Alaska Fisheries News

An endangered Blue whale has been killed by an Icelandic whaling company Hvalur hf to be sold for export to Japan, a conservationist organization Sea Shepherd said. "Sea Shepherd volunteers monitoring the Hvalur hf whaling station in Hvalfjordur Iceland have documented the slaughter of an endangered Blue whale on the night of July 7th, the 22nd endangered whale killed and butchered for export to Japan by Kristján Loftsson’s commercial whaling company since June 20, 2018," said a press release. Although the first 21 whales killed were endangered Fin whales – which the Icelandic government has permitted Loftsson’s company to slaughter…

The White House yesterday awarded three NOAA scientists with Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers. The award is the highest honor given by the federal government to outstanding scientists and engineers in the early stages of their careers. Laboratory. The NOAA scientists are part of a group of 102 scientists from across federal agencies that received the prestigious award. “NOAA is home to some of the world’s leading scientific research and our scientists strive each day to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing our planet,” said NOAA Administrator Kathryn Sullivan, Ph.D. “Through their research on improving sustainable fisheries management…

A new high resolution seafloor survey of Pribilof Canyon in the eastern Bering Sea reveals dramatic details of this undersea canyon, and provides information for improved fisheries conservation and management; in particular, provide identification of areas that are potentially hazardous for loss of commercial fishing gear. Previously, only incomplete lower-resolution data were available to describe the morphology of this world-class feature. Pribilof Canyon is one of a family of huge canyons that play a central role in supporting the rich ecosystem of the Bering Sea.

VT Halter Marine Inc. and NOAA launched the first of four planned NOAA fisheries survey vessels on October 17. Christened Oscar Dyson by Peggy Dyson-Malson, wife of the late Alaska fisheries industry leader for whom it is named, the ship will be one of the most technologically advanced fisheries survey vessels in the world. Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), the scheduled keynote speaker, was unable to attend the ceremony at the VT Halter Marine shipyard in Moss Point, Miss., because of a late-breaking vote on the senate floor.

The U.S. House of Representatives issued the Conference Report on H.R. 4775, the 2002 Supplemental Appropriations Act for Further Recovery from and Response to Terrorist Attacks on the United States. The following items may be of particular interest to the maritime community. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) received $2 million to address critical mapping and charting backlog requirements. Of the unobligated balance available, $5 million previously appropriated to the Maritime Administration for the federal maritime loan guarantee program (Title XI) is rescinded. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) received $105 million for additional port security grants…

On Friday, August 2, 2002, the President signed into law H.R. 4775, the "2002 Supplemental Appropriations Act for Further Recovery From and Response To Terrorist Attacks on the United States" which provides supplemental FY 2002 appropriations for continuing the war on terrorism; homeland security activities, including critical funding for the Transportation Security Agency; and recovery efforts in New York. The following items may be of particular interest to the maritime community: the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) received $2 million to address critical mapping and charting backlog requirements. available, $5 million previously appropriated to the Maritime Administration for the federal maritime loan guarantee program (Title XI) is rescinded.