Alaska Seafood Remains Free of Fukushima Radiation

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Jay Barrett/KMXT
More results have come in from on-going studies looking for radiation in different fish from Alaska waters, and they continue to show no evidence of contamination from the Fukushima nuclear power plant meltdown in Japan.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration released results from samples of four kinds of important food fish, and none had any trace of Fukushima-related radioisotopes, according to Dr. Ali Hamade of the State Division of Epidemiology.
“None of them have detected any radionuclide that would be associated with any appreciable health risk. Even for those who consume them in huge quantities – we’re talking more than 250 pounds a year – we’re nowhere close to really suspecting any appreciable health risk.”
Previously, negative results were released from tests of sablefish, pollock and halibut in Alaska waters. The results released Thursday were from testing of cod and three species of salmon: kings, chums and reds.
“These analyses target several species of fish, the fish that are for most important for Alaskans. If you look at pollock, that’s important nationwide and globally even, because they go into imitation crab and fish nuggets and whatnot. So it’s not only something Alaskans consume.”
Hamade said the tests FDA scientists use are sensitive enough to be able to tell Fukushima-related radiation, such as iodine-131, cecium-134 or cesium-137, from common background radiation that is naturally present in nature.

Alaska Fisheries Report

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Coming up this week, Kusko fishermen get another salmon opening; herring is kinda slow in the Aleutians, and the Canadians are the latest to airlift salmon. All that, and a blast from the Alaska Fisheries Report past. We had help from KYUK’s Daysha Eaton in Bethel, KUCB’s Lauren Rosenthal in Unalaska, KTOO’s Lisa Phu in Juneau, KFSK’s Joe Viechnicki in Petersburg and KMXT student intern Yasent Oliver in Kodiak.

The Alaska Fisheries Report

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Coming up this week, we’ve got salmon updates from every corner of the state; we’re reminded of the dangers of commercial fishing, and the ANB Harbor in Sitka finally has a ribbon-cutting. All that and more, coming up on the Alaska Fisheries Report. We had help from KHNS’ Margaret Friedenauer in Haines, KYUK’s Ben Matheson in Bethel, KNOM’sZacharia Hughes in Nome, KDLG’s Mike Mason in Dillingham, and KCAW’s Greta Mart in Sitka.

Study Shows Salmon Born Knowing North from South

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Jay Barrett/KMXT
It’s well known that Pacific salmon return to the stream they were born when it’s time for them to spawn and die. When they get close, they might be able to smell their home stream, but how do they know which way to go in the first place? It’s been suspected since the 1960s that salmon migrate successfully in part through detecting the earth’s magnetic field.

Nathan Putman is a professor at Oregon State University. The work he and his colleagues have done in recent years showed that sea turtles, sockeye salmon, and now in a new study, king salmon, all basically have built in compasses.
“In this most recent study of ours we’re actually able to show this does occur. That the fish are able to figure out where they are based on the magnetic field they’re in.”
Putman said his team used very weak magnetic fields in their laboratory studies, but they were strong enough to influence the salmon’s migratory behavior:
“We changed the magnetic field around the fish to simulate one that exists sort of north of their oceanic range, and even though they’re sitting in rural Oregon, they act like they’ve been displaced somewhere up near Alaska. And they swim to the south. Give them a magnetic field that exists in the southern end of their range, and they act like they’re there – they swim to the north.”
Putman says the ability to navigate is based not just on magnetic intensity, but the angle of the field as well.

Walmart, ASMI, Close to Salmon Deal

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Jay Barrett/KMXT
Walmart executives were in Alaska last week, meeting with state and industry officials about salmon. Though it has not followed through, the world’s largest retailer last year said without the Marine Stewardship Council’s stamp of approval, they would have to cease carrying salmon from Alaska.
ASMI spokesman Tyson Fick said he came away from the visit feeling confident salmon will stay on Walmart’s shelves.
“I think it went really well. It gives a lot of cause for optimism how it was received for both the sustainability efforts and management efforts of Fish and Game and NOAA in Alaska, as well as the RFM certification program.”

The Alaska Fisheries Report

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Coming up this week, after a one-year experiment, there’ll again be no tanner crab season in the Eastern Aleutians next year; the sea cucumber season is winding down, and not everyone in Southeast got in on this year’s salmon bonanza. We had help this week from KUCB’s Annie Ropeik and  Lauren Rosenthal in Unalaska, KFSK’s Matt Lichtenstein in Petersburg and KHNS’ Margaret Friedenauer in Haines.