of time it takes to issue payments following fishery disaster declarations, requiring the feds to approve or deny spend plans within 30 days.

Trident Seafoods was awarded a USDA bid for over 5.7 million pounds of Alaska pollock worth over $12 million. So far this year, the government has purchased nearly $63 million worth of pollock. And, the USDA announced last week that it's in the market for another 1.7 million pounds of pollock, over 117,000 cases of canned pink salmon, 36,000 pounds of salmon fillets, and 72,000 pounds of walleye fillets.

This week's Alaska Fisheries Report: new management for the Little Port Walter chinook hatchery, federal management of Yukon River salmon, and Kodiak's commercial salmon forecast.

On Friday's Bering Sea Barometer podcast, Pete Neaton talks with Bering Sea fisherman Dirck Rosenkrans, covers the week's halibut and sablefish catches, and touches on salmon price rumors. 

In NOAA's 2023 Status of US Fisheries report, Bering Sea snow crab was listed as one of the 47 overfished stocks across the US. The fishery has been closed to directed fishing since 2022, when the stock seemingly disappeared. Meanwhile, the NPFMC increased the trawl bycatch allocation from 3.62 million crabs in 2023 to 4.35 million in 2024/2025, noting that fishing mortality isn't the "primary driver" of the current population issues. Even so, it's not a good look.

Jamie Goen, Executive Director of Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers, and Marissa Merculieff, Director of the Office of Justice and Governance Administration for St. Paul Island, were appointed to the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC). 

Last week I noted that Alaskan salmon's MSC certification is being challenged by three Canadian groups who argue that Alaskan fishermen are intercepting fish headed to BC rivers. Another player has entered the chat: The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, a UK-based nature conservation charity, is objecting to the MSC certification due to concerns over gillnet bycatch of seabirds.

Yet another company has filed a lien against Peter Pan Seafoods. Arctic Lady Enterprises, owner of F/V Arctic Lady, filed a claim for roughly $350,000. How many liens is too many liens?

The State of Alaska published a fact sheet on the disposal of treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear incident into the Pacific Ocean, essentially saying it doesn't affect Alaskan seafood. 

Bristol Bay fishermen: BBRSDA will reimburse permit holders 50% of the cost, up to $500, for either themselves or a designated deckhand to take an RSW operator class. There are a few upcoming classes: Marine Refrigeration Solutions is hosting multi-day courses in King Salmon May 16-19 and in Dillingham May 23-26, and IMS is hosting a 4-hour class in Naknek June 6.

Some reminders:

AMSEA has upcoming drill conductor classes and safety trainings! Registration & info here.

AgWest Farm Credit (a sponsor of this newsletter!) offers $15,000 New Producer Grants to newer fishermen. That's free money  The deadline to apply is May 31. Note that the flyer refers to agriculturalists, but the grant program is open to fishermen.

The Halibut Defense Group is intervening in a lawsuit to enforce trawl bycatch reductions. Lawsuits are expensive. If this matters to you, please consider donating to the Halibut Defense Fund.

Applications are open for ALFA's 2024 Crew Training Program.

Real Time Data is looking for halibut and sablefish fishermen to test their e-logbook program, Deckhand, in the GOA this year. Fishermen will receive free software access for 2024 and 2025, a $500 stipend, and an iPad, case, and mount to keep if they participate in the full project duration. Ready to ditch the pen and paper? More info here.