News Summary July 13, 2017
Today's Main Story: Bristol Bay Poised to Exceed Salmon Harvest Forecast this Week
A common headline these last few weeks has focused on the Salmon coming out of Bristol Bay. With a total run as of July 11 at 40.38 million sockeye and fishing still going strong today, it looks likely that the ADF&G forecast of 41.47 million will be exceeded by the end of this week. It's also likely the final numbers will exceed the predictions of the University of Washington salmon team, which forecasted a total run of 43.1 million. Maybe not by the end of the week, but the strength of the Nushagak and Egigik Districts, and an expected surge in the Kvichak, could make this a banner year.
In other news, Coast Seafoods Company’s Southwest Operations Manager Greg Dale said Tuesday that his shellfish company does not intend or plan to leave Humboldt Bay after the California Coastal Commission narrowly rejected its permit applications in June. Coast Seafoods Company’s permits for its nearly 300 acres of existing shellfish farming operations in northern Humboldt Bay are set to expire in August 2017, but Dale said commission staff and North Coast District Commissioner Ryan Sundberg — who is also Humboldt County’s 5th District supervisor — have committed to coming back in August with options to allow their existing farms to continue.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the American agency that responds to marine mammals in distress has halted its efforts to free large whales trapped in fishing gear following the recent death of a whale rescuer in New Brunswick. Chris Oliver, assistant administrator with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, extended condolences Wednesday to the family of Joe Howlett of Campobello Island after he was killed Monday from freeing a North Atlantic right whale that had been entangled in fishing gear. A close friend of Howlett’s said the 59-year-old veteran fisherman was hit by the whale just after it was cut free and started swimming away.
John Bullard, NOAA Fisheries' Greater Atlantic regional administrator for the past five years, announced Wednesday that he will retire effective Jan. 5, 2018. Bullard took the top job in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Gloucester-based office in 2012. As regional administrator, he has been responsible for leading the agency’s approach to fisheries, habitat, sea turtle, and marine mammal issues from Maine to North Carolina...
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