Saving Seafood

Pennsylvania latest state to gain CARES Act spend plan approval

October 6, 2020 — Pennsylvania has joined 11 other states to become the twelfth state to gain approval for its CARES Act spend plan.

The approval has it joining several other states, all of which had to go through a process with NOAA to gain access to funds that were released in May. The funds, which will be made in state-by-state allocations totaling USD 300 million (EUR 254 million), are intended to offset the negative economic impacts the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the U.S. seafood industry.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Senator Murkowski Leads Bipartisan Call to Ensure NOAA Surveys Proceed in 2021

October 5, 2020 — The following was released by The Office of Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK):

In May 2020, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries started canceling research surveys to protect the health of its crews and personnel at sea on account of the COVID-19 pandemic. In support of coastal communities across the country who rely on these surveys as a basis for their livelihoods, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) led a letter, co-signed by 18 of her Senate colleagues, calling on NOAA to identify and resolve any challenges created by COVID-19 that prevented surveys from occurring in 2020 in order to ensure surveys could be successfully executed in 2021.

“The COVID pandemic created formidable challenges for NOAA this year as the agency prepared to execute its annual research surveys. While I understand the decision to cancel this year’s surveys as a result of COVID, it is critical that NOAA Leadership begin preparing immediately for a safe and successful field season in 2021. We cannot lose another year of critical data to this pandemic. I look forward to reviewing the agency’s strategy to ensure that the data we need to properly manage our fisheries and marine resources is collected, while ensuring the safety of all federal personnel,” said Senator Murkowski.

In their letter, the Senators highlight the value of NOAA’s work to fisheries and the blue economy.

“Fishery and ecosystem research surveys are essential to support the U.S. blue economy and provide valuable fishery-independent data needed to carry out provisions of the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA). Data collected from NOAA’s research surveys are used to manage commercial and recreational fisheries that contributed 1.74 million jobs, over $240 billion in sales, and $111 billion in gross domestic product to the U.S. economy in 2017. The economic output of U.S. fisheries is maximized by setting accurate quotas and catch limits, which depend on the long-term, fishery-independent datasets collected by NOAA’s research surveys,” the Senators wrote.

The Senators acknowledge their appreciation for NOAA’s swift, initial response to supplement lost survey data by identifying alternative data collection methods. However, they reiterate that the methods to respond to the early impacts of COVID-19 are not sufficient replacements for the typical large-scale, long-term research surveys required to sustainably manage fisheries under the MSA. In closing, the Senators request a clear, written plan for FY21 surveys before December 15, 2020.

In addition to Senator Murkowski, the letter was co-signed by U.S. Senators Doug Jones (D-AL), Dan Sullivan (R-AK) , Edward Markey (D-MA), Richard Burr (R-NC), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), John Kennedy (R-LA), Margaret Hassan (D-NH), Rick Scott (R-FL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Jack Reed (D-RI), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Angus King (I-ME), Susan Collins (R-ME), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), John Cornyn (R-TX), Christopher Coons (D-DE), and Brian Schatz (D-HI).

A full copy of the letter can be found here and below.

Northern Lights: Eat Seafood, America!

October 5, 2020 — “Eat Seafood, America!” is the driving message of an effort aimed at helping Americans stay healthy during this covid-19 public health crisis as well as boosting the U.S. seafood economy, supporting the 2 million American workers in the seafood industry.

This rapid-response initiative launched in early April has been successful in encouraging consumers to eat more fish and shellfish. Of consumers surveyed in June and July, those who reported seeing the Eat Seafood, America! messaging were three times more likely to have increased their seafood consumption in the last two months.

Supported by the newly formed Seafood4Health Action Coalition of more than 46 organizations (full list is available at eatseafoodamerica.com), convened by Seafood Nutrition Partnership, this unified consumer outreach campaign works to help Americans build habits to eat more sustainable seafood. In the first four months, the integrated consumer outreach campaign earned nearly 300 million potential impressions.

Read the full opinion piece at National Fisherman

U.S. longline captain granted bail while awaiting trial in British Virgin Islands

October 5, 2020 — After more than three months behind bars, U.S. longline fishing captain Michael Foy will be released on bail in the British Virgin Islands while awaiting trial on charges of illegal fishing and illegally entering Tortola’s port, according to his family and lawyers.

“Today was his 10th court date for an alleged illegal immigration violation,” brother Joe Foy said late Friday. “There’s all kinds of paperwork to be done, but he will be out of there (Tortola jail) on Monday.”

The captain’s movements are restricted, and he is staying with a Tortola resident who authorities have accepted as Foy’s sponsor during his bonded release, said Joe Foy.

A trial is tentatively scheduled for next week – probably another remote video hearing, as BVI is under a continuing partial lockdown to control the spread of covid-19, he said. Earlier court dates have been repeatedly cancelled or postponed.

Foy, 60, of Manahawkin, N.J., was jailed June 11, initially charged with illegal entry in violation of the island’s covid-19 precautions, then hit with a charge of illegal fishing, although he had been fishing south of his home port in Puerto Rico far away from BVI waters.

Read the full story at National Fisherman

COVID-19 Leaves Fisheries Observers in the Dark

October 5, 2020 — The COVID-19 pandemic does not appear to have hindered the distant-water fleets of China and other major fishing nations, but it has largely sidelined the fishery observers and port officials who monitor illegal fishing.

“In most of the South Pacific, fishery inspectors cannot come onboard the vessel to do inspections before authorising” the transfer of catch, known as transshipment, says Francisco Blaha, a New Zealand-based fisheries adviser.

The presence of independent observers on trawlers is a frontline deterrent to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. A 2016 study found that a third of the world’s fish catch is not reported.

“The absence of observers will bring a level of uncertainly on reporting” catch, adds Blaha. “The biggest issue we have in the South Pacific is misreporting and underreporting by the licensed fleet.”

This absence comes as the World Trade Organisation (WTO) resumes negotiations in Geneva this month in the latest attempt to reach a consensus on a long-delayed agreement to eliminate harmful subsidies. These promote the IUU and over-fishing that is decimating global fish stocks.

Read the full story at The Maritime Executive

Reminder: October 2020 Council Meeting This Week, October 5-8, 2020

October 5, 2020 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

As a reminder, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold its October Council meeting this week, October 5-8, 2020. Due to ongoing concerns about COVID-19, this meeting will be held by webinar.

An agenda, briefing materials, and webinar connection instructions are available on the October 2020 Council Meeting page. The meeting will begin today at 1:00 p.m. with a meeting of the Executive Committee to discuss the 2021 Implementation Plan. Other topics to be addressed this week include:

  • Spiny Dogfish 2021-2022 Specifications
  • Chub Mackerel 2021 Specifications Review
  • Executive Order 13921 Recommendations
  • Research Priorities Update
  • Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management Updates
  • Joint Council/SSC Meeting
  • Bluefish Allocation and Rebuilding Amendment
  • Recreational Reform Initiative

IMPORTANT WEBINAR UPDATE: For this meeting we will be requiring participants to use the Adobe Connect application. The browser option will not be available. You can download the application for Windows here and for Mac here, or you will be prompted to download the application when you click the link below to join the meeting. We recommend connecting early to ensure that you have the necessary software installed. Additional details and troubleshooting tips can be found in our webinar guide. For telephone-only access, dial 800-832-0736 and enter room number 7833942#.

October 2020 Webinar Link: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/october2020/

Questions? Contact Mary Sabo, msabo@mafmc.org, (302) 518-1143.

Relief is coming for Virginia fisheries, although payments likely won’t be large

October 2, 2020 — Fisheries managers are close to being able to roll out relief for Virginia’s hard-hit fishing industries, although a small federal allocation to the commonwealth means payments aren’t likely to be large, Virginia Marine Resources Commission officials said Tuesday morning.

“Because there were so little funding and such great economic damage, the idea of the sort of trying to make sure you make up the loss for people was not an option on the table,” VMRC Deputy Commissioner Ellen Bolen said during a presentation to the commission. “We just did not have enough money.”

Virginia’s fisheries have been pummeled by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly as restaurants, one of their primary customers, have shuttered or severely curtailed their business. Officials have estimated direct losses to the industry of at least $100 to $120 million, not accounting for trickle-down effects to associated business like boat-building.

Read the full story at NBC 12

For Alaska’s seafood processors, COVID-19 has cost tens of millions of dollars

October 2, 2020 — Seafood processors had a lot to deal with this season.

“Our biggest challenge in 2020 was safely staffing our plants,” said Julianne Curry, the public affairs manager for OBI Seafoods.

“It was a huge lift to get all employees tested, transported, quarantined, and fully integrated into each of our plants all while observing a closed campus and all COVID-related protocols and doing it all with very little time to plan and prepare for the summer salmon season,” she said.

To keep track of how the pandemic is shaping the seafood industry, economists at the McDowell Group have started to publish monthly briefs for the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute.

“It’s interesting to describe a crisis when you’re in the crisis, right? And that’s our situation,” said Garrett Everidge, an economist at the McDowell Group. “The goal is to try to keep up to speed on how the pandemic is impacting the seafood industry and really impacting all stakeholders, from local governments, supply chains, retailers, harvesters, processors.”

Read the full story at KTOO

In a down market, Alaska fishermen avert disaster by feeding families in need

October 2, 2020 — It’s been a hard season for small fishermen in many parts of Alaska because of economic losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. But a seafood donation program started by a Sitka organization is helping bring some stability to fishermen and consumers during an uncertain time.

“I very quickly heard about people who were struggling here in town and that catalyzed us to start talking to local fishermen, local processors, about how we as commercial fishermen could help meet that local need,” Behnken said.

Normally, ALFA is a membership organization that advocates for sustainable fisheries and small fishermen. They also run Alaskans Own, a community supported fishery that sells seafood boxes to people around the country.

But Behnken and her partners decided to branch out to meet the local need brought on by the pandemic. They used grant funds from Catch Together to supplement the price of lingcod, so Sitka fishermen like Foss and her husband could start their season with some security. Then, they created a market for the seafood by delivering it to families who were struggling to make ends meet because of the pandemic.

“The pandemic really created a lot of need around Alaska and around the country from loss of jobs,” she said. “It’s just a particularly difficult time for people and then to be able to have really good quality food coming from Alaska’s healthy oceans. It’s just a really special to be able to provide that and make those connections.”

Soon, Behnken started getting calls from other communities asking her to expand. With the help of outside funders and organizations, they delivered seafood to military families in Alaska and to Tribal communities in the Pacific Northwest. Justin Zuelner is the head of The Wave, the foundation that helped distribute the seafood in the Pacific Northwest.

Read the full story at Raven Radio

Getting back to fishing: Jerry Fraser of Wells, Maine

October 2, 2020 — As editor and publisher of National Fisherman, Jerry Fraser says, one principle always came to his mind amid the ceaseless debates over management, gear types, the ocean environment and the future of fisheries.

Equity.

“I don’t say you shouldn’t be careful, and I don’t say fishery management doesn’t work,” says Fraser, 67, who retired in 2019 after nearly a half-century career in fishing and journalism.

“Fishery management shouldn’t be preoccupied with making it easy. It should make it equitable,” says Fraser. “It’s a tough racket. There’s no argument that’s going to satisfy everyone.”

During a stormy new era of enforced consolidation, transferable quotas and catch share systems, Fraser says he looked for the balance of preserving fisheries and fishing communities.

“You can make a lot of economic arguments against keeping small farms,” he says. “If you make a priority of preserving this industry, we would come out in a different place.”

Fraser’s own life took different turns, from a New York City kid to beginner fisherman during summers in Maine, two threads that wound together to form his adult working life.

Read the full story at National Fisherman