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March 3, 2005
NOTICE TO COMMERCIAL AND
RECREATIONAL HALIBUT FISHING VESSELS OPERATING IN
ALASKAN
STATE
WATERS FROM
CAPE
KOVRIZHKA
SOUTH TO
UMNAK
PASS
The
International Pacific Halibut Commission, in cooperation with
the M/V Selendang Ayu oil spill Unified Command, advises
all halibut fishers operating in state waters from Cape
Kovrizhka south to Umnak Pass in Area 4A to exercise caution
when fishing in these waters, due to residual effects from the
oil spill. The following observations are meant to aid fishers
in avoiding oil contaminated waters.
Results from
overflights, shoreline surveys, and water quality sampling in
state waters from
Cape
Kovrizhka
south to
Umnak
Pass
have shown that random, widely dispersed, small tar balls may be
present in these waters. Tar ball concentrations appear to be
highest in
Makushin
Bay
and in
Skan
Bay
east of the wreck. The risk to commercial fisheries is believed
to be minimal; however, the Unified Command recommends that all
fishing vessel operators who operate in this area be aware of
the following information:
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Aerial
observations from overflights conducted from December 12,
2004 through the present have shown occasional, light sheens
to be present immediately adjacent to areas of heavy oiling
in Skan and Makushin Bays, particularly during spring tides.
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Shoreline surveys conducted from December 27, 2004 to
February 5, 2005 have shown areas of light, moderate, and
heavy oiling in Skan and
Makushin
Bays
and isolated areas of light to moderate oiling of the
shoreline from
Spray
Cape
south to
Kismaliuk
Bay
.
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Results from water quality sampling surveys near heavily
oiled shorelines in Makushin and Skan Bays detected tarballs,
smears, stains and other evidence of oil in both the water
column and on the bottom longline gear set on the seafloor
encountered isolated tarballs at depths ranging from 15 to
105 fathoms. No oil was observed on crab or fish caught in
this area.
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The State of
Alaska
has closed the area from
Cape
Kovrizhka
south to
Spray
Cape
to all commercial fishing, except for halibut fishing.
Commercial halibut vessels should be aware that the
state’s “zero tolerance” policy is in effect for
seafood caught in this area. All halibut caught within the
closed area from
Cape
Kovrizhka
south to
Spray
Cape
will require mandatory inspections by the State of
Alaska
prior to processing. If oil is observed anywhere on the
catch, gear, or vessel, the load cannot be landed. A
complete advisory on the seafood inspection process is
available at the Alaska
Department of Environmental Conservation website.
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Small, randomly scattered tarballs have also been
encountered in state waters from
Spray
Cape
south to
Umnak
Pass.
Intermittent sampling of the seafloor in these areas using
longline gear rigged with sorbent snares found no evidence
of bottom oiling.
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Shoreline
cleanup activities have been suspended through approximately
April 15, 2005. When cleanup activities are resumed, the
potential may exist for remobilization of oil in cleanup areas.
Vessel operators should be aware of this potential when fishing
in areas near shoreline cleanup sites.
Vessel operators
and crew are encouraged to report an oil observation to the
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation at
1-800-478-9300.
For the latest
information about oiling observations, visit the Unified
Command website.
- END -
Bruce M. Leaman
Executive Director
Phone: (206) 634-1838
Fax: (206) 632-2983
Web: www.iphc.washington.edu
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