Category Archives: High Seas

Even sea beasts are adorable when theyre babies. But watch out when they get big! They can smash the hull of a ship with their giant horns, or pull a boat to the bottom of the ocean with long, snake-like tentacles. At least, thats consistent with the legends we were told when unfinished maps labeled uncharted waters here there be monsters. But what if those monsters were real? Thats the jumping-off point for Disney veteran Chris Williams first Netflix feature, The Sea Beast, a spectacular high-seas adventure of the kind most directors know better than to attempt.

But Williams had a distinct advantage: Hes an animator. The accomplished cartoon helmer, who cut his teeth on Bolt and Big Hero 6, first took to the open waters with Moana a dry run of sorts for some of the thrilling ideas he hoped to implement here. Never work with kids or animals, experienced film crews caution. Stay on dry land, if at all possible. When live-action filmmakers disobey those rules, the job winds up being far more difficult than they bargained for. (Waterworld, anyone?) But if making an animated movie, why not embrace those obstacles?

In the end, The Sea Beast is a movie about challenging conventional wisdom and figuring things out for yourself, and thats a philosophy that worked on both sides of the camera. Its two main characters are both orphans who lost their parents at sea, doing battle with terrifying dragon-like creatures. The similarities to DreamWorks How to Train Your Dragon franchise will be lost on no one.

In the impressively staged prologue, The Sea Beast shows young Jacob Holland you may as well call him Ishmael clutching to shards of a broken boat. Its a breathtaking sight, rendered all the richer via you-are-there sound design and Mark Mancinas classical horns-and-drums score. The ship blazes red above water before the virtual camera plunges below the surface to reveal the hull torn in two. This traumatic sea beast attack gave Jacobs life meaning: Rescued soon after by one-eyed Captain Crow (a salt-and-vinegar-sounding Jared Harris), he will spend the rest of his days chasing these creatures to the ends of the earth.

The movies other orphan, a Black girl named Maisie Brumble (Zaris-Angel Hator), is a good deal younger. Both of her parents were hunters the naval heroes dispatched by the king and queen to keep the monsters in check who went down with the monarch. Now stuck in a group home, Maisie reads books about how courageous sailors like her mom and dad fought the beasts that once attacked human towns, plotting her escape so that she might join the hunters. At a tavern in town, she begs Jacob to bring her along. Its a great scene, whose dialogue like the lively body language and facial expressions reveal the characters individual personalities and the assertive way this girl addresses grown-ups.

Maisie is more than just precocious; shes downright disobedient, which is consistent with the recent trend in studio animation where defiant kids are put on Earth to teach their elders a lesson (see Turning Red, Luca and Encanto, wherein conventional villains have been replaced by obstinate adults). Taking another page from How to Train Your Dragon, The Sea Beast concerns a civilization built on the premise that humans must unite against dangerous supernatural species. But what if the books are wrong?

Back in the orphanage, Maisie believed every word of what she read. After stowing away on the Inevitable, shes thrilled to be meeting her heroes a motley group of characters, whose diversity is a welcome departure from other pirate-movie ensembles. But shes not too shy to question their assumptions, even going so far as to cut the ropes mid-battle with the Red Bluster, the Moby Dick of sea beasts, a scarlet colossus with powerful jaws and a snout like a boiled lobsters claw, which Captain Crow has been pursuing for nearly three decades.

Maisies action spares the ship, but not without consequences, as the monster swallows both her and Jacob and swims off to its island sanctuary. Now, Williams and co-writer Nell Benjamin have the tough job of changing the pairs minds in the span of a few scenes. Remember, both characters have lost loved ones to these predators, and they spend a not-insignificant amount of time in the belly of the beast, like Jonah or Geppetto. But once they reach the island, the two survivors quickly switch from wanting to destroy all monsters to teaming up with Red to face down other threats together.

Williams stages an exciting Godzilla-like battle between Red and a giant purple crab, along with a couple brisk bonding scenes with baby sea beasts. In one, an enormous yellow slug-creature chases Jacob, until he realizes that this agitated mama was just trying to protect her young. (From this, Williams means for us to extrapolate that sea beasts are benign unless threatened a leap that asks audiences to ignore everything they know about wild animals.) In another, Maisie finds a blob-like mini-beast with rubbery indigo skin and widely spaced eyes, the sort that make internet sensations of deformed cats. She dubs him Blue, and immediately tries to domesticate the little guy.

That is not a pet! Jacob insists, but who is he kidding? The rest of The Sea Beast finds him and Maisie trying to convince the king and queen and all their subjects that monsters are not to be feared which is another idea that almost certainly wouldve failed if the project had been done via live action. Animated by the pros at Sony Pictures Imageworks, the film features incredibly nuanced facial expressions and dynamic camera moves (watch it swoop among the ships masts during the Bricklebat attack). A few of the backdrops look convincing enough to be real locations, but this is a cartoon through and through.

Still, Williams manages to sell the twist by appealing to audiences sympathies (80s movie Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend comes to mind, as animal lovers try to protect an endangered brontosaurus from evil poachers). The results, while not entirely persuasive, are just gorgeous worth seeing on the big screen if at all possible. Just dont let your kids try to convince you that killer whales are our friends, or that Jaws was such a lie that we neednt be wary of sharks.

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The Sea Beast Review: In Which an Orphan Girl Tames the Oceans Most Fearsome Monsters - Variety

Courtesy of Mary Jean Tully, Tom Baker, and Ashton Palmer.

Goldilocks had a simple predicament: choosing the right bed and bowl. When booking a cruise you need to consider, in addition to ship size (Small? Medium? Large? And whats the difference?), a slew of other factors that will affect your experience: the itinerary, the ships amenities and culinary cred, the excursions, the cabin types and locations. The advisers below focus on cruising. They know the cruise lines and all their ships. They know deck plans in detail. (Yes, every ship has bad cabinsyou do not, for example, want to be over the stern thrusters.) They know the ships different vibes, and will also, importantly, make sure that they understand your likes, dislikes, and interests. Think of them as matchmakers who will also help with logistics: private drivers and guides in ports of call (who wants to be on a bus?), pre- and post-cruise hotels, and the thicket of travel regulations. I have known and worked with all three for years, and they are also on travel guru Wendy Perrin's WOW List of trusted travel experts, where you can read consumer reviews.

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Ashton Palmer of Expedition Trips began as an expedition leader, guide, and naturalist. He specializes in small ship expedition cruisescompanies like Aqua Expeditions, Ponant, Lindblad, Scenic, Aurora, and more. He has been to Antarctica more than 50 times and spent three months in the Amazon. His email: Ashton@expeditiontrips.com

Tom Baker of Cruise Center specializes in large and medium-size ships from such lines as Celebrity, Oceania, Royal Caribbean, Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn, and Silversea. He also has clout with river lines: AmaWaterways, Uniworld, Viking. But really there is nothing cruise-related he cant help with; he has sailed on more than 250 ships over the course of 50 years. His email: tom.baker@cruisecenter.com

Mary Jean Tully of Cruise Professionals by Tully Luxury Travel has for decades now sent a great many clients to all the luxury cruise lines. Her contacts enable her to secure the best cabins for her customers, as well as a wide range of onboard creditsi.e., she can be your ticket to special treatment at sea. Because she is intermittently in Africaher other passion, in addition to life on the high seas, is wildlife conservationher deputy, Cheri Ozimac, will take excellent care of you. Mary Jean's email: maryjean@tullyluxuryrtravel.com; Cheri Ozimac's email: cheri@tullyluxurytravel.com

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The Top Cruise Advisors 2022 - Town & Country

Seeing the world on a cruise ship can feel like the adventure of a lifetime, but then reality hits when you come back to shore. But what if it was possible to live on a boat full time, especially a cruise ship? Its obviously expensive, but there might just be a way around that. One couple has done it, and so can you with some planning.

According to Upworthy, a couple in their fifties has transitioned to living full time on a cruise ship. Well, that may be a little misleading. Theyre not living on one specific cruise ship but bouncing from cruise to cruise as they travel around the world year-round.

So how can they afford this? Angelina Burk and her husband Richard manage this by checking deals through loyalty memberships. Their goal is to spend about $100 a night, which will make their annual bill about $36,500. Thats much cheaper than a mortgage rate.

This enabled the Burks to jump-start their new life on the water. They sold their home and now use the money they made to live full time on cruise ships.

It did help that the Burks were very frugal before making this jump. They saved up their money so they could retire early.

Is it possible for you to live on a cruise ship and see the world? If you plan accordingly, yes. Cruise ships travel all over the world. There are probably a few destinations they wont visit, but that could be your vacation away from cruise ships if you need a break.

While it may seem expensive at first, as you need to have an income of at least $36,500 if you plan to follow the Burks example, there are some other factors to consider.

First, you dont have to spend money on groceries due to the already available food. Theres also no need to cook, so this could be great for anyone who likes eating out.

Laundry and cleaning are taken care of as well, so youll never have to strip a bed again. You also dont need a vehicle for transportation, so this will cut down spending, especially as gas prices continue to grow.

Then theres the fact that you dont have to worry about as many bills. Your water bill, utilities, repairs, and all the other drama that goes along with buying a house will be gone. And those rowdy neighbors will be gone in a week once you transfer to a new cruise.

What if you like the idea of living on a boat but hate crowds? That can be an issue if youre looking at cruise ships, but there are other options.

Renting a large yacht is one such option. You can go in with a group of friends that you enjoy being around or even bring some extended family members along for the ride.

There are also small houseboats you could check out. By renting, you may have to deal with some repairs on your own while out at sea, and there wont be anyone to take care of the laundry and cooking for you.

However, houseboats often come with kitchen setups, so that shouldnt be that big of an issue.

So is life on the high seas for you? If you arent sure, a quick way to figure it out is to try a cruise or rent a boat for the afternoon. Its certainly not something everyone would want to do, but it may just be perfect for you.

RELATED: This Converted Sailboat Allows You To Live Totally off the Grid

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A Couple in Their 50s Abandons Their House to Live on a Cruise Ship - MotorBiscuit

A couple who cruise together stay together, with one Aussie husband and wife about to embark on a two-and-a-half year adventure on the high seas.

Marty and Jessica Ansen have been cruising together for over 40 years, but their passion was put on hold by the COVID-19 pandemic.

So to catch-up on all the trips they missed out on during lockdown, the Ansens booked an astounding 54 cruises back-to-back.

READ MORE: First cruise in more than two years to leave Sydney

"Cruising is what we do. Once COVID-19 came, we couldn't cruise, so we booked as many as we could once it started again," Marty told Today.

Jessica said cruising is "just wonderful" and since their first cruise on the Fair Star in the 80s, they haven't looked back.

"You have all your meals prepared, you don't have to cook, you go to a show every evening and go dancing after the show, then you go for supper and head back to your cabin," she said.

READ MORE: What it's like being back on a cruise ship after two years

For anyone wondering how the Ansens avoid getting cabin fever being in such close quarters with each other all the time, the couple said there is plenty to do on a cruise ship and they sometimes spend a whole day apart.

"We only live in a cabin at night. So we can go away and do our own thing - we don't have to be joined at the hip," Marty said.

"We get up in the morning and play table tennis for an hour together, then Marty disappears for the day because he has bowls and deck sports and I go downstairs because I'm into the quizzes and bingo," Jessica said.

Watch the interview with Jessica and Marty above

Join the Today show family and give yourself the chance to win great prizes by signing up to our weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox every Wednesday with a special message from Karl and Ally. You can sign up for free here.

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Meet the couple who booked 54 back-to-back cruises - TODAY Show

Imagine a road with two lanes in each direction. One lane is for slow cars, and the other is for fast ones. For electrons moving along a quantum wire, researchers in Cambridge and Frankfurt have discovered that there are also two 'lanes', but electrons can take both at the same time!

Current in a wire is carried by the flow of electrons. When the wire is very narrow (one-dimensional, 1D) then electrons cannot overtake each other, as they strongly repel each other. Current, or energy, is carried instead by waves of compression as one particle pushes on the next.

It has long been known that there are two types of excitation for electrons, as in addition to their charge they have a property called spin. Spin and charge excitations travel at fixed, but different speeds, as predicted by the Tomonaga-Luttinger model many decades ago. However, theorists are unable to calculate what precisely happens beyond only small perturbations, as the interactions are too complex.

The Cambridge team has measured these speeds as their energies are varied, and find that a very simple picture emerges (now published in the journalScience Advances). Each type of excitation can have low or high kinetic energy, like cars on a road, with the well-known formulaE=1/2 mv2, which is a parabola. But for spin and charge the massesmare different, and, since charges repel and so cannot occupy the same state as another charge, there is twice as wide a range of momentum for charge as for spin.

The results measure energy as a function of magnetic field, which is equivalent to momentum or speedv, showing these two energy parabolas, which can be seen in places all the way up to five times the highest energy occupied by electrons in the system.

'It's as if the cars (like charges) are travelling in the slow lane but their passengers (like spins) are going more quickly, in the fast lane', explained Pedro Vianez, who carried out the measurements for his PhD at the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge. 'Even when the cars and passengers slow down or speed up, they still remain separate!'

'What is remarkable here is that we are no longer talking about electrons but, instead, about composite (quasi)particles of spin and charge - commonly dubbed spinons and holons, respectively. For a long time, these were believed to become unstable at such high energies, yet what is observed points to exactly the opposite - they seem to behave in a way very similar to normal, free, stable electrons, each with their own mass, except that they are not, in fact, electrons, but excitations of a whole sea of charges or spins!' said Oleksandr Tsyplyatyev, the theorist who led the work at the Goethe University in Frankfurt.

'This paper represents the culmination of over a decade of experimental and theoretical work on the physics of one-dimensional systems', said Chris Ford, who led the experimental team. 'We were always curious to see what would happen if we took the system to higher energies, so we progressively improved our measurement resolution to pick out new features. We fabricated a series of semiconducting arrays of wires ranging from 1 to 18 microns in length (that is, down to a thousandth of the millimetre or approximately 100 times thinner than a human hair), with as few as 30 electrons in a wire, and measured them at 0.3 K (or in other words, -272.85C, ten times colder than outer space).'

Electrons tunnel from the 1D wires into an adjacent two-dimensional electron gas, which acts as a spectrometer, producing a map of the relation between energy and momentum. 'This technique is in every way very similar to angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), which is a commonly used method for determining the band structure of materials in condensed matter physics. The key difference is that, rather than probing at the surface, our system is buried a hundred nanometres below it', said Vianez. This allowed the researchers to achieve resolution and control unprecedented for this type of spectroscopy experiment.

These results now open the question of whether this spin-charge separation of the whole electron sea remains robust beyond 1D, e.g., in high-temperature superconducting materials. It may also now be applied to logic devices that harness spin (spintronics), which offer a drastic reduction (by three orders of magnitude!) of the energy consumption of a transistor, simultaneously improving our understanding of quantum matter as well as offering a new tool for engineering quantum materials.

Source:https://www.cam.ac.uk/

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Scientists Observe the Formation of Two Quantum Seas for Spin and Charge of Electrons - AZoQuantum

This is due to a low pressure system to the far south of Fiji combined with the King Tide (highest tide of the month) that is directing damaging heavy swells over the southern parts of Fiji waters that can cause coastal flooding over the southern coastal areas of Fiji.

For people living along the coastal areas of Southern Viti Levu (from Natadola through to Coral Coast to Pacific Harbour), southern coastal areas of Mamanuca Group, Beqa, Kadavu, Vatulele, Southern Lomaiviti Group, Moala Group, Southern Lau Group and Central Lau Group.

Issued at 9.30am Wednesday, 15 June, 2022

A Coastal Inundation Warning is now in force for coastal areas of southern parts of Viti Levu (from Natadola through to Coral Coast to Pacific Harbour), southern coastal areas of Mamanuca Group, Beqa, Kadavu, Vatulele, Southern Lomaiviti Group, Moala Group (i.e. Matuku, Moala, Totoya), Southern Lau Group (i.e. Moce, Kabara, Fulaga, Ogea, Ono-i-Lau) and Central Lau Group (i.e. Lakeba, Vanuavatu, Oneata, Nayau, Cicia).

A Damaging Heavy Swell Warning is now in force for open waters of Kadavu and nearby smaller islands, Beqa, Vatulele, Southern Koro Sea and Southern Lau Waters.

This is due to a low pressure system to the far south of Fiji combined with the King Tide (highest tide of the month) that is directing damaging heavy swells over the southern parts of Fiji waters that can cause coastal flooding over the southern coastal areas of Fiji.

Expect coastal sea flooding during high tides along coastal areas of southern parts of Viti Levu (from Natadola through to Coral Coast to Pacific Harbour), southern coastal areas of Mamanuca Group, Beqa, Kadavu, Vatulele, Southern Lomaiviti Group, Moala Group (i.e. Matuku, Moala, Totoya), Southern Lau Group (i.e. Moce, Kabara, Fulaga, Ogea, Ono-i-Lau) and Central Lau Group (i.e. Lakeba, Vanuavatu, Oneata, Nayau, Cicia).

Expect moderate to heavy southerly swells over open waters of Kadavu and nearby smaller islands, Beqa, Vatulele, Southern Koro Sea and Southern Lau Waters.

Those living along these coastal areas are advised to remain cautious and vigilant of coastal inundation of debris especially during high tides.

Hazardous breaking waves, strong currents are risky for swimming, fishing and other recreational sea activities. Sea conditions can also be dangerous for small boats as it can capsize due to large waves and rough seas.

The current situation is closely monitored. Members of the public are advised to remain updated with the latest weather information.

For more details and the latest on weather, please contact the National Weather Forecasting Centre on 6736006, 9905376 or visit the Fiji Meteorological Services website, http://www.met.gov.fj. You can also visit the Fiji Meteorological Service official Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram for latest updates.

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Damaging Heavy Swell And Coastal Inundation Warnings Now In Force For Parts Of Fiji - Fiji Sun Online

ORLAND PARK, IL Get ready to go on a high-seas pirate adventure on land.

The Cirque Italia Water Circus has sailed into Orland Square Mall and is anchored under a giant white and blue big top tent near the east parking lot between JCPenney and Sears.

WGN News Now ventured under the Big Top for a peek at the show pegged as the first traveling water circus in the United States.

Its a really unique show because of our water stage. said the shows project manager and stage aerialist, Morgaine Rosenthal. We have a 35,000-gallon water tank underneath our stage. The stage lifts up and then we perform with the water as well, and it combines with these incredible death-defying circus acts.

Rosenthal is also the shows mermaid and performs an aerial strap set, or aerial dance, with a pirate who is played by her boyfriend. Its a mermaid-pirate love story she laughed.

Youre going to see clowns, jugglers, music, the lights , so its a pretty cool thing. And this year we have the pirates. So, youre going to see sword fighting. Everything related to the circus, but with pirates. added Hector Polo Pazaran who performs in the shows bow-and-arrow and Chinese pole acts.

Pazaran also said the shows have a lot of energy and the audience will be on the edge of their seats while watching.

Cirque Italia was founded in 2012 by Italian entrepreneur Manuel Rebecchi. It began with the creation of the Water Circus and in 2017 a second Water Circus was added. In 2018, Paranormal Cirque, a fun fusion of circus, theater and cabaret was added; then Cirque Slammer, a prison-themed show was created in 2021. All four shows are currently touring the country. Cirque Italia also has a no-animal policy and believes in showcasing the talent of humans and their ability to do extreme stunts.

We are bringing high level entertainment to all these local communities, and I feel thats something very special for us because this is entertainment that you wont find everywhere. Typically for this kind of entertainment you need to go to New York, or Las Vegas so we feel very fortunate to bring it to all these communities. said Rosenthal.

The Cirque Italia Water Circus team consist of 55 crew members from around the world, and they travel with the show for eleven months of the year.

Pazaran said the cast likes performing in the Chicago area because the audiences are always loud and excited, plus they like to visit downtown Chicago and take in the sights.

The Cirque Italia Water Circus will be in Orland Park until Sunday June 19th, then it sails to Aurora where it will be set up outside of the Chicago Premium Outlets June 23 through July 4.

Come and see this new show with pirates, and come and be amazed and forget about everything thats going on outside for at least two hours. said Pazaran. Bring your children, bring your grandma. Everybody is going to have fun. Its a show for all ages, so youre just not going to regret it.

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Pirates, Mermaids and 35,000 gallons of water! Cirque Italia Water Circus offers high seas adventure in the suburbs - WGN TV Chicago

Recall the last time that you stood on the shore, enjoying the briny breeze that gently caressed your skin, and the sounds and smells of the sea.You may have noticed in the distance a large sailing vessel.Have you ever considered all the moving parts that contribute to these floating cities? Beyond the logistics of setting out to sea, a ship contains an impressive array of communication devices and capabilities. Whether that ship is in port, or 500 miles from shore, the ship is never without communication.

There are often more than 150,000 ships at sea over a 24-hour period. To add some perspective, this is three times greater than the average number of airplanes that are tracked by the Federal Aviation Administration on any given day. When combined, all the ships at sea form one of the largest mobile communication networks imaginable.As is often the case with a security mindset, this level of complexity creates great challenges.

A ship is capable of ship-to-shore communication at close range through the use of traditional terrestrial radio, or shore stations, and when far out to sea, satellite communication is used. To add to the complexity, there are more than ten satellite companies that provide maritime communication services.The international scope of sea-based communications is governed by both multinational organizations, as well as advisory organizations, such as the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

It is easy to think that these impenetrable hulls are immune to security problems. After all, they are somewhat akin to a remote island, far removed from our land-locked security concerns. However, there are threats to maritime vessels, both physical, and virtual. In the event that the physical criminals increase their technological competencies, the results to a fleet could (Read more...)

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High Seas and High Stakes Communications: Securing the Maritime Industry - Security Boulevard

Crude Oil, WTI, Brent, Russia, China, Backwardation, Volatility, OVX

Crude oil has surged to 3-month highs as a number of factors over the last week have tightened the market.

This week, the worlds largest importer of the energy, China, eased lockdown restrictions in Beijing and Shanghai. This potential uplift in demand comes at a time of limited supply due to the Ukraine war.

OPEC+ upped their targeted quota to 648k barrels per day last week, but the market has reservations that the cartel will be able to meet these increases.

Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs have re-iterated their forecast of US$150 and US$140 bbl respectively for later this year.

As the West continues to escalate embargos of Russian oil exports, this has pushed them toward innovative efforts of distribution. It has been reported by Bloomberg this week that the first mid-Atlantic Ocean ship-to-ship transfer occurred in late May.

Russian oil spurred by Europe was sent out in an Aframax tanker (capacity 80k 120k deadweight tonnes of oil) to meet up with a Supertanker (capacity > 500k tonnes deadweight of oil).

It is anticipated that the supertanker will receive a few more loads before heading to its destination, anticipated to be India.

Ship-to-ship transfers are not unusual, but they are normally done in safe calm waters, rather than on the high seas. As the sanctions start to bite, mid ocean transfers could become a regular feature of the market.

Backwardation remains in play in the oil market, and the move from US$110 bbl to over US$ 120 bbl was pre-empted by a spike in backwardation to over US$3 bbl.

Chart created in TradingView

Backwardation is when the contract closest to settlement is more expensive than the contract that is settling after the first one. It highlights a willingness by the market to pay more to have immediate delivery, rather than having to wait.

Backwardation has eased off in the last few days and could indicate that a push to the March high of US$ 130.50 may not be imminent for now.

Potentially offsetting that is the OVX index, a measure of oil volatility. It has remained sanguine toward this run up, which could indicate that the market is getting used to elevated prices.

Looking ahead, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports on inventory later today.

--- Written by Daniel McCarthy, Strategist for DailyFX.com

To contact Daniel, use the comments section below or @DanMcCathyFX on Twitter

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Crude Oil Price Pumps Higher as China Eases Restrictions and Russia is Forced to the High Seas - DailyFX

The Scientific and Statistical Committee of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council hears a report on salmon abundance on June 8, 2022, prior to the June 9 start of the full Council meeting. (KCAW/Woolsey)

The bycatch of chinook and chum salmon is on the agenda, as the spring meeting of the North Pacific Management Council gets underway in Sitka this week (June 9-14).

In addition to hearing how much salmon is being intercepted in the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea by the trawl fisheries, the council will review a proposal to supplement the human observer program with electronic monitoring.

Note: Find links to the Councils agenda and meeting livestream here.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council regulates the so-called federal fisheries which take place outside the three-mile limit of Alaskas state waters, and within the exclusive economic zone of the United States which extends 200 miles offshore.

Strictly by the numbers, thats dozens of different species of bottomfish and crab, and the council will divide its time over five days among many of them. But the headline issues as determined by the number of comments the council has received are the bycatch of salmon by the trawl fleet in the Bering Sea and in the Gulf of Alaska, and the related issue of Electronic Monitoring, or the installation of cameras aboard trawlers to ensure compliance with existing bycatch reporting methods.

Salmon bycatch has come to the forefront in recent years due to steep declines in chinook stocks in many of Alaskas major river systems, and severe cutbacks in opportunities for subsistence, sport, and commercial fisheries in many areas of Alaska. Among the stack of comments on the issue, the Council has received a letter from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Western Interior Alaska, Eastern Interior Alaska, and Seward Peninsula Subsistence Regional Advisory Councils requesting a significant reduction in the chinook and chum salmon bycatch in the Bering Sea commercial fisheries. The groups want to see the bycatch cap of kings reduced from 45,000 to 16,000, and the cap of chum salmon reduced from 500,000 to 250,000.

For others, thats not enough. The Sitka Fish & Game Regional Advisory Council last October took strong position against halibut bycatch in the Gulf of Alaska; one of the authors of the Sitka letter, Eric Jordan, doesnt mince words in his latest comments regarding salmon bycatch: To me the issue isnt bycatch, Jordan writes, Trawling is not an acceptable way to harvest fish and like salmon traps and high seas salmon traps it must be prohibited area by area starting with halibut nurseries and crab savings grounds.

Regardless of whether it lowers the cap on salmon bycatch during its Sitka meeting, the Council will consider how to better enforce the existing cap. Since 2020 some trawl vessels have been equipped with Electronic Monitoring or EM. The Electronic Monitoring systems arent intended for catch accounting, or to identify and record every salmon caught in a trawl net; rather, EM is intended for compliance monitoring when the catch is offloaded at a processor. Comments to the Council overwhelmingly support adopting EM, but for two: One, a fisheries observer, argued that EM greatly increased the workload for herself and her colleagues who sampled fish at processors. A second commenter said simply, Dont put 100% cameras on our trawlers, it will be game over for the trawl fleet. The council shouldnt bow to a group of whiners that are too lazy to move to better fishing.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council meets in Sitka through June 14.

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Salmon bycatch, electronic monitoring on the table at Sitka meeting of North Pacific Fishery Management Council - KCAW