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SitNews - Stories In The News - Ketchikan, Alaska
Friday
November 18, 2011

Front Page Photo By LINDA LICHTY

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Ketchikan: Schafer resigns by Deanna Garrison, KRBD - Listen to this KRBD story
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Ketchikan: Pacific Log and Lumber 20-year lease terminated by Deanna Garrison, KRBD - Listen to this KRBD story...
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Fish Factor: Fishery observers program "restructured" By LAINE WELCH - Coming soon to a small halibut boat near you: fishery observers.

New rules set for 2013 will change how observers are placed on fishing boats as small as 40 feet – and for the first time, they will be aboard longliners.

Onboard observers have been deployed on larger U.S. vessels since the early 1990’s, when fisheries were “Americanized” and all foreign fishing within a 200 mile zone of the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska was terminated. Prior to that, fleets from Japan, Russia, Poland and other nations were tapping Alaska’s groundfish and crab resources starting in 1933.

Fishery observers, who are trained and overseen by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Monitoring and Analysis Division, do not play an enforcement role; rather, they take biological samples of the catch, track bycatch and collect other data for fishery managers and scientists. Observers also are on the job in Alaska processing plants during fish deliveries. Currently, there are about 400 observers working in Alaska’s seafood industry.

Observers were originally deployed according to vessel length. Boats less than 60 feet were exempt from coverage; vessels from 60-125 feet carried observers 30% of the time, and larger vessels had 100% or more coverage.

The “restructured” observer program will expand coverage to vessels “all the way down to 40 feet, and NMFS has the authority to place observers on vessels below that,” explained Julie Bonney, a trawl  industry consultant and director of Alaska Groundfish Data Bank in Kodiak.

And for the first time observers will be aboard longline vessels.

“There’s never been observer coverage in the IFQ halibut fisheries, so now we’ll have information from that sector, as well as all the small vessels,” Bonney said.  “We all have issues and we all need to work hard to address those. So getting that information will help us understand how we can move forward in the best practices.”

Another fisheries first - for both Alaska and the U.S. – collecting data via video cameras that monitor the catch.

“Vessels in the 40 to 57.5 foot sector that are not capable of carrying another person on board  can have that as an option,” Bonney explained.   

 “It’s kind of exciting because electronic monitoring has not been approved in any regional areas in the US as a monitoring tool. So this will really push the envelope to move that technology forward through the observer restructuring package.”

The 2013 launch of the retooled observer program depends on getting a $3.8 million jump start from Congress. Alaska is the only state where for over 20 years, the seafood industry has paid for fishery observer coverage.   Senator Mark Begich said it is time for the federal government to kick in a little.

 “We’ve been doing it all along with our own money. This is an important national resource it is a small amount that can be added to make sure we maintain our sustainable fisheries,” Begich said at a press conference.

 “The good news is that it has made it through the process to date, which is very positive. They are working under the financial limitations and caps of the budget, so that’s good,” he added. - More...
Friday - November 18, 2011


Alaska: Alaska Priorities Secured in Funding Bill - Numerous Alaska priorities including funding for aviation, weather satellites, fisheries enhancement and rural development are contained in an appropriations bill supported by U.S. Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK) & U. S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) which passed the Senate yesterday. The appropriations bill, which funds numerous federal departments, is now on its way to President Obama’s desk.

“Alaska has unique needs, from accurate weather forecasting to safe aviation for our rural communities, and I’m pleased we successfully fought to fund them in this legislation,” Sen. Begich said. “These critical investments in Alaska’s ferries, airports and communities will provide businesses the access and resources needed to create jobs and promote efforts to revitalize our economy."

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski supported final passage of an appropriations bill that combines three appropriations bills – meaning millions for Alaska’s infrastructure and industry in the next fiscal year have been sent to President Obama for his signature.  Murkowski serves on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee and 6 different Appropriations Subcommittees.

When signed, many Alaskan imperatives can now count on resources for the next year, including:

Village Safe Water: Also known as Rural Alaska Native Village Grants, the program is funded at approximately $23 million. VSW funds are used to build ‘washeterias,’ septic tanks, piped systems and holding tanks to provide potable water to a community.

Alaska Ferry Construction: $7.5 million will be directed to maintain current ferries and/or new ferries, along with related infrastructure. - More...
Friday - November 18, 2011

Alaska: Fire Safety for the Holidays - Cooking and heating-related incidents are the leading cause of residential structure fires in Alaska, accounting for almost 75% of the state's total reported residential structure fires. With the holidays approaching, warm, cozy homes and holiday feasts play a major role in our preparations for family gatherings. Unsafe cooking during these holiday gatherings can increase the risk for fire.

These fires can be prevented by simply following a few safety precautions: - More...
Friday - November 18, 2011

Alaska: ALASKA'S MINERAL INDUSTRY GROWS IN STRENGTH AND VALUE - This week the state released Alaska’s Mineral Industry 2010, an annual report published by the Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys (DGGS) and the Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development’s Division of Economic Development (DED). This is the divisions’ 30th consecutive annual report on the state’s mineral industry. The 96-page report shows that Alaska’s mineral industry grew significantly in 2010 in terms of exploration spending, production value, and jobs. - More....
Friday - November 18, 2011


Columns - Commentary

jpg Will DurstWill Durst: Turkey Holocaust Day, 2011 - Let me be among the first 40-foot, helium-filled balloons to kick-start our national parade of giving thanks. That's right, we're just about to butt heads with Turkey Holocaust Day, and to be perfectly honest, it's about time. A little tryptophan poisoning might be the perfect prescription for these trying times.

Doubly comforting because this particular holiday isn't about greasing the wheels of capitalism with the fire-hose of consumer debt like that other holiday about a month down the road, which shall remain nameless. And this one doesn't hide under any religious robes either. It's purely about the journey to Comfort City through the Gluttonous Woods. Food, family, friends and football. Four of the five F's.

So, allow me to express my gratitude for the fourth Thursday of November. One of the little things that go a long, long way to making life worth living. And here are a couple other examples of what a middle-aged, round-headed political pundit bows his head and gives thanks for. - More...
Friday - November 18, 2011

jpg Danny TyreeDanny Tyree: Beating The Stuffing Out Of Thanksgiving - This year I can't think of Thanksgiving without thinking of Barry Manilow's melancholy song "Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again."

Google news items about "Thanksgiving," and amidst the tofu turkey recipes and 2010 versus 2011 price comparisons, you'll find a growing number of stories about (a) Christmas decorations popping up before Halloween, (b) Thanksgiving getting lost in the holiday shuffle and (c) traditionalists denouncing the encroachment of "Black Friday" sales onto Thanksgiving Day.

As both a Christian and someone who knows which side his bread is buttered on (retailers DO pay the bills at the newspapers carrying my column, of course), I can see both sides of the holiday desecration issue. - More...
Friday - November 18, 2011

 
      

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Questions, please contact the editor at editor@sitnews.us or call 617-9696
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letter PARNELL'S GASLINE SHIFT IS A GOOD START By Bill Walker - Governor Parnell recently acknowledged that due to shale gas developments Alaska must change course and export its gas to the premium Asian markets. Owners of Lower 48 and West Coast Canadian liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminals are likewise accepting market realities and converting their LNG receiving facilities into export terminals.  Consequently Parnell now agrees that it is time for Alaska to build a gasline to tidewater to export LNG to Asia. - More...
Saturday - November 19, 2011

letter Obama's Oil Abdication By U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski - Last week the Obama administration proposed a modest expansion of offshore oil drilling in the Arctic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico in its first concessions on offshore production since last year's Deepwater Horizon spill. The five-year plan would, however, keep Atlantic and Pacific sites off-limits in order to avoid a controversial decision before the 2012 election. - More...
Saturday - November 19, 2011

letter RE: Allegations & Shame on the Press By George Hancock - After reading Kelly Ludwig-Johnson's letter to SitNews, I have to say a few words regarding her letter. - More...
Saturday - November 19, 2011

letter RE: Allegations & Shame on the Press By Lynn Cochran - To error is Human? In my opinion, this man is not human. I would consider him to be a monster in disguise. If he is convicted of these allegations in the end, then my only hope will be that he is recongnized for who and what he's done to these children, NOT what he's done for the community of Ketchikan. - More...
Saturday - November 19, 2011

letter RE: Allegations & Shame on the Press By Renee Tacker - I respect Ms. Johnson's dismay at hearing about the horrible things that have alleged to have been done by Ketchikan resident, Mr. Shay. I have been struggling for days with a way to put into words my own point of view without somehow disrespecting hers. So, please, Ms. Johnson, please know that I respect what you're saying and I see what you mean, but at the same time I would like to express my own. - More...
Saturday - November 19, 2011

letter RE: Allegations & Shame on the Press By Marty West - I appreciate Kelly Ludwig-Johnson's compassion. It is commendable but I have none for Jack Shay. - More...
Saturday - November 19, 2011

letter Allegations & Shame on the Press By Kelly Ludwig-Johnson - I have to say that I am shocked to hear of the recent allegations against Jack Shay. I have known this man most of my life, working on my first play with him when I was 17. He has given many years of service to this community and brought Community Theater to life in a small town where distractions from the weather and isolation were welcome. - More...
Tuesday PM - November 15, 2011

letter Time Running Out For Iran By Donald A. Moskowitz - Recently the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency, who thoroughly investigated the Iranian nuclear development program, concluded Iran is developing nuclear weapons.  The evidence, including satellite images, overwhelmingly points to the manufacture of nuclear weapons within the short term, probably on the order of a number of months to a year.  U.S. intelligence information corroborates this assessment. - More...
Tuesday PM - November 15, 2011

letter Yates Building By Matthew Elberson - Although it might seem like a good idea to re-purpose this historic structure, be very careful as there could be a number of reasons why this is a bad idea. - More...
Tuesday PM - November 15, 2011

letter APOC runs amok! By John Harrington - David Scott violated the rules when he sent an email before he filed ‘an intent to run for office’ with APOC. At least so says the Alaska Public Office Commission! - More...
Thursday - November 10, 2011

letter State Commission’s Rejection of S. 730 Merits Praise By Myla Poelstra - On October 28, 2011, the State of Alaska Citizen’s Advisory Commission on Federal Areas held a public meeting where testimony was taken on S. 730 and HR. 1408, the Sealaska Land Bills, now before Congress. - More...
Thursday - November 10, 2011

letter Schoenbar Lego Robotics Club By Frankie Urquhart - I want to publicly thank all of the people who helped out with the Schoenbar Lego Robotics Club Indian Taco Fundraiser two weeks ago. I would like to thank A&P who was so generous and donated almost all of our food; Ketchikan Daily News for running our advertisement for the event; Carrie James-Dodson and Dan Dodson for organizing and cooking at the actual event, and all the parent and student volunteers who donated their time to help. I also wanted to thank all of the community members who turned out to support this program. - More...
Thursday - November 10, 2011

letter Obama Jobs Bill By A.M.Johnson - If Lisa's continued reign were up for a vote today I suppose we both would vote in opposition to her, however for different reasons. - More...
Thursday - November 10, 2011

letter Party Politics By Chris Elliott - Wow! The wealthiest Americans have a responsibility to invigorate infrastructure? As for the Jobs Bill, how has that worked out for us taxpayers in the past? The only thing shovel ready in the last few years has been the rhetoric. - More...
Thursday - November 10, 2011

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