HomeMy WebLinkAbout12062023 PACAB Packet Port & Commerce Advisory Board
Agenda Packet
Q. 1993
Regular Meeting
Decebmer 6,2023
City Council Chambers 12.00 p.m.
1963 1965 2005 The City of Seward,Alaska
An-AmF.�.e 3.i PORT AND COMMERCE ADVISORY BOARD
r MEETING AGENDA
City Council Chambers, 410 Adams Street
Please silence all cell phones and devices during the meeting
Chair Bruce Jaffa Board Member Dwayne Atwood Assistant City Manager Jason
Vice Chair Lynda Paquette Board Member Tom Miller Bickling
Board Member Benjamin Smith Board Member Melissa Schutter Harbormaster Norm Regis
Board Member Frederick Woelkers City Clerk Kris Peck
December 6,2023 at 12:00 p.m.
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
4. CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT (Those who have signed in will be given the first
opportunity to speak. Time is limited to 3 minutes per speaker and 36 minutes total time for this agenda item.)
5. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA(Approval of Consent Agenda passes all
routine items listed under Item 7. Consent Agenda items are not considered separately unless a council member
requests. In the event ofsuch a request, the item is returned to the Regular Agenda. Marked with *.)
6. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS,AND REPORTS
A. Proclamations and Awards-None
B. City Administration Report.....................................................................Pg. 3
C. Other Reports and Announcements
1) Alaska Railroad Report.....................................................................Pg. 5
D. Presentations (Presentations are limited to ten minutes each, excluding Q&A, and are limited to two per
meeting unless increased by council.)-
1) Presentation Briefing on Fish Habitat and Trawling by Johnathan Warrenchuk
7. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Minutes of Preceding Meeting
1)*Approve November 1, 2023 Port and Commerce Advisory Board Meeting
Minutes.......................................................................................Pg. 6
B. Resolutions-None
C. Other Items-None
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS-None
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9. NEW BUSINESS
A. Resolutions-None
B. Other New Business
1) Discuss 2024 PACAB Regular Meeting Topic
2) Discuss Salmon Bycatch...............................................................Pg. 11
10. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required.)
A. Reminder of Meetings
1) Regular Meeting on Wednesday, January 3, 2024
B. Other Items-None
11. CITIZEN COMMENTS (There is no sign in for this comment period. Time is limited to five(5) minutes
per speaker.)
12. BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS AND RESPONSES TO CITIZEN
COMMENTS
13. ADJOURNMENT
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Administration Report
Assistant City Manager
Jason Bickling
Public Works Facility: We are still working towards the 65% design on the Public
Works Facility. This should be coming before Council at the beginning of 2024 for
approval to move to 95%.
Public Safety Feasibility Study: This is being finalized in early December. R&M will be
coming down to present to Council in January.
Lobbying: I met with the state lobbyists to have discussions on our LP/CIP Guide and
priorities for the upcoming legislative sessions. We also had a meeting with the City
Manager and Police Chief to discuss efforts on the Jail operation funding front.
LP/CIP Guides: We should have the printed guides available in early December.
Budget Reviews: Meeting with Department Heads, the City Manager, and Finance
Director to review the budgets for mid-cycle adjustments.
EAP Updating: After our first round of meetings, we are working on the first draft of the
updated EAPs for city facilities
Chugach Rate Case: I sat in on the Chugach Rate Case Prehearings with the City
Attorney. There are a number of other parties involved including most other utilities in
the State as well as some large entities like Enstar, UAA, and JBER. This hearing was
to establish a timeline of events for discovery, testimony, rebuttal, etc. When this is
finalized, I will let the council know.
Land Conveyance: We are in discussions with the Borough on a possible land
conveyance on a property that was foreclosed due to tax burden. I will let the council
know how the progress goes and will be coming with a resolution for permission to
purchase if all works out.
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Administration Report
PACAB
Harbor
Harbormaster Norm Regis
➢ The 50-ton and 330-ton Travelift have slowed down for winter storage; the SMIC yard is
starting to fill up.
➢ We are continuing to train several new harborworkers on the maintaining and operating the
Travelifts.
➢ We are working on the SMIC yard drainage to keep water flowing into the ditches.
➢ We are working on the beach access parking lot located at the South end of SMIC.
➢ Some people like that we are still working with some COVID protocol in mind while
continuing to do boat lifts and public contact in the Seward Harbor office.
➢ We will continue the cleanup at the old Raibow dump area, just a few more items to deal
with and we can lease the property out again.
➢ The harbor office is closed on Sundays for the fall and winter schedule.
➢ We are continuing to work with the Director from the Pacific Northwest &Alaska Maritime
Administration U.S.DOT on finding a suitable grant for the washdown pad project.
➢ We are waiting on funding for the 5-ton crane on I-Dock, Corp Permit has been approved
➢ We are working with a Kenai Peninsula title company on the land acquisition for the Coast
Guard land across the bay.
➢ The Harbormaster and Deputy Harbormaster was at the Pacific Marine Expo in Seattle
promoting the Seward Harbor and SMIC last week.
➢ Updated schedule on the Coast Guard land acquisition:
• Seward FRC Homeport(FY2019 MASI /$1.OM;Anticipated FY2024 MASI/$42M):
Scope: Acquire real property and complete NEPA for future FRC homeport.
Status: CEU Juneau obligated funds on 25 Aug 2023 to purchase a 1.5 acre parcel at the Seward
Marine Industrial Center(SMIC) for future waterfront improvements.
Schedule
Mar 2024: RFP package to contracting.
Apr 2024: Design/Build solicitation released.
Sep 2024: Contract award.
Projected Construction Completion Date (CCD):September 2026
Notes: Construction pends funds appropriation which is anticipated in FY2024.
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ALA�KA
RAILROAD
Port Activity Update December 6, 2023
THE ALASKA RAILROAD'S MISSION -- Through excellent customer service and sound business
management practices, provide safe, efficient, and economical transportation and real estate
services that support and grow economic development opportunities for the State of Alaska.
Port Traffic
• The port is currently busy with winter barge/tug operations and off-season yard storage.
Vessel activity included 190 non-cruise dockings through November 25.
• Local longshore crews offloaded the M/V Quetzal Arrow last week, completing the third
of five scheduled pipe ships this autumn and winter. The pipe, including the most recent
5,000-ton discharge, is bound for the North Slope.
• The rail mainline will close January 15 for bridge projects at Trail River and Falls Creek,
opening again on April 15.
• The Alaska Railroad real estate department recently approved an expanded land permit
for Catalyst Marine, extending operational space for marine repairs at the barge uplands.
Port Capital Projects
• Demolition and removal of the equipment on the coal dock is going forward.The removal
of the coal conveyor and loading equipment is scheduled for 2024.
• Current cruise dock repairs include the catwalk under the dock, deck drainage and east-
side piling. The estimated $2 million in repairs will be completed in early 2024.
• The new cruise dock project is scheduled to begin before 2027. Work will include a longer
dock and a new, larger terminal building positioned north of the current location.
• The freight dock extension and new industrial road project is scheduled for 2026. Most of
the costs will be met by a $19.8 million federal grant the railroad received in 2020.
• Alaska Railroad Administration will present the new cruise dock project plans and bonding
proposal before City Council on January 22.
Dwayne Atwood,Accredited Maritime Port Executive
Seward Port Manager
907-265-2696 office / 907-362-6038 mobile
mailing:PO Box 95, Seward,AK 99664
physical:913 Port Avenue
web:www.AlaskaRailrood.com
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November 1,2023 Port and Commerce Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
CALL TO ORDER
The November 1, 2023 regular meeting of the Port and Commerce Advisory Board was
called to order at 12:00 p.m. by Chair Bruce Jaffa.
OPENING CEREMONY
Bruce Jaffa led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
ROLL CALL
There were present:
Bruce Jaffa,presiding; and
Lynda Paquette Fred Woelkers
Benjamin Smith Tom Miller
Dwayne Atwood Melissa Schutter
comprising a quorum of the Board; and
Jason Bickling, Acting City Manager
Norm Regis, Harbormaster (telephonically)
Tony Sieminski, Acting Harbormaster
Kris Peck, City Clerk
Excused—None
Absent—None
Vacant None
CITIZEN COMMENTS—None
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (Paquette/Atwood) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
Paquette removed Resolution 2023-004 from the consent agenda.
PACAB added a report from the Chamber of Commerce to the agenda.
Motion Passed Unanimous
The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items:
Approval of October 4, 2023 PACAB Regular Meeting Minutes
SPECIAL ORDERS,PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS
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November 1,2023 Port and Commerce Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
Proclamations &Awards —None
Administration Report
Acting City Manager Jason Bickling provided an update on the heat loop project.
Jaffa noted that City Council recently extended the PACAB Heat Loop Ad Hoc Committee
to continue through February 2025.
Schutter asked about infrastructure opportunities and sidewalk improvements. Bickling
said it was on the legislative priorities capital improvements list. Bickling also noted the Kenai
Peninsula Borough was collectively working on safety improvements for roads.
Acting Harbormaster Tony Sieminski said the harbor had received recertification for
being an Alaska Clean Harbor. Next week Sieminski would be attending the Pacific Marine Expo
in Seattle.
Jaffa asked how the harbor department advertised their job openings. Harbormaster
Norm Regis responded (telephonically)that the job postings were advertised in several different
locations, but mostly it was locals coming in and applying for the positions. Regis also provided
an update on X-Float electrical infrastructure project.
Other Reports and Announcements
Alaska Railroad Report
Port Operations Manager Dwayne Atwood summarized from his written report in the
packet. Last night the Alaska Railroad hosted the Halloween carnival at the terminal while there
was a cargo ship offloading.
Jaffa noted the gondola railcars that appeared in Seward with colorful graffiti.
Chamber of Commerce Report from Executive Director Samantha Allen introduced
herself as the executive director as the Chamber of Commerce. The Board of Directors election
window was currently open to chamber members. Allen provided a list of upcoming events around
Seward. Allen summarized from her written report which was provided as a laydown.
Paquette suggested a flat rate cleaning fee would encourage visitors to stay longer and
make the most of the fee.
Paquette asked if the Alaska Clean Harbor designated could be incorporated into the
marketing. Allen said travelers were trending towards environmentally friendly destinations.
November 1,2023 Port and Commerce Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
Miller asked for more detailed statistics on visitors in terms of overall length of stay in
Alaska. Allen said she would try to locate that data.
Woelkers asked what percentage of visitors stays were dependent on fishing. Allen said
one of the chamber's most common questions over the phone was about fishing charters.
Paquette noted the chamber's Hometown Guide was difficult to keep current due to so
many local businesses closing.
UNFINISHED BUISNESS -None
NEW BUSINESS
Resolutions
Resolution 2023-004: Recommending The City Council Approval Of The 2023 Seward Boat
Harbor Plan
Motion (Paquette/Smith) Approve Resolution 2023-004
PACAB recommended adding the Alaska Clean Harbor designation to the introduction of
the plan.
Regis clarified that PACAB reviewed the harbor plan every year, and every five years the
plan had to be approved by City Council.
Jaffa asked about the South Harbor Uplands development project. Bickling said currently
there was just a placeholder in the document for the uplands project.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Other New Business
Discuss Work Session Topics for Council to Prioritize
Paquette wanted to ask council if they could help with trying to simplify the complicated
electric rates. Bickling suggested electric rate simplification as the topic. Jaffa suggested a broader
review of the electric department. Paquette said functionality of the electric department would be
something else entirely.
Jaffa felt that council would not want PACAB to review the electric rates again as it had
already been reviewed recently.
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November 1,2023 Port and Commerce Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
Paquette asked about the future of Sewage Lagoons and other technologies available.
Bickling spoke to other facilities with a smaller footprint that had more advanced technology.
Paquette asked about a climate action plan. Jaffa felt they had enough topics already.
Paquette was under the impression that Seward was the only Alaskan Coastal Community that
didn't have a climate action plan.
Bickling clarified this discussion item would be coming before council on November 27,
2023
Jaffa asked for a Work Session topic for November 15, 2023 since it would be coming up
before council had a chance to review the list. Scutter wanted to use the topic of critical services
and businesses for the next PACAB work session.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS—
Reminder of Meetings —Regular Meeting on December 6, 2023
Other Items -None
CITIZEN COMMENTS—None
BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN
COMMENTS
Scutter thanked Sam Allen for her great Chamber of Commerce presentation.
Atwood said he recently went through maritime training in Longview, Washington. He
visited a port with eight docks moving large amounts of commodities. The new environment
brought a new perspective.
Woelkers said the PACAB work session topics should be specific, because a broad
interpretation could lead to a messy political discussion.
Smith provided an update on the heat pump at the Alaska Sealife Center.
Paquette thanked Sam Allen for her Chamber of Commerce report. Paquette continued to
be excited for the City of Seward and said the future looked bright.
Jaffa said the participation of the community was essential to local government. He
encouraged citizen comments. He thanked Allen for her report and thanked Regis for his
telephonic participation. He felt there was enthusiasm growing in the city due to current
administration
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November 1,2023 Port and Commerce Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 1:30 p.m.
Kris Peck Bruce Jaffa
City Clerk Chair
(City Seal)
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Salmon Bycatch Frequently Asked Questions
Last updated August 2023
North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council)
• Who is the Council?
The Council is an appointed group that recommends management actions for U.S. Federal groundfish
fisheries between 3 —200 nautical miles off Alaska to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce for the overall
benefit of the nation. The Council works closely with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
which is the Federal agency that implements Federal fishery regulations.
• Who is on the Council?
The Council has 15 members, 11 of which are voting members. Alaska has 6 votes (including one for
Alaska Department of Fish &Game), Washington 3, and Oregon 1. NMFS, based in Juneau, also has
one vote. The four non-voting members are from US Fish &Wildlife, US Coast Guard, Pacific States
Fisheries Marine Commission, and the US State Department.
• What is the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Management and Conservation Act (MSA)?
The MSA is the primary law guiding U.S. Federal fisheries management in the 3-200 nautical mile
exclusive economic zone. The MSA established National Standards and other requirements for
conservation and management of fishery resources, and it created a system of eight Regional Councils,
including the North Pacific Council.
Salmon Bycatch Amounts
• What is `bycatch?'
Bycatch is defined in the MSA as fish that are harvested in a fishery but are not sold or kept for personal
use. Discards include species that by law must be returned to the sea (regulatory discards), and fish
that are discarded at the discretion of fishermen because they are not economically worthwhile to keep
(economic discards). Although fishermen try to catch only fish that can be sold, fishing gear is not 100%
selective, and some undesirable fish and other organisms are caught incidentally while fishing. Bycatch
in State waters (0-3 nautical miles) is managed by the State and in Federal waters (3-200 nautical
miles) by the Council. A joint protocol committee between the State and the Council ensures
coordination of efforts.
• What is the difference between bycatch and mixed stock fisheries?
Bycatch does not include the intercept of fish destined for other areas in fisheries that target salmon. In
western Alaska, such fisheries only occur in State waters. Bycatch is not the harvest of a fish in a mixed
stock fishery that are destined to other areas. The management of salmon in mixed stock fisheries (such
as Area M) is under the jurisdiction of the State of Alaska.
• How many Chinook salmon and chum salmon are caught in groundfish fisheries?
In 2022, a total of 6,337 sub-adult Chinook salmon and 242,375 sub-adult chum salmon were taken as
bycatch in all Bering Sea groundfish fisheries, most of which were in the Bering Sea pollock fishery.
Through August 2023, 11,185 sub-adult Chinook salmon have been taken as bycatch in the Bering Sea
pollock fishery (chum salmon are only taken as bycatch in the second half of the year). Very few
sockeye, pink, or coho salmon are caught as bycatch, and are grouped together with chum salmon
numbers for management purposes.
In 2022, a total of 13,173 sub-adult Chinook salmon and 5,250 sub-adult chum salmon were taken as
bycatch in the Gulf of Alaska groundfish fisheries. Through August 2023, 6,513 sub-adult Chinook
salmon have been caught as bycatch. In the Gulf of Alaska, the majority of Chinook salmon bycatch
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occurs in the pollock trawl fishery but fisheries for flatfish, rockfish, and Pacific cod also catch Chinook
salmon as bycatch.
• What regions are the salmon from?
Salmon from the entire Pacific region intermingle in the ocean and are caught as bycatch. Based on the
most recent and available genetic data from the bycatch caught in the Bering Sea pollock fishery, about
40% of the sub-adult Chinook salmon bycatch was estimated to have originated from Coastal Western
Alaska in 2022, and about 23% of the sub-adult chum salmon caught as bycatch originate from Coastal
Western Alaska in 2022. The Coastal Western Alaska stock group includes all rivers draining into
Norton Sound, Yukon River, Kuskokwim River, and Bristol Bay. In the Gulf of Alaska, genetic data have
consistently shown that the vast majority of salmon bycatch is not of Alaska origin (-90+%).
• How does salmon bycatch impact Western Alaska salmon runs?
Scientists conducted an adult equivalency analysis to consider the proportion of Chinook taken as
bycatch that would have been likely to survive long enough to return to western Alaska rivers. Since
2011, impact of Chinook salmon bycatch has reduced the runs by an average of 1.9% for the aggregate
coastal western Alaska stocks and 0.6% for the Upper Yukon River stock. Chum salmon bycatch is
estimated to have affected aggregate coastal western Alaska stocks by 1%. Genetic sampling is done
annually, and evaluations are done regularly to understand how salmon runs are affected over time and
as conditions change.
Salmon Bycatch Management
• What is the Council's program to minimize Chinook salmon bycatch?
Federal law requires that bycatch be minimized to the extent practicable. The Council has developed a
management system that is a blend of hard caps and incentives/penalties for the Bering Sea pollock
fishery to avoid Chinook salmon bycatch at all times. The Chinook caps are `hard' caps that close the
pollock fishery for the remainder of the year if the cap is reached. The Chinook hard caps are also
indexed to the projected abundance of Western Alaska Chinook salmon. In the Bering Sea, the overall
bycatch limit (i.e., hard cap) is either 60,000 Chinook salmon or 45,000 Chinook salmon, depending on
whether the previous year's Chinook run size was average or below average (which triggers lower cap).
The pollock fishery operates under a performance standard. Each year the pollock sectors are allocated
a portion of a lower limit that is intentionally set below the overall cap level. These lower limits are either
47,591 Chinook salmon or 33,318 Chinook salmon depending on Western Alaska Chinook abundance.
The performance standard requires the fleet to not exceed the lower limit in any 3 out of 7 years. The
pollock fishery is incentivized to meet the performance standard because if it reached, the lower limit
becomes the overall hard cap in perpetuity.
• Does the Council's program work?
Since the implementation of the program, Chinook bycatch levels have stayed well below the caps and
the performance standards and the skippers have improved their performance (lower bycatch rates),
demonstrating that incentives/penalties work better than relying solely on caps. The results show that
incentive plans create pressure to avoid salmon whether the vessel/fleet is near the cap or well below
the cap; this is critical to keeping bycatch low in all conditions of both salmon and pollock abundance.
• What is the rate of Chinook salmon bycatch?
It varies by pollock sector, but in 2022 the rate of Chinook bycatch across the pollock sectors was .006
Chinook salmon per metric ton of pollock harvested. In 2022, the pollock fleet harvested 1.06 million
metric tons of pollock with 6,883 Chinook salmon caught as bycatch.
• Is there a hard cap for chum salmon?
The Council has not set limits on chum salmon bycatch. However, the Council initiated action in April
2023 to consider different management alternatives to further minimize chum salmon bycatch,
particularly chum salmon caught as bycatch that are from Western Alaska river systems. The
management alternatives include consideration of a hard cap for chum salmon bycatch..
• What is being done to manage chum salmon bycatch?
Chum salmon bycatch is currently managed under incentive plan agreements in the pollock fishing
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sectors. These agreements provide incentives for captains to avoid Chinook and chum salmon bycatch
under any condition of pollock or salmon abundance. Industry is required by regulation to manage
vessel's chum salmon bycatch to avoid areas and times where the chum salmon are likely to return to
Western Alaska. To meet this requirement, the industry has implemented a rolling "hot spot" closure
program. Areas of high chum salmon bycatch are closed to pollock fishing and fishermen must move to
other areas.
• What else is the Bering Sea pollock fleet doing to avoid salmon?
Captains minimize bycatch of salmon by1) sharing information with other vessels on the water to avoid
hotspots, 2) participating in a program that closes areas of relatively high Chinook or chum salmon
bycatch to vessels that have higher rates of bycatch, 3) moving away from areas when salmon are
taken, 4) using salmon excluders in the trawl nets, 5) avoiding fishing in times of higher Chinook bycatch
(e.g., October), 6) conducting research on methods to further reduce bycatch, and 7) a system of
rewards, penalties, and other incentives included in the fleets' avoidance plans that makes each
individual vessel accountable for their bycatch performance.
Bycatch Monitoring and Estimation
• How accurate are the salmon bycatch estimates?Very accurate. By regulation, all salmon are
retained until counted by an independent, scientifically trained observer, which occurs onboard catcher-
processors or shoreside at the plants for catcher vessels. In the Bering Sea, every pollock vessel
always carries 1 —2 observers, and every pollock delivery is also observed in the shoreside processing
plant.
With 100%—200% observer coverage on the Bering Sea pollock fleet and a complete census of all
salmon (i.e., every salmon is counted), the estimates are accurate and precise. Salmon bycatch is both
counted and genetically sampled every year to understand the stock of origin. Every 101h Chinook
salmon and every 301h chum salmon is genetically sampled.
Gulf of Alaska groundfish fisheries are not under full observer coverage (100%—200% observer
coverage) like they are in the Bering Sea because of regulatory differences. In the Gulf of Alaska, every
pollock vessel must retain all Chinook salmon caught as bycatch. Logged pollock fishing trips are
randomly sampled for observer coverage. All Chinook are enumerated and all Chinook and chum
salmon available to observers are genetically sampled.
• Are there observers and/or cameras on the boats?Yes, on all of them. In the Bering Sea, every
pollock catcher-processor carries two observers and every catcher vessel carries one observer on every
trip. There are also observers in every processing plant taking catcher vessel pollock deliveries.
Cameras are also required to ensure that all catch on catcher processors and motherships is monitored
after it is transferred below deck.
• Is the bycatch sampled for determination of its origin? Both chinook and chum salmon are sampled
to determine their origin. These data are used by fishermen and managers to determine how best to
reduce bycatch.
• Do vessels report their own bycatch data? No. In no case is bycatch reported by the vessels. All
bycatch data in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska are reported from certified observers directly to the
National Marine Fisheries Service.
Bering Sea Pollock Fishing
• Is it possible to catch pollock without catching salmon?
No. Salmon are accidentally caught because they swim in the same areas as pollock, and they cannot
be entirely avoided by the pollock fishery; any fishing gear designed to catch pollock would catch both
pollock and salmon. While bycatch can and should be reduced, it cannot be eliminated without resulting
in significant economic consequences, including loss of fish taxes, Community Development Quota
group income, and yield of target species.
The goal, and the requirement under federal law, is to reduce bycatch to the extent practicable.
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• Who catches Bering Sea pollock?
Pollock are caught with pelagic trawl gear, a cone shaped net. Per Federal law (American Fisheries
Act), half of the pollock quota is caught by catcher vessels delivering to shoreside processing plants in
Alaska, 10% is caught by catcher vessels delivering to motherships (floating processors), and 40% is
caught by catcher-processors who primarily offload in Dutch Harbor.
• What are the dimensions of a pollock trawl net?
Pelagic trawls are constructed to achieve large openings with minimum drag, and herd pollock into the
back of the net (codend)where they are captured. Pelagic trawls typically have an opening of 160-400'
wide by 40-100' high depending on the horsepower of the vessel. Mesh size of a pelagic trawl can be
100' at the opening, progressively getting smaller towards the codend, which typically has 4 to 4.5 inch
stretched mesh.
• Where does the pollock fleet fish?
During the first part of the year, all pollock fishing effort is typically concentrated in the Southern Bering
Sea by Unimak Island. Later in the year, catcher vessels continue to fish this area close to Dutch
Harbor, while catcher-processors typically fish all along the shelf break up to the Russian border.
• Can pollock be caught with hooks or pots?
Fishermen have tried other gears, including seines, hooks and pots, and have learned that pollock,
which are a schooling species, can only be caught in commercial quantities by using trawl nets,
specifically pelagictrawls.
Other
• Why isn't subsistence the Council's highest priority?The MSA requires the Council to make
management recommendations that provide benefits to the entire nation, including subsistence,
recreational, and commercial users, seafood consumers, large and small boat operators, and coastal
communities. The Council is required by law to balance a wide range of factors.
• Why can't the salmon be saved and given to communities that need them? As much as possible,
the food grade salmon captured as bycatch are processed for donations. The regulations prohibit
vessels from retaining salmon unless they are donated through a specific non-profit foodbank program.
Some of those salmon are distributed to rural communities in Alaska.
• Is the salmon taken as bycatch ever sold?
No. Salmon bycatch cannot be retained for sale by law.
• Does the Council coordinate salmon bycatch management with other nations?
Salmon catch data are shared among countries by the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission.
However, in some cases (e.g., Russia), bycatch of salmon is not reported separately from total salmon
catch, and genetic information on stream of origin is not collected.
• Is there research to understand what is happening to salmon in the ocean?
There is significant ongoing research to understand drivers affecting salmon at different stages of its
lifecycle, especially given a rapidly changing climate and marine ecosystem. National Marine Fisheries
Service conducts research on salmon in the marine environment in the North Pacific. The Alaska
Department of Fish and Game conducts research on salmon in freshwater and nearshore environments.
Additionally, in 2022,
U.S. scientists collaborated with scientists from other nations as part of the Pan-Pacific Winter High
Seas Expedition to better understand the ocean phase of salmon life cycle.
If you have more questions or would like more information, please contact us; 907-271-2809 or email
through our link: https.//www.npfmc.orp/contact.
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Prioritized Worksession Topics from Council
Prioritized Topics from 11/27 Council Meeting are Bold and Asterisked
*Alternative Energy Sources: Hydro and Tidal
*Comprehensive Plan, Strategic Plan
*South Harbor Uplands Development including Harbormaster Building
*Sewage Treatment Options
Housing Issues
Paving and Sidewalk Improvements - replacement and extension
Grant pass-through policy
Soliciting Community Groups / Clearinghouse for Community Improvement ideas
Lack of Critical Services and Business
Electric Utility Topics
17
PACAB
Meeting Date Meeting Topic
REGULAR 1/4/2023 Harbor Tariff
SPECIAL 1/18/2023
REGULAR 2/1/2023 Chamber Marketing
SPECIAL 2/15/2023 2.30 Draft Ordinance
REGULAR 3/1/2023 SMIC Development Plan
SPECIAL 3/22/203 HEA Heat Pump/Res 2023-001
REGULAR 4/5/2023 Utility Infrastructure
WS 4/26/2023 Legislative Priorities
REGULAR 5/3/2023 Legislative Priorities Resolution
WS 5/17/2023 Heat Loop Update
REGULAR 9/6/2023 Vessel and Property Tax and AML Attendance
WS 9/20/2023 Emergency Services
REGULAR 10/4/2023 Harbor Plan
WS 10/25/2023 Developing Worksession Topics for Council to Prioritize
REGULAR 11/1/2023 Resolution 2023-004 Harbor Plan/WS Topics
WS 11/15/2023 Lack of Critical Services and Business
REGURLAR 12/6/2023 Fisheries Issues
WS 12/20/2023
18