Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association
With headquarters in Sitka, Alaska, NSRAA conducts salmon enhancement projects throughout northern southeast Alaska - from Petersburg to Haines.
NSRAA has been serving the southeast Alaskan fishing community since 1978.
This site contains information about who we are and what we do.
Come in, look around.
Thanks for visiting - we look forward to serving you.
Hidden Falls Assessment Tax Meeting
NSRAA Meeting Room, Sitka
1 p.m., Thursday, May 24, 2012
ADF&G and NSRAA staff will meet to discuss the Hidden Falls Assessment Tax for the chum fishery for the 2012 season. All processors and fishermen are welcome.
It's NSRAA Scholarship Application Time
Three Scholarships are now available
March 16, 2012
The NSRAA Scholarship application deadline for 2012 is 5 pm ADT, Monday April 16, 2012 ; scholarships will be awarded in May.
The NSRAA board of directors added a third scholarship to NSRAA's scholarship program in 2011. Three $2,500 scholarships are available annually. The third scholarship is designated specifically for two year programs which includes most vocational / technical degrees.
Those eligible to apply are those who hold a current State of Alaska salmon limited entry permit and paid enhancement tax to NSRAA in the year prior to the application, and their children. NSRAA employees and their dependent children are also eligible to apply.
At this time the scholarships are non-renewable, but winners can apply again in the future.
The scholarship is not limited to students who intend to study fisheries.
Applicants forvocational / technical programs are encouraged to applly - the scholarships are not limited to four-year programs. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding eligibility.
Application forms may be picked up at (or requested from) the NSRAA office in Sitka. Forms will also be available at the counselor's office at your local high school. Or download an application in pdf format from our Scholarship page.
The application period runs from January 1 through April 15 (or the Monday after the 15th if the 15th falls on a weekend).Please see our Scholarships page for further details.
Concern over spread of Didemnum vexillum (Dvex)
Invasive species found in Sitka's Whiting Harbor in 2010, may be spreading
March 16, 2012From board member Marlene Campbell:
Please share the attached power point presentation by Professor Marnie Chapman, University of Alaska Sitka Campus, with Board members. She developed it for the Alaska House Resources Committee at the request of Representative Peggy Wilson, who is extremely concerned about this issue. Didemnum vexillum (Dvex) was first discovered in Sitka’s Whiting Harbor in June, 2010, but was likely introduced from aquafarm infrastructure brought in from British Columbia several years ago prior to the current aquafarm owner. Sitka is the first location in Alaska it has been found. The lantern nets became engulfed by the Dvex, and more than 170 are currently on the bottom. Part of the infested aquafarm blew out of Whiting Harbor in a storm and is now somewhere in Sitka Sound. Dvex grows voraciously and is a problem world wide—hundreds of miles of fishing grounds are closed to commercial fishing on the East Coast of the US, and highly productive habitat has been destroyed. There are infestations in New Zealand, Washington state, and elsewhere around the world. Dvex breeds both sexually and asexually and can spread dramatically once established. It has spread throughout Whiting Harbor, which is why it is so important for all boats to stay out of Whiting Harbor. While it can be killed by de-watering or smothering (in salt, chlorine solution, cement dust, sand, etc. as possibles), eradicating all the Dvex now that it has spread well beyond the aquafarm will be a great challenge given the large water column and amount of square feet impacted.
The Governor has put $500,000 in his FY’2013 budget for this effort, and City and Borough of Sitka, Sitka Fish and Game Advisory Committee, Sitka Conservation Society, and other groups are advocating that a qualified contractor be hired to contain and eradicate it, since no such effort has yet begun. It is critical this effort begin this year and not wait until 1013. Although US Fish and Wildlife contributed around $90,000 to the “study” efforts last year, apparently USF&WS and NMFS will be supportive but not actively lead the upcoming efforts. The Sportfish Division of Fish and Game will continue to be lead on this issue.
A pdf copy of Professor Marnie Chapman's powerpoint can be found here.
NSRAA Board meetings
March 21, 2012
NSRAA's Board of Directors met March 14-16, 2012.
The Fall meeting dates will be November 13-14, 2012.
Hidden Falls Assessment Development - March 2012 Update
March 21, 2012
NSRAA's board of directors made a decision at the November 2011meeting to endorse the assessment tax plan for the 2012 fishing season at Hidden Falls. At the March 14-16, 2012 spring board meeting, directors drew up a resolution to recommend to the Department of Revenue that the 2012 tax rate be set at 20%. New regulations are necessary and in process to implement the program for this summer's fishery. We're hopeful that the program can be tested this season, but won't have the final word until early June.
April 27, 2011
NSRAA is exploring the idea of implementing an assessment fishery at Hidden Falls as an alternative to the current chum cost recovery harvest. We are working with seiners, processors, ADF&G, Department of Revenue, Enforcement, and others to develop regulatory language and a workable plan which we hope to test during the summer of 2012.
PDF of NSRAA Powerpoint presentation at initial planning session (4/26/2011) Updated (3/21/2012)
2012 Season Cost Recovery Goals Set
March 21, 2012
A combination of record 3% tax revenues and large Chinook and coho cost recovery revenues from 2011result in very small cost recovery needs from chum this season. Bid documents will be going out soon for Deep Inlet chum to raise $91,000.
Hidden Falls will be operating (hopefully) under an assessment tax this season, in place of our traditional chum cost recovery harvest. (See above.)
Chinook cost recovery at Medvejie will go out to bid for 2012, with an expected range of 6,000 to 10,000 harvestable fish. NSRAA has a multi-year agreement for Hidden Falls and Deer Lake (Mist Cove) coho through 2013.
Economic Impacts of NSRAA
June 13, 2010
The McDowell Group recently completed two studies:
- Economic Impacts of NSRAA
- Economic Impacts of Private Nonprofit Aquaculture Associations in Southeast Alaska, which combines NSRAA, SSRAA and DIPAC production.
From the Executive Summary:
Southeast Alaska’s three largest hatchery associations have contributed millions of pounds of fish to commercial, charter, sport, personal use, and subsistence fisheries, resulting in the injection of hundreds of millions of dollars into the regional and state economies. This study quantifies the economic impacts of Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (NSRAA), Douglas Island Pink and Chum, Inc. (DIPAC), and Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (SSRAA) from 2001 to 2008. Following are major findings about the combined impacts of these organizations.
See the full studies here (pdf format):
McDowell Study: Economic Impacts of NSRAA
McDowell Study: Economic Impacts of Private Nonprofit Aquaculture in SE Alaska
NSRAA Galleries
January 11, 2010
Check out our new photo galleries! Access them under Gallery on the main menu bar.
Medvejie Hatchery - general shots from Medvejie & Deep Inlet
Hidden Falls Hatchery - general shots from Hidden Falls
Sawmill Cove Hatchery & Salmon Lake - our new hatchery, and the Salmon Lake weir & broodstock collection
Deer Lake - Experience the extreme conditions the Deer Lake crew have encountered during spring setup in recent years.
Fishing - Commercial, cost recovery, and sport photos.
