Atlantic salmon escape from net pens in WA Credit: news3lv.com
Alaskans can tune into a community forum tonight (Thursday) in Kodiak led by the legislature’s Fisheries Committee. It’s being streamed live via Facebook.
Representative Louise Stutes, chair of the fish committee, will be joined by seven other legislators plus state administrators in the open forum. One focus will be House Bill 199, the Wild Salmon Legacy Act, introduced by Stutes that would update and clarify 60 year old permitting laws aimed at protecting salmon habitat.
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The Kodiak forum runs from 6 to 8pm. Tune in live at the Stand for Salmon page on Facebook.
Speaking of salmon: over 300-thousand Atlantic salmon escaped from a net pen south of Bellingham Bay in Washington.
Salmon grower Cooke Aquaculture, the new owner of Icicle Seafoods, said the accident stemmed from high tides and currents coinciding with Monday’s eclipse.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is urging people to go fishing and catch as many of the 10 pound fish as possible. Locals fear the Atlantics will crossbreed or prey on juvenile wild Pacific salmon populations.
The cause and effects of the salmon escape are being reviewed. [The Atlantic salmon could show up in Alaska; updates coming soon.] 
Turning to halibut – meeting dates and a call for regulation proposals to be considered for next year were just announced by the International Pacific Halibut Commission.
Proposed changes to halibut management, including catch limits, must be submitted by October 29 to be on the agenda for the interim meeting, set for November 28 and 29 in Seattle.
Any proposals considered at the interim meeting will automatically be included at the IPHC annual meeting January 22-26 in Portland, Oregon.
Informal statements also may be submitted by email and will go directly to the commissioners at each session. (Statements@iphc.int)
New this year: people planning to attend the IPHC meetings will be required to pre-register.
All of the halibut meetings also will be webcast live.
