Sitka, Alaska (KINY) Congress approved $3.62 million for supporting commercial fishermen programs across the country.
The funding would provide competitive grants to commercial fishermen s associations. Grants could be used for providing classes, training, and other supportive programs for aspiring fishermen. The idea for this legislation came from recognizing that there were national programs to support young farmers and ranchers, and even people going into aquaculture, but nothing comparable for young fishermen, said Linda Behnken, executive director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen s Association.
Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan introduced the bill in 2019. It received bipartisan support, including from Massachusetts Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren. She was among the bill s co-sponsors.
Pacific cod appears to be rebounding throughout the Gulf of Alaska after long heat wave
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Print article Alaska coastal communities will get a bit of an economic boost in 2021 from increased catches of Pacific cod. The stock, which crashed after a multiyear heat wave starting in 2014 wiped out several year classes, appears to be rebounding throughout the Gulf of Alaska. No cod fishery occurred at all this year in federally managed waters (from 3 to 200 miles out) where the bulk of the harvest is taken, and a catch of under 6 million pounds was allowed in state managed waters (out to 3 miles).
Congress approves bill to train prospective fishermen
by The Associated Press
Last Updated Dec 22, 2020 at 6:28 pm EDT
SITKA, Alaska A bill to establish the nation’s first ever federal program to train prospective commercial fishermen has passed Congress and awaits approval by the White House.
The Young Fishermen’s Development Act was passed unanimously by both the U.S. House and Senate, the Sitka Sentinel reported Monday. The law would provide grants to foster the growth of budding fishermen across the country.
The bill introduced by Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan in 2019 had bipartisan support, with co-sponsors that included Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Democratic U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, both of Massachusetts.
U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan. Sitka, Alaska (KINY) - Congress voted to approve the Young Fishermen s Development Act, a national grant program to support the next generation of America s fishermen.
The bill was sponsored by Alaska U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan and Representative Don Young.
The program is designed to train, educate and foster the next generation of commercial fishermen.
The Act was first proposed in 2015 by the Fishing Communities Coalition, a national advocacy group that represents over 1,000 independent fishermen and business owners from Maine to Florida and California to Alaska.
The Alaska Longline Fishermen s Association has been working for five years to develop and pass the Act.
Alaska coastal communities will get a bit of an economic boost in 2021 from increased catches of Pacific cod.
The stock, which crashed after a multi-year heat wave starting in 2014 wiped out several year classes, appears to be rebounding throughout the Gulf of Alaska.
No cod fishery occurred at all this year in federally managed waters (from three to 200 miles out) where the bulk of the harvest is taken, and a catch of under six million pounds was allowed in state managed waters (out to three miles).
For 2021, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council set the federal cod catch at just over 38 million pounds and nearly 11.7 million pounds for the state. While itâs a bump up, managers caution that the stock remains very low.