Today's Main Story: Quinlan Bros. Diverting 
Seafood Processing to Other Plants; Plan to Rebuild as Quickly as Possible
The Quinlan Bros are planning to divert seafood processing to other plants and hope to transition some of the company's workforce to these alternative facilities. The plan was mentioned in the company’s first statement since a massive fire razed much of the Bay de Verde facility earlier this week. The plant employs 700 people at the peak of the season. "The company is working round the clock to put in place arrangements with other producers to add capacity, increase shifts, etc. that will ensure the seafood landed is processed in a timely and high-quality manner," the Quinlan Bros said in a statement. The company also said it will still buy seafood from harvesters. Additionally, the Quinlans said the facility was fully insured and the plan is to rebuild the plant as quickly as possible.
Alaska Gov. Bill Walker's three Board of Fish nominees will go before a final confirmation hearing this Friday. Alan Cain of Anchorage, Israel Payton of Wasilla and Robert Ruffner of Soldotna all testified before the Senate State Affairs committee in an early morning hearing on Tuesday. Most of the questions from the committee members focused on Upper Cook Inlet allocation issues. The Legislature is scheduled to consider confirmations for all the governor's appointees at 11 a.m Alaska time on Friday.
In other news, P.E.I.’s commercial lobster season is scheduled to start on time April 30. The province’s lobstermen are optimistic this year. There is little ice cover left on the lobster fishing waters while market conditions are very favorable for the spring season harvest.
Meanwhile, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources said its 2016 Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey found a 35 percent increase in the crab population compared with last year. The survey indicates there are 553 million crabs in the bay — the fourth highest level in two decades. "With an increase in abundance and steady recruitment, we fully anticipate a robust crab season this year," said Fisheries Service Director Dave Blazer.
Finally, Dr Transform Aqorau, the chief executive of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement, said the decision to stick with the Vessel Day Scheme to manage the region’s tuna fishery was the right choice. According to Dr. Aqorau, the scheme is effective at getting a good value for the tuna harvests for all the member countries.
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