Lutnick confirmed as commerce secretary

Here's a news account.

Hatcheries not a problem for wild salmon, MSC says

A Marine Stewardship Council audit found that "hatchery enhancement activities are highly unlikely to have significant negative impacts on wild pink and chum salmon in Southeast Alaska, Prince William Sound and Lower Cook Inlet."

Here's an MSC news release on the audit.

No PWS shrimp pot fishery this year

"The Prince William Sound Area commercial shrimp pot fishing season will not open in 2025," the Alaska Department of Fish and Game said today in an advisory announcement.

The department cited declining abundance of spot shrimp.

Another lost season for Cook Inlet setnetters?

The Upper Cook Inlet eastside setnet fishery, which targets sockeye, was closed for the entire 2024 season to protect a poor run of Kenai River king salmon.

Now, setnetters might be facing another shutdown season, per this advisory announcement from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Public asked for help in Wind Walker case

U.S. Coast Guard investigators are appealing for further information regarding the fishing vessel Wind Walker, which sank on Dec. 1.

The bodies of two crewmembers were recovered, but three others remain missing.

USDA to buy 21M pounds of Alaska pollock products

Here's the announcement.

Board sinks hatchery proposal

The Alaska Board of Fisheries, meeting in Ketchikan, voted 5-2 against Proposal 156, which would have reduced pink and chum salmon production capacity by 25 percent at Southeast Alaska hatcheries.

The proposal, from Virgil Umphenour, drew widespread opposition from hatchery supporters including this group of legislators.