Today's Main Story: Coalition of Thai Seafood 
Companies Agree to Use Electronic Catch Reporting System
The Thai Fishery Producers Coalition (TFPC) and several of Thailand's regulatory agencies and NGOs signed a letter of cooperation to require fishermen to use an electronic marine catch documentation system. The system will also control the trade of aquatic products and aquaculture development including sanitation. The system is intended to help accurately trace the sources of Thailand's seafood according to the Fisheries Act. The TFPC includes the Thai Frozen Food Association and Thai Shrimp Association along with several other of the country's major commercial fishing and fishmeal groups. The commitment is a direct response from Thailand's fishing industry and regulatory officials to combat IUU issues in their sector.
California officials are testing Dungeness crabs from North Coast waters for domoic acid levels with hopes to open commercial fishing in the region by the first week of May. If the crabs don’t show high levels of the neurotoxin, the season could start as soon as May 5, according to Department of Fish and Wildlife senior environmental scientist Pete Kalvass.
In other news, the rift between Washington state and tribal fishery officials in Puget Sound continues and now threatens all salmon fishing activity in the region. A third attempt to set the salmon fishing seasons in Puget Sound failed, which means a complete fishery closure is possible starting May 1. Both the state and tribes will now pursue federal permits through NMFS, which are needed to conduct any salt- and fresh-water fisheries in Puget Sound.
Finally, Alaska's state fishery managers put the Copper River salmon fleet on notice that the season is likely going to open on May 16. The harvest this year calls for 1.6 million sockeyes, 21,000 kings and 201,000 coho. The Copper River Prince William Sound Marketing Association is also coordinating the season's first fish deliveries to Seattle with Alaska Airlines. The tradition sees the first Copper River salmon delivered straight to chefs waiting at the Seattle-Tacoma airport.
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