SCHEDULE

ComFish Alaska offers a variety of informative education sessions at no additional cost to attendees and exhibitors. These sessions cover topics such as legislative updates, marine safety, business management, regulatory issues, technical advancements and more. The Forums are designed to provide current and essential updates to the commercial fishing industry, while offering an environment for open discussions and networking with other industry professionals.

This year, all fishery forums are scheduled at the Kodiak High School in the Choral Pod and will also be broadcast live online.

Thank you to our Forum Sponsors!

  • Wednesday, March 15
    4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
    Fish Taco Night
    Location – Kodiak Island Brewery
    Sponsors – Alaska Marine Conservation Council, Alaska Sea Grant and Association of Latin Women in Alaska (with support from additional sponsors)

    Stop by to celebrate our fishing community and enjoy cod fish tacos! The Alaska Marine Conservation Council, Alaska Sea Grant, Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, Sitka Salmon Shares, Kodiak Island Wildsource, and Kodiak Jig Seafoods will co-host Fish Taco Night at the Brewery on Wednesday, March 15 from 4:30 - 6:30. The tacos will be prepared in authentic fashion with delicious homemade salsas by the Association of Latin Women in Alaska (ALMA) with fish harvested by our local jig fisherman and processed on our working waterfront. Come celebrate our island’s bounty and enjoy tacos and beer at the brewery, or stop in and take items to go. We will have to-go containers for those wishing to enjoy fish tacos at home. Suggested donation of $10 for 2 tacos. Contact Julie Matweyou with ASG for further information (907) 250-9512.
  • Thursday, March 16
    10 AM - 4 PM
    ComFish Expo
    Location – Kodiak High School Gym
    See the Vendor List

    ComFish is Alaska's Premier Commercial Fisheries Trade Show organized by the Kodiak Chamber of Commerce. In its 44th year, ComFish has an impressive group of exhibitors ranging from gear vendors to government agencies, and non-profits, covering every aspect of the commercial fishing industry.
    10 AM - 11 AM
    Federal Legislative Update
    Presenters – Senator Lisa Murkowski & Representative Mary Peltola Location – High School, Choral Pod

    Senator Lisa Murkowski and Representative Peltola will give a Federal Legislative Update

    Zoom Link
    11 AM - 12 PM
    Opioid Overdose Identification & Reversal with CPR Skills Review
    Presenters – Amy Butts & Shanna Rockenbach
    Location – High School, Health Room

    Learn how to save a life and earn an emergency kit full of life-saving tools. Explore the link between tobacco and drugs, get some medicine cabinet safety tips, identify the signs of an overdose, learn to administer Naloxone (NARCAN), and practice rescue breathing and chest compression skills. The event is free and open to the public.
    11:15 AM - 12 PM
    Bycatch Perspectives
    Presenters – Linda Kozak
    Location – High School, Choral Pod

    A review of the Gulf of Alaska bycatch-related recommendations proposed by the Alaska Bycatch Review Task Force, with an opportunity for a question and answer session with industry members of the Task Force.

    Zoom Link
    12:15 PM - 1 PM
    Alaska Seafood Market Updates and Opportunities
    Presenters – Ashley Heimbigner
    Location – High School, Choral Pod

    Join the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute for a marketing update on the Alaska seafood industry. Learn about where your catch is going, the value at home and abroad, and how the pandemic and global economics create challenges and opportunities for Alaska seafood, including the USDA’s federal purchasing programs.

    Zoom Link
    1:15 PM - 1:45 PM
    USCG Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Program
    Presenters – Chief Petty Officer David Schaeffer & Dayton Parker
    Location – High School, Choral Pod

    Zoom Link
    2 PM - 3 PM
    Opioid Overdose Identification & Reversal with CPR Skills Review
    Presenters – Amy Butts & Shanna Rockenbach
    Location – High School, Health Room

    Learn how to save a life and earn an emergency kit full of life-saving tools. Explore the link between tobacco and drugs, get some medicine cabinet safety tips, identify the signs of an overdose, learn to administer Naloxone (NARCAN), and practice rescue breathing and chest compression skills. The event is free and open to the public.
    2 PM - 2:45 PM
    Marine Ecosystem Partnerships
    Presenters – Hannah Marie Garcia , Heather Bauscher & Bridget Ferriss
    Location – High School, Choral Pod

    Identifying ways to demonstrate how scientists and fishermen can continually work together for the common good of our large marine ecosystems with highlights of Skipper Science's ongoing efforts and collaborations with NOAA’s Ecosystem Status Reports for the Gulf of Alaska and Eastern Bering Sea. The forum will include an opportunity for a discussion on paths forward

    Zoom Link
    3 PM - 4 PM
    Alaska Marine Debris Action Plan
    Presenters – Peter Murphy & Harmony Wayner
    Location – High School, Choral Pod

    Are you concerned about marine debris in Alaska? Do you want to be involved in solutions, learn more about it, or share your expertise? Marine debris is a complicated issue worldwide, and one that is uniquely challenging and impactful in Alaska. Work is beginning on a Marine Debris Action Plan for Alaska. This is a collaborative process to identify and capture existing actions, identified needs, and future priorities within the marine debris issue to help make a plan that works for Alaska and Alaskans. This session will provide information on marine debris efforts in the state as well as the opportunities for stakeholders to provide their input and insight as we chart the course forward.

    Zoom Link
    5 PM - 8 PM
    Evening Reception hosted by Silver Bay Seafoods
    Come enjoy some liquid libations and small bites on us! The event is open to all.

    Double Shovel Cider Company
    5-8PM
  • Friday, March 17
    10 AM - 4 PM
    ComFish Expo
    Location – Kodiak High School Gym
    See the Vendor List

    ComFish is Alaska's Premier Commercial Fisheries Trade Show organized by the Kodiak Chamber of Commerce. In its 44th year, ComFish has an impressive group of exhibitors ranging from gear vendors to government agencies, and non-profits, covering every aspect of the commercial fishing industry.
    10 AM - 10:45 AM
    Update from State of Alaska Fish and Game
    Presenters – Doug Vincent Lang
    Location – Kodiak High School, Choral Pod

    State of Alaska Fish & Game statewide update with the Commissioner of Fish and Game, Doug Vincent Lang

    Zoom Link
    11 AM - 12 PM
    Opioid Overdose Identification & Reversal with CPR Skills Review
    Presenters – Amy Butts & Shanna Rockenbach
    Location – High School, Health Room

    Learn how to save a life and earn an emergency kit full of life-saving tools. Explore the link between tobacco and drugs, get some medicine cabinet safety tips, identify the signs of an overdose, learn to administer Naloxone (NARCAN), and practice rescue breathing and chest compression skills. The event is free and open to the public.
    11 AM - 11:30 AM
    Why You Should Have Insurance
    Presenters – Svetlana Spivak
    Location – High School, Choral Pod

    Vessel owner’s and employer’s exposure to liability for crewmember’s injury for negligence under the Jones Act and under the doctrine of unseaworthiness. Obligation to pay maintenance and cure in the situations of injury and illness, and exposure to punitive damages for failure to do so. The importance of record-keeping and injury reporting to defending vessel owners in the lawsuits brought by crewmembers (Family? Friends?) who they thought would never sue them (if I only had a dollar for every time, I heard that), but sued them three years later – when memories are faded and witnesses moved on. Limitation actions to protect your assets. Vessel liens and impact on sale of the vessel.

    Zoom Link
    11:45 AM - 12:15 PM
    Common Sense Risk Management for the F/V Owner and/or Operator
    Presenters – Elisabeth Rise
    Location – High School, Choral Pod

    This presentation will focus on what we keep seeing as the cause of claims year after year, and what can be done to prevent them, thereby keeping individual vessel owner’s costs down, as well as the marine insurance industry as a whole. We will also discuss making sure you have adequate insurance, and what to do in the event an incident does happen.

    Zoom Link
    12:30 PM - 1 PM
    Alaska Salmon Price Report
    Presenters – Bruce Schactler
    Location – High School, Choral Pod

    Accessing the State of Alaska Department of Revenue Alaska Salmon Price Report; how to understand it and use it. Information will be provided on the various elements of the report and ways it can be interpreted by salmon harvesters.

    Zoom Link
    1:30 PM - 2 PM
    State Legislative Update
    Presenters – Senator Gary Stevens & Representative Louise Stutes
    Location – High School, Choral Pod

    State of Alaska Legislative Update from Senator Gary Stevens and Representative Louise Stutes.

    Zoom Link
    2 PM - 3 PM
    Opioid Overdose Identification & Reversal with CPR Skills Review
    Presenters – Amy Butts & Shanna Rockenbach
    Location High School, Health Room

    Learn how to save a life and earn an emergency kit full of life-saving tools. Explore the link between tobacco and drugs, get some medicine cabinet safety tips, identify the signs of an overdose, learn to administer Naloxone (NARCAN), and practice rescue breathing and chest compression skills. The event is free and open to the public.
    2:15 PM - 2:45 PM
    Retirement Planning for Fisherman
    Presenters – Tyler Wallace
    Location – High School, Choral Pod

    Whether you are 10 or 40 years from retirement, you’ll learn investment strategies to help design the retirement you want. We’ll also discuss how you can add flexibility to your strategy to help you handle unexpected events and how you can keep your strategy on track. Your current situation, your vision for retirement, defining your goals, working toward your goals, taxes, preparing for the unexpected and staying on track.

    Zoom Link
    3 PM - 4 PM
    How to Navigate the NPFMC Council Process & Alaska Board of Fish: Accessibility and Navigation for Fishermen
    Presenters – Sara Cleaver & Julie Kavanaugh
    Location – High School, Choral Pod

    Sara Cleaver (NPFMC staff) will provide a tutorial on the Council process in Alaska. This presentation will include navigating the meeting process and website, how to get involved, and recent and upcoming Council issues. The presentation will also include an overview of how groundfish stock assessments feed into the Council process. Sara will be available to answer questions.

    Julie will speak on Alaska Board of Fish: Accessibility and Navigation for Fishermen

    Zoom Link
    4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
    Evening Reception
    Sponsored by – Cascade Engine, Cummins & Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center

    Location – Best Western Kodiak Inn - Harbor Room

    Come enjoy some liquid libations and small bites on us! There will be beer, wine and BBQ!
  • Saturday, March 18
    10 AM - 12:30 PM
    ComFish Expo
    Location – Kodiak High School Gym
    See the Vendor List

    ComFish is Alaska's Premier Commercial Fisheries Trade Show organized by the Kodiak Chamber of Commerce. In its 44th year, ComFish has an impressive group of exhibitors ranging from gear vendors to government agencies, and non-profits, covering every aspect of the commercial fishing industry.
    10 AM - 10:30 AM
    Federal Legislative Update
    Presenters – Senator Dan Sullivan
    Location – High School, Choral Pod

    Senator Dan Sullivan will give a Federal Legislative Update

    Zoom Link
    10:45 AM - 11:15 AM
    Limited Entry Presentation
    Presenters – Toby Sullivan
    Location – High School, Choral Pod

    The talk, by Toby Sullivan, Executive Director of the Kodiak Maritime Museum, discusses Alaska’s Limited Entry Program within the historical context of “Tragedy of the Commons,” in which a finite public resource is over exploited by too many users. The talk includes graphs and images to explain how and why the Limited Entry program privatized access to Alaska’s salmon fisheries and what the results of it have been on Alaska’s fishermen. In a comparison to the LE program, the talk also discusses the Enclosure Acts in England which privatized the common lands of England several hundred years ago.

    Zoom Link
    11 AM - 12 PM
    Opioid Overdose Identification & Reversal with CPR Skills Review
    Presenters – Amy Butts & Shanna Rockenbach
    Location – High School, Health Room

    Learn how to save a life and earn an emergency kit full of life-saving tools. Explore the link between tobacco and drugs, get some medicine cabinet safety tips, identify the signs of an overdose, learn to administer Naloxone (NARCAN), and practice rescue breathing and chest compression skills. The event is free and open to the public.
    11:30 AM - 12 PM
    Future of Kelp Mariculture in Alaska
    Presenters – Melissa Good, Nick Mangini & Lexa Meyers
    Location – Kodiak High School, Choral Pod

    Three local mariculture excerpts will provide an overview of current statewide and regional mariculture efforts and discuss the future of kelp culture in Alaska. The panelist will discuss the coordination of workforce development and research across the state; regional success and barriers to entry; and targeted research to optimize kelp growth.

    Zoom Link
    11:30 AM - 12:15 PM
    Squid Dissection
    Hosted by – Alaska Sea Grant
    Location – High School, Outside

    Join Alaska Sea Grant as we explore the fascinating anatomy of a shark! From nose tip to tail, we will investigate the special characteristics that allow this shark to survive in its natural habitat. This activity is intended for youth (and adults) and will allow kids to get up close to a real shark while learning interesting anatomy and scientific terms.
    12:30 PM - 2 PM
    [CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER] Fishermen’s Showcase
    Hosted by – Alaska Sea Grant , with support from Kodiak fishermen
    Location – High School, Outside

    Join us for Kodiak’s Fishermen’s Showcase! This is a friendly competition for Kodiak fishermen to demonstrate their expertise and compete for the honor of the most skilled fisherman. Competitors complete five skills in timed heats of three contestants, and overall best time takes the title. Skills include coiling, knot tying, hook throwing, rail tying, and survival suit donning. Prizes will go to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners and all contestants receive a recognition award for participating. Pre-registration is encouraged! Sign up in person at the Alaska Sea Grant Booth or show up at the Showcase. Sign up in groups of three to compete with your crewmates or friends! The competition part of the Showcase will take place from 12:30 to 1:30, followed by a Liferaft Demonstration.

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