THE BOARD OF FISHERIES and the Board of Game have submitted two nominees to Gov. Frank Murkowski for consideration as the next Department of Fish and Game commissioner. After a special joint teleconference held Monday, the boards chose to nominate acting commissioner Kevin Duffy and retired commercial fisheries biologist John Hilsinger. Duffy has 21 years of Fish and Game experience, while Hilsinger's career culminated with his appointment to directorship for commercial fisheries in the central region. Neither board unanimously backed a candidate, but the Anchorage Daily News reported that United Fishermen of Alaska backed Duffy. UFA spokesman Jerry McCune said his group's choice holds "nothing against the other candidate," but that Duffy had been the group's choice all along. Board of Game member Ben Grussendorf said Hilsinger was given the nod because he was a biologist. The governor's spokesman, John Manly, told the Daily News that Murkowski has indicated he would like to name his choice quickly so he can "get on with life here."
THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME released its salmon capacity survey last week and announced that it had found that the 72 processors responding could exceed the 43.5 million pink salmon forecasters have predicted for this season. The survey found that, with the exception of the AYK region, all the other regions would have sufficient processor capacity to cover the upcoming run of pinks. Fish and Game said the same was true of the capacities to process sockeye, chum and coho salmon. The report was directed to Murkowski, who is expected to weigh its findings and deliver a decision on allowing Russian floating processors to buy pink salmon in certain areas of Alaska this summer.
WARDS COVE PROCESSING plant employees recently laid off will be eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance, according to Shawna Harper, a TAA program coordinator with the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Laid-off Wards Cove workers who were on the job at least 26 weeks during the past year are eligible for unemployment insurance and also will be eligible for trade readjustment weekly benefits as well as a health insurance tax credit. Anyone laid off from Wards Cove beginning January 10, 2002, is eligible for assistance benefits, including job training benefits, job search allowances and relocation allowances. According to Harper, more than 1,300 workers were laid off from Wards Cove locations in Alaska and another 130 in Washington. Harper said that fishermen who sold catch to Wards Cove also may be eligible for assistance but would need to file a petition, which can be printed off the Department of Labor and Workforce Web site at www.jobs.state.ak.us/taa. Harper said other processors that have closed down recently also may have employees that are eligible for assistance, but first the processors must file with her department. "We're trying to get more processors to file because then the fishermen who sold to those processors can (also) petition for assistance," she said.
SEVERE WEATHER that recently has blasted the state of Alaska and the gulf put Coast Guard rescuers to the test in a number of missions during the past week. On Friday the cutter Alex Haley sent a Dolphin helicopter crew to airlift out of Dutch Harbor a 57-year-old man who had suffered a broken neck. Ivan Olsen was loaded aboard the aircraft while 60-knot gusting winds and whiteout conditions blanketed Western Alaska Friday afternoon. Helicopter crews also airlifted 50-year-old Michael Hazen for medical transport after he experienced internal injuries. The helicopter crew brought the men to Cold Bay where they were put on a plane for Anchorage. Also late Friday afternoon, the Coast Guard received a request from Global maritime Systems in Seattle to airlift 41-year-old Maria Zuno from Akutan. Zuno reportedly had suffered possible appendicitis. The Alex Haley helicopter crew responded and took Zuno and her husband to Dutch Harbor.
THE NORTH PACIFIC FISHERIES Management Council's April meetings in Anchorage will cover the gamut of weighty issues facing the region, including recommendations on rationalization efforts in the Gulf of Alaska. The meetings, which run April 2-8, will offer some opportunity for public input on certain issues. To see a complete schedule and to learn about testimony guidelines, see the North Pacific Council Web site: www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc.
THE BOARD OF FISHERIESannounced last week that it is forming a task force to address the state's responsibilities under the North Pacific Fishery Management Council's preferred alternative for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands crab rationalization program. Areas identified that would result in board review may include minimum size limits, guideline harvest levels, boundaries, vessel monitoring, fishing seasons, inseason adjustments and gear/pot limits, among other items. The council's preferred alternative requires congressional action prior to formal federal rulemaking. The board likely will meet and begin its work when and if Congress approves the plan. At its March 17 meeting in Anchorage, the board began to form a mission statement for the task force and collected names of stakeholders who are interested in participating. Contact the executive director Diana Cote by e-mail at diana_cote@fishgame.state.ak.us for more information.
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