Mug Update: Yes, non-Alaskan fishermen still have to quarantine (Mandate 17)

We’ve received quite a few questions from fishermen after the Governor’s recent announcement that interstate travelers will no longer quarantine when entering Alaska as of June 5, 2020. See the update on Mandate 10 here. 

HOWEVER, this does not relax the requirements in the State of Alaska Health Mandate 17, which says that fishermen entering Alaska from another state MUST quarantine for 14 days. 

Tom Koloski from the State of Alaska Unified Command was clear on this during the update webinar on Mandates 10 and 17 with United Fishermen of Alaska (UFA). Please watch both UFA webinars and the Discovery Health webinar with National Fisherman before you head out for the season, whether you are traveling to the grounds or fish locally. 

Take care of each other out there, and have a safe and successful summer.

If you have any questions or suggestions for Mug Updates, please email Jamie@akmarine.org.  

Mug Update: Testing Available on the Homer Spit

A new testing site opened in Homer on Friday at the Boat House Pavilion on the Homer Spit. It will be open daily until 7 p.m. through the next week to test seasonal workers coming in from out of State. Testing is also available 24/7 at the South Peninsula Hospital’s main entrance parking lot.

If you have questions or suggestions for the Mug Update please email Jamie@akmarine.org.

Mug Update: Covid-19 Testing Locations for Alaska Fishermen

Testing is one of the key ways that we can help to slow the spread of Covid-19. It does NOT eliminate the need for quarantine, but the combination of quarantine and testing is a powerful tool to protect our friends, neighbors, families, livelihoods, and food supply.

Testing is now available for commercial fishermen at the Ted Stevens International Airport and other locations. You MUST pre-register in order to receive a test. Check out the PDF below for instructions.

Additional testing sites are also available including:

• Anchorage:  301 Calista Court, Anchorage AK 99518 - (907) 538-4421

• Wasilla:  3122 E Meridian Park Loop, Wasilla, AK 99654 - (907) 864-4642

• Kenai:  10543 Kenai Spur Hwy., Kenai, AK 99611 - (907) 395-0463

• Dillingham:  240 Harbor Road, Dillingham AK 99576 - (907) 764-8879

You can also find the State of Alaska testing location portal, updated daily, here.

If you have any questions or suggestions for the Mug Updates please email Jamie@akmarine.org.

Mug Update: Set Net Appendix to Health Mandate 17

The long-awaited set net guidance arrived on the State of Alaska website as Appendix 03 to State Health Mandate 17 and applies to commercial harvesters not covered under the original mandate. Be sure to read and understand the entire document, but here are a few things to get you started. 

Site manager

Many set net operations have multiple permit holders, so who’s the Captain? In Appendix 03, the Captain is referred to as the “site manager.” While anyone in an operation usually knows who’s running the show, the “senior permit holder” who conducts business on behalf of the operation will be responsible for adherence to the mandate and submitting the acknowledgement form. In the case of my family’s operation, my dear old Dad will be on the hook for our paperwork and how I conduct myself.

Travel Options

The State has expanded its previous guidance on self-quarantine methods to include the following two options.  

1. Mid-Travel Quarantine: 

• “Harvesters will travel to Alaska and observe a 14-day self-quarantine period in temporary lodging in a large community with a General Acute Care or Critical Access Hospital (i.e., Anchorage or Juneau) prior to beginning onward travel to their final destination community. This method will allow harvesters to immediately begin provisioning and operating under the protective measures in Section VI upon arrival to their destination community.”  

This option is not required but is highly encouraged for Alaska residents traveling to another Alaska community to fish. For those of us who live in communities with critical access hospitals, I read this to mean that we should observe a 14-day quarantine at home before traveling to another Alaskan community. 

1. Post-Travel Quarantine 

• “Harvesters will travel to their final destination community in Alaska and observe a 14-day self-quarantine period prior to any interaction with harvesters from other Harvesting Operations or members of the local community. This method will require harvesters to follow stricter protective measures in Section IV.b.iv after arrival to their destination community while in their 14-day self-quarantine period.” 

If you need to be hanging gear and twisting a wrench while you quarantine, then go directly to your operation’s place of quarantine and stay there for two weeks. No field trips unless it’s to get tested, folks. 

Arrival Screening 

You’re required to screen your crew as soon as they arrive at the operation by asking a list of questions and taking their temperature. Be sure you have enough thermometers for everyone. For us, we’ll be screening before our crew flies out of Ted Stevens International. 

Social Distancing in Town

When you’ve finished either quarantine option, you can then revert to social distancing requirements. Stay out of town as much as possible. Use curbside pickup options at parts and grocery stores as much as possible. Do not mix with other operations.  And as always, if you cannot adhere to these mandates please sit this one out. The fate of the season, food supply, and those we all know and love is in your hands.

Please email Jamie@akmarine.org with any questions or suggestions for Mug Update.

AKFN Covid-19 Resources Page 

Original Mug Update on Mandate 17

UFA Webinar on State of Alaska Health Mandate 17

Discovery Health Webinar on Vessel Procedures to Protect you and your Crew

Mug Update: Vessel Owner Resource Packet

• Mandate 17 Acknowledgement Form ("Appendix 2" of Mandate 17) If you have not already done so at the request of your processor, you should print and sign this form. Provide a copy to your processor, and keep at least one hard copy on your vessel. 

• Checklist of both recommended & required safety measures per Mandate 17. This checklist is intended to make preparation and ongoing compliance easier. However, you should still read and be familiar with all state mandates impacting fishing businesses. You can find those here.

• Essential worker letter template for crew traveling to Alaska. Fill in the blanks with your information, and provide this letter to any crew members who need to travel from out of state to come work for you. They should have a printed copy with them. 

• Crew contract template from AKFNs working group of captains and crew.

• Flyers for sanitation and prevention

• PPE

• Jobs Posting Flyer for help advertising a deckhand position with the Alaska Department of Labor.

Thank you to Under 60 Cod Harvesters and Ocean Strategies for sharing their Vessel Owner Resource packet with us.

Please send any questions or suggestions for Mug Updates to Jamie@akmarine.org.

A trade organization advocating for the health of Alaska’s Pacific cod fisheries and under 60 foot pot vessels.

Mug Update: Best Available Science and Alaska’s Response to Covid-19

The State of Alaska ranked third most aggressive in its response to the Covid-19 pandemic, including first place ranking in total public health emergency preparedness per capita and public healthcare spending per capita. 

To date, Alaska has had 371 total cases, with 277 recovered and nine deaths attributed to Covid-19. Yesterday one new case was reported while 14 people got well. The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services updates the information dashboard every day at noon. 

Alaska reported 13 people hospitalized for Covid-19 as of May 5th. We have 318 ventilators available. The purpose of flattening the curve is to ensure we have the capacity in our healthcare centers to care for all who are sick. By that metric, Alaska is doing a great job. 

The best available science from the Alaska DHSS tells us that the majority of people infected by Covid-19 get well at home. It also tells us that the best thing we can do to slow the spread of this virus is to continue to socially distance, wear masks when in public, sanitize hard surfaces, and wash, wash, wash our hands. However, if you or someone you live with is part of a higher risk group, it is critical to take additional protective steps.    

For those of you who are still skeptical that wearing a hot mask while sharing public spaces will make a difference, please read and enjoy this Reddit meme. 

AKFN advocates both the wearing of masks and the wearing of pants in public spaces and encourages everyone to not be, “that guy.”

In response to the best available science, each fishing region is boosting their medical capacity in preparation for the summer salmon season. Here are a few examples of the work our healthcare professionals are doing in addition to State health mandates 17 and others in coastal communities: 

In Bristol Bay, Kanakanak Hospital in Dillingham has upgraded its ventilators with the proper filters to support a Covid-19 patient while working to increase testing capacity. 

Samaritan's Purse committed a 20-25 bed mobile hospital with personnel on the East side of the Bay in King Salmon, where Camai Community Health Center is also working to ensure available testing. 

Processors across the State have increased medical staff on payroll to support their workforce while closing their campuses and requiring PPE.

And communities across Alaska are working with State and Federal governments to increase their testing capacity and work through evacuation plans.  

Fishing communities are also beefing up their support for their communities and fishing fleets. Here are some examples of just a few of the things communities are doing to keep fishermen and communities safe: 

Cordova has installed hand washing stations in the harbor and is implementing airport and harbor ambassadors to help folks understand the requirements in addition to increased sanitation staff. 

Kodiak requires fishermen to file a harbor use permit with the City of Kodiak and has designated one of its elementary schools as emergency medical capacity if needed.  

We couldn’t highlight every community or every effort to keep communities and fishermen safe, but we thank each of you for your work and dedication. We are in this together. Please keep up to date on the latest State and local mandates regarding your fishery by following local news outlets and checking City websites. And as Dr. Ann Jarris said during the Discovery Health webinar on vessel procedures, "If you take nothing else from this, remember that everything, literally everything, the success of the season, securing our food supply, the health and safety of everyone around you is in your hands. How you choose to act over the next few months will be the difference." 

Take care of yourselves and each other out there, and mask up in public.

If you have any questions or suggestions for Mug Updates please email Jamie@akmarine.org.

Mug Update: Keeping up with Local Politics

As we hunker down in our homes or on our boats, local leaders meet in communities across Alaska via teleconference to adapt and respond to the day-by-day changes in our world. Funding and orders originate with the feds, detour through the States where they become mandates, and end up in City governments where your elected neighbors translate them into a local gameplan. How can they protect their community and you? Do their neighbors agree with that approach? Can that person with the dog and the kids please, for the love of all that is good, mute their phone when they're not talking!? Is Bill really eating on Zoom right now? Turn off your camera, Bill. The button on the bottom of the screen, Bill. Yes, that one, Bill! But I digress.  

Your city council works together with the Mayor and city employees to plan and implement the local response you see every day. With limited exceptions for very small, rural communities without trauma centers, they have to work within the laws and mandates released by the State of Alaska as well as city codes and ordinances. Many local governments are working through complex issues right now that will affect your life and fishery for at least the next few months.  

Here are a few ways you can stay informed: 

• Follow your city or village's social media account or check their website to get notices about public meetings. 

• If your community stood up an emergency operations center, follow their updates on social media or check their website.

• Tune into local radio for news coverage on the highlights from public meetings. 

• Read the posted agenda and decide if you want to weigh in during public testimony. 

• Tune into local radio coverage of City Council meetings or call in.

Tips on Public Testimony: 

• Write down your comments, including your introduction.

• Begin by thanking the Council for their work and time. 

• Share your name and connection to the community.

• Be aware of the time limit, and plan your comments accordingly. 

• Be respectful, honest, solution-oriented, and to the point.

• Personal attacks are almost never productive. Though it may feel satisfying to call someone out, resist that urge. You'll have better luck getting buy-in on your idea if you go in with a collaborative approach. 

I have always found public processes to be appreciative of public engagement. It's oftentimes messy, and people disagree, but our government is basically one big group project. So, cut them some slack and pitch in to help where you can. Take care of yourselves and each other, fish people. 

Please email Jamie@akmarine.org with any questions about or suggestions for Mug Update.

Mug Update: State of Alaska Health Mandate 17

The State of Alaska released COVID-19 Health Mandate 17 Protection Measures for Independent Commercial Fishing Vessels on April 23, 2020. The document is required reading for all Alaska commercial fishermen not already operating under a fleetwide plan--check with your processor or representative industry association for further information on fleetwide plans. Currently, Health Mandate 17 does not apply to set netters who will receive a separate mandate for shore-based operations. 

A few key takeaways from Mandate 17: 

• Firstly, let us all take a moment to grieve the social aspect of the preseason. Operating this year will be much different from previous years, which means a kibosh on parties in the boatyard. I know how much it means to reconnect with each other, but we’ve got to stay strong and stay away from each other! With this in mind, managing the personalities in your operation will be crucial because you will be spending a LOT of time together, during your 14-day quarantine for non-Alaskan fishermen and while social distancing as Alaskans*, and nobody gets to storm off in a huff. 

• Buy yourself a fun notebook because you’ll need to be documenting all the information required by the mandate, including; crew temperatures during quarantine, travel information, and more. 

• Communities will have differing protocols and rules for travel, operating in their harbors, and using their infrastructure. EVERYONE needs to read up on local rules. Local and non-local fishermen alike will need to be aware of and adhere to harbor and supply protocols, processor protocols, and, of course, State mandates. 

• Get some paper dishware (the more biodegradable, the better) and prepare to change up your galley game with masks and gloves for preparing meals. 

• Pack like you’re going to have to quarantine a sick crewmember with appropriate cleaning and medical supplies and PPE. 

• Familiarize yourself with healthcare options available to you and your fleet. Options will vary by community and fishery. Check-in with your processor, many of whom are increasing their medical staff for this salmon season. 

• And as we know from the Discovery Health webinar, if you cannot adhere to these guidelines and play by the rules, DO NOT FISH. The safety of our communities, food supply, and livelihoods is in your hands. If you take a look at these requirements and can’t make it happen, there is no shame or blame in that, and we all thank you for making the call for yourself and your operation.

• UFA will be doing a free webinar for all fishermen focused on Mandate 17 April 29th and 10 a.m. AKST.   

• Also, be sure to check out Robert Seid’s Financial Minute on the CARES act and commercial fishermen for a jumping-off point for information on relief funds.     

Remember, EVERYONE must adhere to these mandates throughout the season, or we all get sent home, and you will be endangering the lives of those we all know and love. I say again; EVERYONE must play by the rules. Stay safe out there. 

If you have any questions or suggestions for resources that AKFN can highlight, please email Jamie at jamie@akmarine.org. 

*Post has been clarified as information is clarified from the State of Alaska.