ComFish Alaska, the state’s premier commercial fisheries trade show and forum since 1980, opens in Kodiak on Thursday, March 15. The agenda includes federal and state fisheries updates, plus forums on incidental commercial harvests, vessel safety, marine ecosystem partnerships and more.
It is necessary to register to attend either in person or through Zoom, which can be done at the ComFish Alaska webpage: https://comfishak.com/.
The agenda calls for updates from the state’s congressional delegation, plus Alaska legislators Sen. Gary Stevens and Rep. Louise Stutes, both R-Kodiak, and an update from Alaska Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang. Linda Kozak, an industry veteran from Kodiak who served on the recent Alaska Bycatch Review Task Force, will present an update on commercial bycatch, and the U.S. Coast Guard will provide an update on the Coast Guard’s commercial fishing vessel safety program.
Other forums include topics ranging from how to understand and use the Alaska salmon price report, to insurance needs and a guide for harvesters, to identifying retirement goals and how to keep the strategy for those goals on track.
New to ComFish this year will be five forums on opioid overdose identification and reversal, plus a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) review.
ComFish organizers are providing Zoom links to several of the forums, with time allotted for participants in the forums to ask questions and get responses from presenters.
One of the popular and final events of ComFish is the Fishermen’s Showcase, hosted by Alaska Sea Grant and with support from Kodiak harvesters, in which Kodiak fishermen compete to demonstrate their expertise at skills vital to harvesters. Activities range from coiling, knot tying, and hook throwing, to donning survival suits. The competition is followed by a life raft demonstration.
