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Marine Conservation News
January 25, 2010
Join AMCC on Facebook!
Did you know that AMCC is now on facebook? By adding yourself to our "cause" page you can stay updated on our work, learn about ways to take action, find out about events, recruit friends, donate, and network with other AMCC friends and supporters. Click here to check it out.
January 18, 2010
AMCC Welcomes New Executive Director, Kelly Harrell
AMCC is pleased to welcome Kelly Harrell as our new Executive Director! Kelly has been with the organization for over four years, most recently serving as Project Director for the Friends of Bristol Bay. Long-time AMCC staffer Dorothy Childers will remain with the organization, happily returning to her role as Program Director. Along with her years of first-hand experience with AMCC, Kelly brings to her new role an unwavering dedication to marine conservation and a strong educational background in the field.
Click here to learn more about Kelly and how to contact her.
December 7, 2009
Listen to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council Meeting Online
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council is meeting in Anchorage from December 7-15. Major topics include groundfish catch limits, Gulf of Alaska sector split, and salmon bycatch.
Find out what's happening by at the meeting! Click here to view the agenda, supplementary materials and listen to the meeting online.
November 9, 2009
Visit AMCC at Fish Expo in Seattle- Free Show Admission & Invitation to Fishermen's Reception
Pacific Marine Expo (aka Fish Expo), the longest running show for the commercial marine industry in the Northwest, will be held in Seattle from November 19-21. We invite folks to take advantage of free show admission and visit AMCC at our booth in the Alaska aisle, #524. AMCC also invites you to attend the third annual fishermen's reception during Pacific Marine Expo co-hosted by AMCC and other groups working to protect the rich waters of Bristol Bay and the Bering Sea from major industrial development threats. The reception will be held the first night of Expo- Thursday, November 19 from 5-7 pm at the Elysian Fields Brewpub near Qwest Field.
Click here for an invitation to the reception including more details.
Click here for information on free admission to Fish Expo.
October 28, 2009
Coastal Alaska Sends Unified Message Urging Senators to Support Climate Change Legislation
Residents from communities spanning thousands of miles across Alaska’s magnificent coastline gathered on Saturday, October 24 to send a unified message to Senators Murkowski and Begich urging them to support strong climate change legislation in 2009. Alaskans in the coastal communities of Homer, Kodiak, Ketchikan, Haines, Petersburg, Seward, Gustavus, Soldotna, Sitka, and Anchorage participated in the global climate day of action organized across the world by 350.org and sponsored locally by AMCC and Cook Inlet Keeper. Each community held one piece of a message that communicated support for renewable energy, energy efficiency standards, a sustainable green economy, and a cap on carbon dioxide emissions.
Coastal Alaska stands on the front lines of ocean acidification and climate change, both caused by global carbon dioxide and other emissions. The way of life and economy of people living in the participating communities, as well as others throughout Alaska, are at risk. Alaskans joined a global call for action asking our leaders to support action to address these threats.
The 350.org campaign is organized around a scientific data point. 350 parts per million carbon dioxide is considered by scientific experts as the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the campaign is targeted at lowering levels of the greenhouse gas below that threshold.
Click here to see a photo montage of the message from coastal Alaska.
Click here to see a video from the Homer climate action day event.
View photos from climate action day events around the world the day at: http://www.350.org/media-photos
October 14, 2009
NOAA Comments Support Protecting Bristol Bay from Drilling
A strong supporter for deferring plans for offshore drilling in the ecological and economic fisheries powerhouse that is Bristol Bay recently surfaced. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) submitted comments on September 21 on the proposed 5-Year Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2010-2015 that recommended reinstating presidential protections for Bristol Bay from offshore drilling.
The detailed comments state that the Minerals Management Service (MMS) failed to adequately address the challenges of oil spill cleanup in Arctic and subarctic conditions and that environmental information is lacking to support oil and gas leasing on the current timeline.
AMCC applauded the NOAA comments and expressed hope that the Obama administration would heed the agency's call to protect the region.
Click here to read the full news release from AMCC.
Click here to read the comments from NOAA.
October 8, 2009
Crucial Step Taken Towards Protection for Kodiak Tanner Crab
Photos Revealed Extreme Crab Bycatch in Trawl Fisheries
Today the North Pacific Fishery Management Council received new photos showing high numbers of Tanner crab on a trawl vessel fishing for groundfish around Kodiak Island.
Taking an important step towards addressing this problem, federal fishery managers voted to evaluate a range of potential management measures including expanding no-trawl zones to exclude bottom trawl operations from areas of biological importance to Tanner crab. The decision represents an achievement for conservation and local fishermen who have been working over the last five years on proposals to the federal fishery body to reduce Tanner crab bycatch and protect seafloor habitat.
Click here to read the full news release.
Click here for high resolution photos of crab bycatch.
Hot Off the Press! Clean Boating for Alaskans
A new publication aims to help boaters maintain the health of the marine environment. AMCC collaborated with the National Park Service and the Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program to produce the booklet “Clean Boating for Alaskans.” The booklet describes how boat operations affect the environment and how to minimize your impact. Learn how you can—immediately and in the future—operate your boat more efficiently and with more environmental responsibility, and save money at the same time. Tips include how to save fuel, keep your operation and maintenance green, mitigate marine debris, respect wildlife, and access the latest boat technology.
Click here to get your free copy of “Clean Boating for Alaskans.”
September 8, 2009
Alaska Fishermen Send Message to Leaders- "SOS- Acid Ocean"
Compelling Call for Protection Made by Over 100 Boats off of HomerMore than 100 fishing boats, sail boats, skiffs and kayaks took to the waters of Homer Alaska this past Sunday as commercial fishermen, mariners and others from coastal communities spelled out an urgent message to protect jobs and fisheries from the threat of ocean acidification. The boats arranged themselves in the ocean to spell out “Acid Ocean SOS” as part of a ‘Voices for the Ocean’ event hosted by the Alaska Marine Conservation Council (AMCC) and Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) with International Aerial Artist John Quigley.
Click here for more information on the event including links to high resolution video and photos.
August 26, 2009
New Research Highlights Increased Risks to Fisheries from Ocean Acidification
Recent news articles have highlighted potential dire consequences to Alaska's fisheries resources from ocean acidification. University of Alaska-Fairbanks Professor Jeremy Mathis discovered several sites during spring research cruises where mineral levels were low enough to have negative impacts on shell-building marine creatures like plankton and crabs. By causing a ripple of ecological effects starting at the very base of the food chain, acidification could take a toll on fisheries resources across the state. AMCC is working to support fishing industry voices calling for reduction in carbon emissions. Click here to learn more on our climate change program and ocean acidification.
Click here for the recent Anchorage Daily News story on ocean acidification.August 25, 2009
Obama Officials Hear from Alaskans at First Ocean Policy Task Force Hearing
Concerns expressed over climate change, healthy fisheries and offshore drilling
White House officials held the first Ocean Policy Task Force hearing in Anchorage on Friday, August 21. Hundreds of Alaskans from across the state packed the Dena'ina Center to voice their opinions on the health and management of our oceans. Major themes included concerns over climate change, bycatch, privatization of fisheries, involving Tribes and local communities in decision making as well as offshore oil and gas drilling in Bristol Bay and the Arctic. AMCC Executive Director Dorothy Childers was an invited speaker on the task force panel.
Click here for a copy of Executive Director Dorothy Childers' testimony to the Task Force.
Click here for a copy of Friends of Bristol Bay Project Director Kelly Harrell's testimony.
Click here to read the Anchorage Daily News Story on the hearing.