Friday, June 23, 2017

Alaska Legislature Averts Shutdown

Alaska Legislature averts shutdown with nine days to spare

By James Brooks, Morris News Service-Alaska/Juneau Empire, Fri, 06/23/2017 - 9:02am
With nine days to spare, the Alaska Legislature has averted a statewide government shutdown.
At 1:04 p.m. Thursday afternoon, a joint House-Senate conference committee approved a compromise budget that funds state government past July 1 using savings from Alaska’s Constitutional Budget Reserve.
The Senate voted 16-1 just before 9 p.m. to approve the deal, and the House followed suit, 31-8, just after 10 p.m.
“This is very much a compromise budget, and that’s what we’ve been down here working on,” said Rep. Paul Seaton, R-Homer and House chairman of the conference committee.
“No one got what they fully wanted. We had to concede; they had to concede, and we came up with this compromise package,” said Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel and Senate chairman of the conference committee…

Thursday, June 22, 2017

DO YOU NEED CREW? HAVE A BOAT AND NO PERMIT?

I've had several calls about experienced and in-experienced crew members. I have a list of names, resumes, and contact information if you find yourself in need of a crew member as the season proceeds along. Also, there is one fisherman out of Sitka who has a SE permit, net, etc... but finds himself without a boat. Contact the SEAS office at 907-220-9466 if you want any information about either.

Monday, June 19, 2017

BIDS FOR CANOE PASS TEST FISHERY

Invitation to Bid: Canoe Pass Test Fishing


 SSRAA and ADF&G are participating in a cooperative test fishery at Canoe Pass, located on southern Etolin Island, to establish a baseline survey. This survey is designed to evaluate the presence of non-targeted/bycatch salmon species in Canoe Pass that may occur during the normal run timing of the summer chum salmon stock during terminal fisheries.

In this cooperative agreement, SSRAA will contract purse seine vessel(s) to conduct baseline fishing using traditional seine gear. The seine activities will be conducted as a one day charter each week over a 5-week period. The contract vessel(s) will be responsible for their own crew and supplies including food, fuel, and net. (full length net and minimum 3 ½ strips in depth).

The sampling period is during statistical weeks 28 through 32, which correspond to the calendar weeks of July 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th, and August 6th. The sampling day during the week will be timed on approximately 7 day intervals, although modifications can be made for weather delays, common property seine openings, or other unforeseen circumstances.

The contract seiner will be required to have enough deck space to accommodate 2 ADF&G personnel and fish sampling gear during the day’s activities. SSRAA will coordinate transportation for ADF&G personnel to the contract seiner. Details regarding the minimum number of sets made for each baseline sampling period, the number of additional sets, and set locations will be developed by ADF&G in an operational plan. In no case, however, will the charter extend for longer than one day fishing per week, and no berthing space or food for ADF&G personnel is required.

 SSRAA requests that respondents bid on the work as a daily charter rate in a lump sum amount for one or more of the five charter days. The 5 charters can be bid at different daily rates. Single vessel and multi-vessel group proposals will be accepted. Bids will be received in writing (email accepted), due on or before 3:00 pm Monday, June 26, 2017. All inquiry phone calls and bid proposals will be kept confidential until after the bid opening at 3:00 pm on Monday, June 26, 2017 at SSRAA administrative offices.

 SSRAA reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received; to negotiate different terms and conditions which may differ from the initial proposals received; and to award any contracts in a manner which is determined to be the most beneficial to SSRAA.

 For further details, questions, or to place a bid please contact David Landis or Bret Hiatt at SSRAA, 14 Borch Street Ketchikan, Alaska 99901; (907) 225-9605 or davidl@ssraa.org or  breth@ssraa.org

Thursday, June 08, 2017

Potential Government Shutdown

Fishermen!! Do you and your crew have all your licenses and permits?

The Governor's Office is sending out press release after press release from all governmental agencies concerning possible impacts if a State budget is not passed by July 1. There are numerous for the fishing industry including but not limited to the following- licenses

  • Suspension of fishing loan requests
  • Issuance of licenses and permits
  • Management of Bristol Bay Sockeye fishery
  • Sampling done by the Department for Pacific Salmon Treaty
  • Sampling by the Department for North Pacific Fisheries Management Council
  • Impact to the International Pacific Halibut Commission's stock assessment program
  • Numerous DEC programs such as oil spill response 
There are too many to list... But could impact Alaskans and Fishers on several fronts. Just make sure you have all you crew licenses and permits up to date so you are able to at least fish!!!