Thursday, October 17, 2013

Alaska Outdoor News

Moose in yard in Anchorage, Alaska





Alaska Board of Fisheries to Meet in Anchorage, October 18 - 22, 2013

The Alaska Board of Fisheries (board) will meet October 18 - 22, 2013, at the Hilton Hotel, 500 W. Third Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska. During this five-day public meeting, the board will meet to consider 36 proposals regarding Alaska Statewide Pacific cod submitted by the general public, fishing organizations, local Fish and Game Advisory Committees, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

In addition to submitting written public comments, the board also invites members of the public to give oral public testimony during the meeting beginning October 18. Any person intending to testify must sign up at the meeting site at the Hilton Hotel in Anchorage by 2:00 p.m., Friday October 18. Public testimony will continue until members of the public who have signed up before the deadline and who are present have been given an opportunity to testify.

All portions of the meeting are open to the public and a live audio stream is intended to be available on the Board of Fisheries’ website at www.boardoffisheries.adfg.alaska.gov. Documents submitted to the board are intended to be posted online throughout the meeting. Copies of advanced meeting materials including the agenda and roadmap can be obtained by contacting Boards Support Section at 907-465- 4110 or viewed online at: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fisheriesboard.meetinginfo.

The board encourages the public to submit written comments on specific proposals. Written public comments limited to 10 single-sided or 5 double-sided pages in length from any one individual or group will be accepted as a record copy (RC), but will not be inserted in board member workbooks until the beginning of the meeting, and will only be accepted until the board begins deliberation of proposals.

NEW PUBLIC COMMENT STANDARD: Once deliberation of proposals begin at a board meeting, the board will ONLY accept written public comments that are not more than five single-sided pages, or the equivalent double-sided pages, unless specific information is requested by the board that requires more pages than allowed under this standard.

During the meeting, written public comments from any one individual or group may be submitted by hand delivery at any time if 27 copies are provided; as a practical matter, comments submitted after the board begins deliberations on relevant proposals are likely to receive less consideration than comments submitted earlier. Individuals not attending the meeting can submit written comments by fax to (907) 465-6094.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Monday, October 14, 2013

2013 Salmon Harvest Sets New Records

Oncorhynchus gorbuscha

(Juneau) – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) has completed compilation of preliminary values for the 2013 commercial salmon fishery. Powered by a record pink salmon harvest of 219 million fish, this year’s harvest ranks as the second most valuable on record. At $691.1 million, 2013 is only exceeded by the 1988 harvest value of $724 million. In addition to setting a record for pink salmon, the total number of salmon harvested also set a new record at 272 million fish.
“Our salmon managers across the state have done an excellent job of ensuring sustainability of our salmon stocks while optimizing fishing opportunity. We had an outstanding year over-all, though some areas returns did not allow for desired harvest levels,” said Director Jeff Regnart, ADF&G Commercial Fisheries Division. “We are pleased that so many Alaskans are able to enjoy the economic benefits of our salmon resources.”
Sockeye salmon narrowly held onto its position as the most valuable salmon species harvested in Alaska’s commercial salmon fisheries, with a statewide value of $284 million. Almost half of this came from Bristol Bay, where the price was up even though the harvest was modest. Pink salmon, riding a huge wave of production across multiple fishing areas, brought in $277 million. Chum, coho, and Chinook salmon, respectively, filled the remainder of the ranks.
Bristol Bay, usually the most valuable salmon fishery in the state, fell to third place this year behind Southeast Alaska and Prince William Sound. Southeast and Prince William sound realized the largest pink salmon harvests ever recorded in their management areas; just over 91 million pink salmon from Prince William Sound, and 89.2 million pink salmon from Southeast Alaska.
This year’s title of most valuable salmon fishing area in the state belongs to Southeast Alaska, with an all- species harvest value of $219 million. In addition to the $124 million in pink salmon, Southeast chum and coho salmon yielded values of $43.6 million and $23.4 million, respectively. In addition, the Chinook salmon harvest in Southeast Alaska was worth $17 million.
Kodiak and Chignik also had very good years with all-species harvests worth $61 and $23 million, respectively. For the first time in several years, the Alaska Peninsula also enjoyed a decent pink salmon harvest.
The Yukon and Kotzebue management areas had good chum salmon returns, but Chinook salmon returns throughout the Arctic/Yukon/Kuskokwim region were again low and provided no commercial fishing opportunities.
The Upper Cook Inlet sockeye salmon harvest was just over half the forecast. Management restrictions on the sockeye fishery were required to conserve a small Chinook salmon return to the Kenai River.
Values provided by ADF&G are based on estimated ex-vessel prices and do not include post season bonuses or price adjustments. The final value for the 2013 salmon fishery will be determined in 2014 after seafood processors, buyers, and direct marketers report the average prices paid to fishermen in 2013. It is entirely possible that after final prices are determined, the 2013 season, without accounting for inflation, could surpass 1988 as the most valuable salmon harvest in history.

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Alaska Outdoor News - October 5

Fortymile River from Taylor Highway
Fortymile River from Taylor Highway (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

  • Car junkyard becomes prized Alaska fishing spot...Anchorage Daily News
  • 5 charges slapped on Alaska lodge owners accused of baiting bears...Alaska Dispatch
  • It’s been a record year for commercial fishermen in Southeast Alaska, with more than 100 million salmon caught in the region for the first time ever....Juneau Empire
  • One of the two backers of Alaska's controversial Pebble Mine pulled out of the project...Puget Sound Business Journal
  • Scott Johnson and his moose hunting partners see an occasional Fortymile caribou as they travel along the Yukon River between Eagle and Circle, but nothing like they saw last week....Fairbanks News Miner