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#02-20-2014 - ComFish News Roundup

Sen. Murkowski addresses Legislature on federal issues (full audio)
By KTOO News Department
KTOO
Posted on February 18, 2014 at 3:29 pm
Updated story Feb. 19, 2014, 1:03 p.m.
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said the state must be aggressive in developing lands where it has some control. Murkowski, in an address to a joint session of the Alaska Legislature on Wednesday, said she admired lawmakers’  “courage” in passing an oil tax cut that she said promotes investment. She said the Legislature has taken serious steps to try to boost oil flow through the trans-Alaska pipeline system and it’s long-past time for the federal government to do the same. Murkowski said while the Interior Department has sold leases in Arctic waters off Alaska, it hasn’t shown it wants development to occur. Murkowski also criticized the federal government for dragging its feet on the clean-up of legacy wells and its opposition to road construction, particularly a proposed one-lane gravel road to King Cove through Izembek National Wildlife Refuge.......(full audio)..... http://www.ktoo.org/2014/02/18/what-do-bill-murray-and-sen-murkowski-have-in-common/
Fishing orgs ask for $1.2 million in sea lion lawsuit costs 
BY MOLLY DISCHNER
Published: 2014.02.19 03:42 PM
Fishing organizations are seeking more than $1.2 million in attorney fees and costs from the federal government in the lawsuit over Steller sea lions. The Alaska Seafood Cooperative, The Groundfish Forum and the Freezer Longline Coalition filed motions Feb. 13 asking the federal government to reimburse them $1,208,409.87 for their attorney fees and costs in bringing the suit forward and arguing their case..... http://www.alaskajournal.com/Blog-Fish-Bytes/Blogs-2014/Fishing-orgs-ask-for-12-million-in-sea-lion-lawsuit-costs/

Chenault Says BOF Decisions Don’t Address In-River Issues
Posted: February 20, 2014 at 7:57 am
The fallout from the Board of Fish meetings earlier this month continues. Last week, Rep. Kurt Olson wrote to the Governor and Commissioner about the unequal decisions. Speaker of the State House Mike Chenault said he was similarly disappointed with what he heard.... http://radiokenai.net/chenault-says-bof-decisions-dont-address-in-river-issues/

NEWS RELEASE
February 19, 2014
NOAA TIGHTENS HALIBUT BYCATCH LIMITS FOR GULF OF ALASKA GROUNDFISH FISHERIES
By Julie Speegle - NOAA Fisheries is implementing a plan to tighten limits on the amount of halibut bycatch that could be caught in the commercial groundfish fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). The fishery management plan amendment, "Amendment 95," is intended to minimize halibut bycatch in the GOA groundfish fisheries to the extent practicable while preserving the potential for the full harvest of groundfish in the GOA. Halibut bycatch refers to halibut that is caught by vessels targeting groundfish. Groundfish.... http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/newsreleases/2014/amd95halibut021914.htm

Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Alaska Senate Resolution Urges Additional Damages in Exxon Valdez Disaster
A resolution introduced in the Alaska Senate urges the state and federal government to compel ExxonMobil Corp to honor its commitment to pay additional damages in a 1989 oil spill disaster in Prince William Sound. Senate Joint Resolution 25 was introduced Feb. 18 by Sen. Berta Gardner, D- Anchorage, and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. SJR 25 urges the Alaska Department of Law and the federal Justice Department to file a... http://fnonlinenews.blogspot.com/2014/02/alaska-senate-resolution-urges.html

Logo of the United Nations
Logo of the United Nations
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
L.O.S.T.
February 18, 2014
by ladyfish
This is Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch — Alaska and the US are getting aced out of the Arctic. Alaska Senators have their say after this.... http://www.alaskafishradio.com/l-o-s-t/

Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Norton Sound King Crab, Pink Salmon Go Gourmet
Norton Sound king crab and pink salmon weren’t among the entries in the 2014 Alaska Symphony of Seafood, but two Alaska celebrity chefs were there to tempt guests with samples of tasty recipes made from each. Norton Sound king crab, a niche market for seafood aficionados, was presented by Anchorage chef Rob Kinneen as mini crab oscars, crab noodle salad and..... http://fnonlinenews.blogspot.com/2014/02/norton-sound-king-crab-pink-salmon-go.html

Wind Energy Could Double on Fire Island by 2015
By Caslon Hatch
POSTED: 10:13 PM AKST Feb 19, 2014    UPDATED: 10:14 PM AKST Feb 19, 2014
ANCHORAGE - Wind energy is a trend that has taken the Lower 48 by storm -- and many Alaskans are hoping it will mean more renewable energy in the Last Frontier. Chugach Electric Association board members heard comments from the public Wednesday encouraging them to purchase additional wind power on Fire Island from Cook Inlet Region, Inc. -- a request which could see the 11 wind... http://www.ktuu.com/news/news/wind-energy-could-double-on-fire-island-by-2015/24574940

California: Jerry Brown Introduces Modest Drought Relief Plan
by JOEL B. POLLAK  20 Feb 2014, 5:56 AM PDT
California Governor Jerry Brown unveiled a $687.4-million drought relief plan in Sacramento on Wednesday that was hailed by Democrats and state water authorities, but which will do little to address the larger issues plaguing water management in the region. The package includes spending for water recycling, groundwater restoration, and emergency food and housing, but does nothing about the larger conflict over water use.
Farmers and Republicans call the water crisis "man-made," because much of...... http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/02/20/Jerry-Brown-Introduces-Modest-Drought-Relief-Plan

Better Road-Stream Crossing Designs Can Help Prevent Road Wash-outs and Help Fish
For Immediate Release
February 18, 2014
Contact: Beth Beard
When Tropical Storm Irene inundated the White River watershed in the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont in 2011, many local roads washed out where stream culverts failed to handle the extreme water flow. The damaged and impassable roads made emergency response and recovery after the storm even more difficult. Poorly designed road culverts are also a year-round, long-term obstacle for fish passage for species such as Brook trout and endangered Atlantic salmon.... http://fisheries.org/better-road-stream-crossing-designs-can-help-prevent-road-wash-outs-and-help-fish













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