Southeast Alaska Purse Seine Salmon Capacity Reduction “Buyback”

Southeast Alaska Purse Seine Salmon Capacity Reduction “Buyback”

The Southeast Revitalization Association (“SRA”) has elected to conduct a new round of bidding. The bidding will be conducted consistent with the final federal rule (50 CFR 600.1107). The bid documents are nearly identical to those used in the prior rounds of bidding. The packets are going in the mail April 9, 2018, and should be received within a week. The mailing labels come directly from the CFEC database, so that is the address they will go to. If you believe you should receive a packet and have not in the next 10-days, you can contact the SRA Manager Robert Kehoe at 888-284-7733. Bids are due to the Juneau accounting firm by May 18^th. The SRA Board will meet shortly after the bids have been tabulated to accept or reject any of the bids. Permit holders who submit bids are free to fish this summer. If a bid is accepted, the permit cannot be transferred or sold during the referendum period.
 You can contact the SRA manager or SEAS (907-220-7630) if you have any questions.

ANITA AND DEEP INLET ROTATIONS - VIEW LINKS BELOW

For the complete Anita Bay news release for the season click on the link below-

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oV8EH7jmpj7ZYZR3F8lvVTevys-WFR8z/view?usp=sharing

For the complete Deep Inlet news release for the season click on the link below-

https://drive.google.com/file/d/14YmRskqcRMHZ9DXQkXyqJW5exb86ASZN/view?usp=sharing

BOARD OF FISH ACTIONS CONCERNING SEINE FLEET

SEAS/USAG BOF 2018 Agreement Summary

Hawk Inlet

USAG Proposal 157 was amended to remove all Amalga sockeye from counting in 15,000 Hawk Inlet cap and the time period was shortened to through July 22^nd only.

Effective 2018-2020

SEAS pulled - 155, USAG pulled 156, both agree to oppose 158

Additional Opportunity Common property and Terminal

Additional Gillnet Opportunity D2, D6, D10 - USAG pulled (154, 169, 170)

THA rotational changes SEAS pulled (140, 143, 145, and 153)

Terminal Rotation changes-

Deep Inlet                                          Anita Bay

2018  1:2 G/S                                      2018  1:1 G/S

2019  1:1                                             2019  1:1

2020  1:1                                             2020  1:1

New THA Areas

SEAS agrees to not oppose 139 SE Cove and 150 Crawfish language to include Gillnet

Both agreed to oppose

    142 NSRAA Deep Inlet proposals

                146 Enhanced allocation plan removing DIPAC from value

                167 Closing waters in D12 D14 past ½ mile of the shoreline due to sockeye concerns

                168 Closing waters in D12 D14 due to king salmon concerns

                166 Creating an index fishery in D12

SPOTTER PLANES! HAVE AN OPINION ON SPOTTER PLANES USED DURING AN OPENING?  HAVE YOU PAID SEAS DUES FOR 2017?  BOF PROPOSAL 159 SEEKS TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF AIRCRAFT TO LOCATE SALMON DURING OPEN PERIODS - The SEAS Board met on November 20^th to review and draft comments on Board of Fish Proposals that will be deliberated during the January 15-23^rd BOF Finfish meetings in Sitka. Our membership is divided on this issue, so we are conducting a poll on whether you are for or against this proposal. If you are a paying member,  you should receive an email or phone call in the next days or weeks asking for your vote. One of the benefits of membership is that SEAS advocates in numerous ways on your behalf. Only members in good standing will be counted. SEAS will endorse the position of the majority of our members.  The Board of Fish process is one of the single most expensive activities SEAS does on behalf of the SE seine fleet. To ensure your opinion is considered renew your membership now! Because this is a time sensitive issue, we must have your vote and membership payment by December 21^st. We have the ability to take credit cards- call (907) 220-9466 or email info@seiners.net.  Members, if you have not received an email by November 27^th, it means your registered email is no longer valid and you will receive a phone call or you can contact the SEAS office at the above mentioned contact avenues. 

NEW FORMAT

The Web site has been updated so the format is compatible with cell, IPAD, or computer formats. Please be patient while we rebuild or provide other ways to access fisheries information links that are important to the fleet. Please feel free to contact the SEAS office if you have some suggested links you would like to see linked.  

More Area Open for Wednesday!!!!!

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/applications/dcfnewsrelease/862476876.pdf

Click the above to view the additional areas open tomorrow!!

Deep Inlet- Troll fish the day before, please be courteous

Deep Inlet is open to Seiners on Wednesday, August 30^th.  Troll is open the day before Tuesday, August 29^th. Please be courteous and respectful of their opportunity on Tuesday to make their intended drags. Troll is open each Saturday after this first week, so they are always fishing the day before the seine opening on Sunday. Please keep this in mind each week, and allow them to fish unobstructed. Thanks to NSRAA for this opportunity for all gears. Good fishing!

BOF Proposal packet available

BOF proposal books are available on line http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fisheriesboard.proposalbook.

Southeast and Yakutat Finfish & Shellfish

January 11-23, 2018

Harrigan Centennial Hall, Sitka

Comment deadline: December 28, 2017

More Bad News

This just in from Troy after flying yesterday

It looked like the run was going to develop well early on but didn’t. Water levels are low in a lot of the non-mainland smaller systems that don’t have a glacier or snow field above them. Not crisis mode yet, but I wouldn’t be surprised to start seeing some die-offs where fish are already up the system.  As a result of concerns for escapement in just pure number fish, is the reason why I closed all of upper 9-B and portions of District 10. Escapement is lagging and downright poor in a few systems. D10 and upper 9-B are at the tail end of the Chatham Strait corridor and returns to these areas have taken a hit by the harvest in northern Chatham and Icy Straits.

Too Much Sun Is Bad For Fish!!

Weather the weather

So I contacted all the Regional Managers about water levels due to this extended dry spell. Everyone said it was not a concern yet except… today's surveys of lower District 3 showed very low water levels. A few of the Klakas streams had dried up completely. As Scott Walker said in his email, “I guess we now have something else to worry about.” He said Island streams on POW are the first to go dry.
Hopefully we won’t lose a significant number of the early escaped fish in systems that are prone to drying up. I’ll try to keep you updated as information is provided. Love the sun, but love the fish more!!  I don’t see any forecast of rain until Saturday.