Alaska's Tight Budget Likely to Pinch Salmon Fishery Management This Season
Some of Alaska’s salmon fishery managers may be among the 20,000 state workers that could be laid off come July 1 because of budget restraints. The ADF&G will attempt to save positions for Alaska’s “significant” salmon fisheries including Bristol Bay sockeye and Southeast pinks. However, managers working in the Kodiak, Cook Inlet and Prince William Sound regions could lose their job. “There is some budget – but how we proceed through the fiscal year from July 1 is still what we’re working on. It’s about 27 or 28 percent of our normal amount. So there is some operating capital for us to work in the field, and do our management jobs and responsibilities,” said Jeff Regnart, director of Commercial Fisheries for the ADF&G.
The Copper River Sockeye fishery is approaching its peak, as escapements have surged to more than double the forecast for this date, and catches are rising also but still below forecast. Harvests to date for sockeye are 248,832 fish. For the latest opening on Monday May 25th, which was 36 hours, total harvest was 138,000 sockeye, vs a preseason estimate of 177,000 for this period.
In other news Swedish researchers have identified the 13 major transnational seafood corporations that control as much as 40 percent of the world’s largest and most valuable fish stocks. The study also concluded these companies produce a significant share of the industry’s revenues; influence fishery management policy; and dictate sustainable fishing practices when compared to the rest of the industry.
Meanwhile, PEI’s lobstermen will operate under a 1,000 lb daily trip limit. The emergency quota was set after processors reported they are backed up with product and short on labor. At the same time live storage capacity is also filled. The result has been thousands of pounds of lobster coming in with nowhere for it to go.
Finally, salmon prices for Northeast product ticked up in early week trading with Chilean supplies limited. A labor strike among Chilean Customs workers—now in its ninth day-- has paralyzed imports to the US market and tightened the available supply of Chilean product this week.
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