NOAA Fisheries released its first Equity and Environmental Justice Strategy on 22 May, with the goal of ensuring the agency is treating all communities equitably.
“The federal government recognizes that barriers to equity have left many communities underserved, and they are often the most vulnerable to environmental issues, such as climate change,” the strategy reads.
According to NOAA Fisheries Deputy Assistant Administrator for
… Read MoreSysco revealed earlier this month that it was the victim of a cybersecurity attack, with the perpetrators possibly stealing social security numbers of some employees and financial information of some customers.
The breach, believed to have begun on 14 January, 2023, was first discovered by the company in March, although it was only revealed in a quarterly earnings report filed at the beginning of May.
“Immediately upon detection, Sysco
… Read MoreA half-dozen U.S. senators say that NOAA’s plan to expand the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP) doesn’t go nearly far enough and are asking the agency to revise its proposal.
“The proposed rule is far too narrow in scope,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to U.S. regulators. “As SIMP currently only requires catch documentation and traceability for approximately 45 percent of seafood imports, there is a need to
… Read MoreThe U.S. Mid-Atlantic region saw its lowest year of seafood production by volume on record in 2021, paired with its lowest commercial revenue for seafood sales since 1987.
“When we look at performance relative to management objectives in the Mid-Atlantic, we see that both seafood production and profits as indexed by revenues have a long-term downward trend and are currently below the long-term average,” NOAA NMFS Research Fishery
… Read MoreNew regulations in the U.S. state of Oregon are concerning local seafood processors, who are worried they will be forced to treat wastewater to be cleaner than drinking water.
The West Coast Seafood Processors Association (WCSPA) said in an issue brief the regulations will force many of its members to close unless the state legislature intervenes.
“The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) exempts seafood processors from these types of
… Read MoreA new report says U.S. labor force participation is returning to pre-pandemic levels, although some groups of workers are still falling short.
Specifically, white Americans and male Hispanic Americans have been slow to return to the labor force, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), a nonprofit based in Washington D.C.
“The pandemic halted many long-term trends in the American labor market. Many Americans dropped out
… Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Commerce has allocated USD 220 million (EUR 204 million) in fishery disaster relief to the U.S. states of Washington and Alaska for a fishery disaster that took place from 2020 to 2023.
“Fishery disasters have devastating effects on local communities and our blue economy,” U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said. “This disaster funding provides much needed assistance to our fishing industry and we
… Read MoreFishing groups and tribes in the U.S. state of Alaska are eyeing potential updates to federal fishing guidelines as a chance to change how several hallmark fisheries in the state are regulated.
Last week, NOAA Fisheries issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking, welcoming public input on a number of topics, including climate change, equity in the representation of local fishing communities, and trawl bycatch. The agency will be
… Read MoreThe 2023 salmon season in the U.S. state of Alaska kicked off this week with the opening of fishing along the Copper River on Monday, 15 May.
Alaska Airlines delivered the first king salmon of the season, weighing in at 34 pounds, on Tuesday, 16 May, to an assortment of stakeholders in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A. Participants in the celebration included representatives from Trident Seafoods, the Copper River Prince William Sound Marketing
… Read MoreAlaska’s sole member of the U.S. House Representatives said Congress is unlikely to pass a reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act this year or next.
“I think that there is not a very strong likelihood – I think everybody recognizes that there's a very slim chance that Magnuson-Stevens will be authorized this year or this Congress,” U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola (D-AK) said in an interview with Ocean Strategies this
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