Alaska Progress Report

2012 Alaska salmon forecast lower

The Alaska Department of Fun & Games Fish & Game has released its 2012 salmon forecast, summarized by the Anchorage Daily News: "The total catch forecast by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is 132 million salmon, down 25 percent from the 177 million fish taken in 2011.

"The statewide breakdown is 120,000 king salmon (in areas outside Southeast, where catches are dictated by treaty with Canada); 38.4 million sockeye salmon, a decline of 4 percent; 4.3 million coho (similar to last year); 19 million chums, 12 percent higher; and 70.2 million pinks, a 40 percent decrease.

"Each year's annual report on salmon harvest projections also includes a detailed review of the 2011 season for every Alaska region. In all, the fishery produced a catch valued at $603 million at the docks, the third-highest ever."

Animal rabies in Alaska, 1999 to 2011

Desperate for data, today we bring you... wait for it... animal rabies in Alaska, courtesy of the current State of Alaska Epidemiology Bulletin! Not to disparage the good work of the science-y types, we'll keep it mercifully brief.

Rabies lives mostly in fox populations in northern and western Alaska. Observed cases follow a 3 to 5 year cycle, ranging from roughly 10 to 50 cases a year. In 2011 sixteen animals were tested by the State, of which nine - all foxes from northern and western boroughs - tested positive.

The most likely pathway to people is through dogs bitten by foxes, so vaccinate your animals. And remember, our best data on zombies indicates that zombie outbreaks begin with a mutation of the rabies virus. Or maybe it's a bacteria. I don't know, I slept through science class. I stayed awake for 28 Days Later though so I know what I'm talking about. The wise will stockpile shotguns and axes. Good night and good luck.

The seafood industry in Alaska's economy 2011

From a new report prepared by Northern Economics for the Marine Conservation Alliance:

• Alaska led all states in terms of both volume and ex-vessel value of commercial fisheries landings in 2009, with a total of 1.84 million metric tons (MT) worth 1.3 billion dollars.
• National harvest volume in 2009 was 3,568,599 MT.
• In the list of top 50 U.S. ports based on volume for -2009, Alaska had 11 including Dutch Harbor-Unalaska (1st); Kodiak (4th); Naknek-King Salmon (11th); Sitka (14th); Ketchikan (15th); Petersburg (18th); Cordova (21st); Seward (26th); Homer (36); Juneau (41st); Kenai (50th).
• In the list of top 50 U.S. ports based on ex-vessel value for 2009, Alaska had 10; 8 of them were in the top 20. These ports include Dutch Harbor-Unalaska (2nd); Kodiak (3rd); Naknek-King Salmon (4th); Sitka (5th); Homer (12th); Seward (17th); Ketchikan (18th); Cordova (19th). Three other Alaska ports, Akutan, King Cove and Sand Point, would also make the top 20 were it not for confidentiality requirements that prevent release of data for ports with fewer than three processors.
• In 2009, Dutch Harbor-Unalaska was the leading U.S. port in quantity of commercial fishery landings, and the second U.S. port in value of commercial fishery landings.
• Dutch Harbor-Unalaska ranked second (after New Bedford, MA) with a harvest value of $159.7 million dollars; Kodiak was ranked third at $103.8 million, and Naknek-King Salmon ranked fourth at $76.1 million dollars.
• The seafood industry, through direct, indirect and induced effects, contributed a total of $4.6 billion to Alaska's economic output in 2009.

See the full report for bullet-nirvana.

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council 2009 Status Report

Twenty years after the Exxon Valdez disaster the aftershocks still reverberate, both in the natural environment and in the communities where lives were forever altered by the event. The organization created to promote restoration and research in Prince William Sound has released a report that avoids painting with a broad brush and instead tries to portray many shades of gray:

"Over the last 20 years, we have made significant progress in restoration of areas impacted by the spill: permanently protecting crucial habitat; increasing our knowledge of the marine ecosystem; and developing new tools for better management of these vital resources. Visitors to Prince William Sound and the North Gulf Coast of Alaska today again experience spectacular scenery and abundant wildlife and see little evidence of the spill. Yet the area has not fully recovered.  In some areas, Exxon Valdez oil still remains and is toxic. Some injured species have yet to recover to pre-spill levels. This long-term damage was not expected at the time of the spill and was only just starting to be recognized in 1999, at the 10th Anniversary. 

"At that time, the majority of species injured by the spill were still struggling with low numbers, such as the depressed herring populations, but it was expected that the ecosystem would recover naturally over time. Now, in 2009, as we reach the end of the second decade, many of these areas and species of concern remain. As we learn more, the picture of recovery is more complicated than was first appreciated."