Senate MSA draft begins circulating, would add subsistence representation to management councils
The newest version of the Magnuson-Stevens Act would include subsistence users and Tribal governments in the updated law. The draft adds subsistence management language alongside existing commercial and recreational protocols and would have those fisheries represented on management councils. The draft is dated April 3 and is not yet available for the public to review though it is circulating around industry circles.
Future Seafood director Pascal Guenneugues told Undercurrent’s Eva Tallaksen that low inventories, combined with growing demand in Asia and stable production mean surimi demand will outstrip supply this year, by maybe 50,000 metric tons or more. However Guenneugues said he is wary about making predictions on any price impact, pointing out that his former expectations that prices would increase at the start of this year did not pan out. While prices of Alaska pollock surimi to Japan increased in yen terms, prices to Europe were stable, he said.
In other news the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation has a project to build a $1 billion mariculture industry over the next 30 years. “We’re not just talking about shellfish farming or aquatic plants but also enhancement and restoration. When you start looking at the industry from that point of view it’s a much broader impact it could have on the state, and you’re also talking about different sets of stakeholders to involve," said the foundation’s director Julie Decker.
Finally, Bill Barry, CEO of Canada’s The Barry Group, opposed the DFO’s coldwater shrimp quota cuts in Newfoundland. Barry said the cuts were not fairly split between the inshore and offshore sectors. “In my opinion, a terrible decision by the federal government,” he said. “It shouldn't have been done.”
We will not be publishing tomorrow April 18 in observance of the Easter holiday weekend and will return on Monday. We wish all of our readers and their families a safe and happy Easter.
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