SE Seine Fleet Reduction Update

Please click on the below links, the first for a letter concerning the process, and second the announcement in the Federal Registry that is referred to in the letter. These items should be arriving in the mail to all permit holders.


https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NzpDMPj6cxlUbR-FlKpphhdlu7tkviEa/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yWA7u0tiN4UX_P3VmpDgTugpzVZl8bqA/view?usp=sharing

FAQ on Ballot Measure 1 from the Lieutenant Governor's website

Please click the link below to be directed to the 9 pages of questions and answers

https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Notices/Attachment.aspx?id=114662

Ketchikan Fish & Game Advisory Committee Meeting

Ketchikan Fish and Game Advisory Committee

Meeting

Thursday, November 15, 2018 at 5:30 pm

Ketchikan Fish & Game Office Conference Room

2030 Sealevel Drive, 2^nd floor

Agenda items include:

·                 Southeast Board of Game proposals

·                 Other Advisory Committee business

The Ketchikan Fish and Game Advisory Committee is a collection of community members from all user groups that come together, discuss Fish and Game issues and recommend changes to current regulations.  They also represent their community before the Board of Fisheries and Board of Game at board meetings.

This is meeting is open to the public and all are welcome to attend.

A teleconference will be available for those not able to attend in person.

For teleconference info or with any questions, please contact:

Jessalynn Rintala, Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Jessalynn.rintala@alaska.gov, (907) 465-6097

Or

John M. Scoblic, KTN AC Chairman jscoblic@trideentseafoods.com, (907) 617-6506

Vote and note Walker has withdrawn from the race

VOTE WHILE YOU FISH - and be sure to check election news if you are outside the state!
 
Please note that the Walker - Mallott Campaign has withdrawn from the Governor's race, but will appear on the ballots as it is too late to change them. 

If you will be fishing or away from home on Tuesday November 6, make plans now to vote absentee or early.

See below for the four ways to vote absentee: 1) in-person, 2) by mail, 3) by fax or electronic submission, and 4) through a personal representative if your are disabled.
 
Candidates for Alaska Governor, U.S. House, 40 State House and 10 State Senate seats, and Ballot Measure No. 1 "An act providing for the protection of wild salmon and fish and wildlife habitat" will be on the ballot for the general election.
 
2018 General Election Information
 
Sample Ballots by District  
(PLEASE NOTE THAT GOVERNOR WALKER HAS WITHDRAWN BUT APPEARS ON THE BALLOTS)
 
 
If you will be fishing, make plans now to vote absentee or early.
There are four ways to vote absentee: 1) in-person, 2) by mail, 3) by fax or electronic submission, and 4) through a personal representative if your are disabled.  
 
1. Absentee In-Person & Early Voting
You may vote absentee in person beginning August 6, and on Election Day.  
Ballots for all of Alaska’s 40 voting districts are available at regional election offices in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and Nome and in the state’s six largest airports on Election Day.
Absentee Voting Locations & dates of availability
 
2. Absentee Voting By-Mail  - deadline October 27 for ballot request.
To cast an absentee vote by mail or electronic transmission, an application for absentee ballot must be filed in advance. Applications can be requested and turned in any time up to seven days before an election. Deadline is October 27 to request a ballot for Absentee Voting by Mail.
Absentee Voting by Mail ballot application
 
3. Absentee voting by Fax and Electronic Transmission
You may now apply for an electronic transmission ballot (beginning 15 days before each Election Day). 
 
By Fax: The division will send a by-fax voting packet that contains a ballot, Voter Certificate and Identification sheet and instructions to the fax number you provided. You will need a witness over age 18 and a Fax machine. 
 
Online: When voting through the secure online delivery system, you will need access to a computer, printer and, if returning the voted ballot through the secure online delivery system, have equipment (such as a scanner) to be able to produce a digital file (PDF, TIFF or JPG) of the completed Voter Certificate and Identification sheet.
Deadline for Requesting an electronic transmission ballot is 5:00 P.M. on August 15, the day before the Primary Election.
 
For voting by fax or online, download the Electronic Transmission Absentee Ballot Application.
 
 
4. Special Needs Absentee Voting through a personal representative (if you are disabled).
See Special Needs voting: http://www.elections.alaska.gov/Core/specialneedsvoting.php
& Accessibility Assistance for Voters: http://www.elections.alaska.gov/Core/disabledvoterassistance.php
 
For additional help contact the Absentee and Petition Office at akabsentee@alaska.gov  or call toll free (877) 375-6508
Alaska Division of Elections Regional Elections offices
 
Polling Place lookup: http://www.elections.alaska.gov/Core/pollingplacelocations.php
 
***************************************************************************
 
Important election dates for 2018:
 
October 22:    Early, absentee in-person, special needs, and electronic submission voting begins
October 27:    Deadline for absentee ballot applications requesting by-mail ballots to be received at Division of Elections.
November 5:  Deadline for absentee ballot applications requesting electronic transmission ballots to be received at Division of Elections.
November 6:  GENERAL ELECTION DAY - Absentee by-mail ballots must be postmarked on or before this       date, and electronic transmission ballots must be received by 8 p.m. AST
 
*** Polls are open on Election Day from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. AST***

ACTIONS OF THE RECENT BOF WORK SESSION THAT IMPACT SE SEINERS

Actions that pertain to SE Alaska Seiners at the BOF Work session Oct 15/16/2018

The BOF took the following actions on ACRs:

Both ACRs 1 and 2 were taken up (Tuesday, October 16th) after the hatchery presentations.

ACR 1: Prohibit VFDA from incubating, rearing, and releasing pink salmon resulting from additional egg take capacity permitted in 2018 and cap egg take capacity (KRSA)

Failed, 1-6 (Morisky, yes)

ACR 2: Cap statewide private non-profit salmon hatchery egg take capacity (Virgil Umphenour) 

Failed, 2-6 (Morisky, Huntington, yes)

ACR 9: Align the Southeast Alaska King Salmon Management Plan with the Pacific Salmon Treaty annex (ADF&G)

Passed, 7-0 proposal will appear on a future agenda. 

ACR 10: Close Sitka Sound commercial sac roe herring fishery until regional herring stock status improves, additional research on herring is conducted, and the amount necessary for subsistence is met in at least three consecutive years (Louise Brady & Peter Bradley)

Failed, 1-6 (Huntington, yes)

Board members felt that this issue was already debated over multiple proposals during the Southeast BOF cycle in January. They recognized that 2018 was an unusual spawning year, but were not interested in debating this issue out of cycle. 

ACR 11: Align regulations for sport fishing services and sport fishing guide services (ADF&G) 

Passed, 7-0 proposal will appear on a future agenda.

Important Dates-

Ketchikan is re-establishing the Fish and Game Advisory Committee to the BOF on October 25^th at 6pm at the Fish & Game Conference room. If you’d like to be a member, or just have interest, please attend. I will be seeking an officer’s seat on behalf of commercial interests.

BOF Hatchery workshops will happen while the BOF is in Anchorage for other meetings, tentative date is 3/8/2019, a one day session no regulator action to take place.

BOF SE Shellfish/Finfish will be held in Ketchikan Jan 4-16 2021

Editorial note: It is obvious that hatchery production is under attack and that attack will be ongoing. I do not need to tell you how important that production is in years of low wild production, and especially this year. ACR2 would have eliminated almost all of the terminal chum production that was the only thing that SAVED the fleet this year. Also the common property harvest that intercepts these fish would also be reduced to an insignificant proportion and value from that which the fisheries has relied on. We have to step up our GAME; and that takes financial resources. If you’re not a paying member of SEAS, and you expect to have a future with your SE permit, WE need your financial support! For as long as records have been kept, about 1/3 of the fleet has paid for a political voice and the statistical work it takes to keep and advocate for your share of the enhanced production. This model cannot sustain the effort needed. We are not frivolous with your dues, and there is currently not a revenue stream to ensure our longevity, and thus your advocacy. If you are an out of state permit holder, the Gubernatorial race is such an unknown, and just got more complicated with the resignation of Lieutenant Governor Mallot. The political climate in Alaska could totally shift, and WE will need to defend our existence. Hopefully, whatever the outcome of the governors’ race, we have elected officials that understand our importance to the state’s economy. That said, there will be the largest freshman legislative delegation in Alaska after this election, than has occurred for a very long time. (I don’t keep those kinds of records, but I trust UFA Board members with their insight). We need to have the resources to meet and educate these new members. That takes money, money we do not currently have. I don’t own a permit, I just believe in the commercial fisheries (seine, gillnet, troll). I’ve spent my professional life advocating for all of the user groups. Whether you seine, gillnet, or troll; we need to have a UNITED voice to weather what is coming. Please as a Seiner step up to the plate personally and financially.

Thanks!

Susan Doherty , SEAS

SEAS October Newsletter

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OUoN0uon3sb2fHbf4lWwI4avclJJ-sAZ/view?usp=sharing

Potential interference from LED lighting

US Coast Guard Alert

August 15, 2018 Safety Alert 13-18

Washington, DC

Let us enlighten you about LED lighting! Potential interference of VHF-FM Radio and AIS Reception

.

The U.S. Coast Guard has received reports from crews, ship owners, inspectors and other mariners regarding poor reception on VHF frequencies used for radiotelephone, digital selective calling (DSC) and automatic identification systems (AIS) when in the vicinity of light emitting diode (LED) lighting on-board ships (e.g., navigation lights, searchlights and floodlights, interior and exterior lights, adornment).

Radio frequency interference caused by these LED lamps were found to create potential safety hazards. For example, the maritime rescue coordination center in one port was unable to contact a ship involved in a traffic separation scheme incident by VHF radio. That ship also experienced very poor AIS reception. Other ships in different ports have experienced degradation of the VHF receivers, including AIS, caused by their LED navigation lights. LED lighting installed near VHF antennas has also shown to compound the reception.

Strong radio interference from LED sources may not be immediately evident to maritime radio users. Nonetheless, it may be possible to test for the presence of LED interference by using the following procedures:

1. Turn off LED light(s).

2. Tune the VHF radio to a quiet channel (e.g. Ch. 13).

3. Adjust the VHF radio’s squelch control

until the radio outputs audio noise.

4. Re-adjust the VHF radio’s squelch control until the audio noise is quiet, only slightly above the noise threshold.

Safety Alert 13-18

5. Turn on the LED light(s).

• If the radio now outputs audio noise, then the LED lights have raised the

noise floor. (Noise floor is generally the amount of interfering signals / static

received beyond the specific signal or channel being monitored.)

6. If the radio does not output audio noise, then the LED lights have not raised the noise

floor.

If the noise floor is found to have been raised, then it is likely that both shipboard VHF marine radio

and AIS reception are being degraded by LED lighting.

In order to determine the full impact of this interference, the Coast Guard requests those

experiencing this problem to report their experiences to Coast Guard Navigation Center1. Select

“Maritime Telecommunications” on the subject drop down list, then briefly describe the make and

model of LED lighting and radios effected, distance from lighting to antennas and radios effected,

and any other information that may help understand the scope of the problem.

This Safety Alert is provided for informational purposes only and does not relieve any domestic or

international safety, operational, or material requirement. Developed by the U.S. Coast Guard,

Spectrum Management and Telecommunications Policy Division. Distributed by the Office of

Investigations and Analysis. Questions may be sent to HQS-PF-fldr-CGF-INV@uscg.mil.

Voter Registration Information

Voter Registration Information
 
Deadline July 22 to register or change your registration, to be eligible to vote in the August 21 primary.
Candidates for Alaska Governor, Lt. Gov, U.S. House, 40 State House and 10 State Senate seats will compete in the primary election to become their party’s nominee in the November 6th general election. Registered voters have two ballot choices.
To vote the Republican Primary ballot you must be registered Republican, Nonpartisan or Undeclared.
Any registered voter may vote the combined Democratic, Libertarian, and Alaska Independence party ballot.

Sample ballots have been posted - see
http://www.elections.alaska.gov/Core/Archive/SampleBallot_2018_Primary.php
 
Find out if you’re registered to vote and lookup your polling place location here:  https://myvoterinformation.alaska.gov/  (you must use your full middle name if it is included in your registration or it will not match.)
 
Thousands of Alaskans are registering to vote or updating their voter registration using the new online voter registration system. Find it here: https://voterregistration.alaska.gov/
 
Prefer to register in-person, by mail, by fax, or by email? …Voter registration form: http://www.elections.alaska.gov/doc/forms/C03.pdf
 
Voter Registration home page: http://www.elections.alaska.gov/Core/voterregistration.php
 
Alaska Primary Election – August 21, 2018

Voting will begin August 6.
Winners of the primary election from their recognized political party (Alaskan Independence Party, Alaska Democratic Party, Alaska Libertarian Party, and the Alaska Republican Party) will advance to the November 6^th general election as their party’s nominee. Unaffiliated candidates will appear on the November 6general election ballots. For candidate contact and sample ballots see:
2018 Primary Election Candidate List – District Search
 
2018 General Election Candidate List (District Search)
 
2018 Primary Election Sample Ballots by District
 
Absentee and early voting home page
 
Important election dates for 2018
 
July 22:            Deadline for voter registration to vote in the August 21 Primary.
August 6:        Early, absentee in-person, special needs, and electronic submission voting begins
August 11:      Deadline for absentee ballot applications requesting by-mail ballots to be received
August 20:      Deadline for absentee ballot applications requesting electronic transmission ballots to be received
August 21:      PRIMARY ELECTION DAY - Absentee by-mail ballots must be postmarked on or before this date, and electronic transmission ballots must be received by 8 p.m. AST.
 
October 7:       Last day to update voter registration or to register to vote in the general election
October 22:     Early, absentee in-person, special needs, and electronic submission voting begins
October 27:     Deadline for absentee ballot applications requesting by-mail ballots to be received
November 5:   Deadline for absentee ballot applications requesting electronic transmission ballots to be received
November 6:   GENERAL ELECTION DAY - Absentee by-mail ballots must be postmarked on or before this date, and electronic transmission ballots must be received by 8 p.m. AST
 
*** Polls are open on Election Day from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. AST***

Look for voter registration and absentee ballot request forms at processor shoreside plants where you see the UFA Vote While You Fish poster.