Vincent-Lang confirmed, Johnstone rejected

State legislators yesterday confirmed Douglas Vincent-Lang as commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game on a vote of 58 yeas 1 nay.

Marit Carlson-Van Dort, Gerad Godfrey, and Israel Payton were confirmed without objection to the Alaska Board of Fisheries.

Karl Johnstone was rejected for the fish board on a vote of 24 yeas 33 nays.

To see how legislators voted, click here.

Togiak herring fishery opens

Here's the announcement.

Trident reports 'minor fire' at False Pass plant

Here's the press release.

'A rare occurrence'

United Fishermen of Alaska hates the idea of Judge Karl Johnstone returning to the Board of Fisheries, and has submitted this pointed letter of opposition to state legislators.

Sitka's herring bust

It's now apparent we'll see no sac roe herring harvest this season in Sitka Sound.

The fishery has experienced a zero harvest only once before, in 1977.

So, what happened?

"It's not a biomass issue," Aaron Dupuis, a state fishery biologist, tells Deckboss.

Test boats caught many tons of herring, and fishable numbers of herring seemed everywhere, Dupuis said.

The problem was marketability — the fish just weren't large enough on average to interest processors, he said.

And so, the herring are now deep into their spawn, and the fishery won't open this season. A disappointing outcome for a fishery with a legacy of fierce competition and fast fortunes.

A big year for salmon?

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has released its statewide salmon forecast, and the outlook is bright.

• The commercial harvest is projected at more than 213 million salmon, compared to last year's 115.7 million.

• This year's pink salmon harvest is projected at 137.8 million fish, more than triple last year's tally.

• The projected catch of nearly 29 million chum salmon "would be the largest on record for Alaska," the department says.

• The sockeye harvest is projected at 41.7 million, down from last year's 50.5 million.

The department also has announced a Southeast Alaska treaty troll quota of 101,300 Chinook salmon, which is 5,600 fish better than last year.

Silver Bay's oysters

In a recent letter to state legislators, Silver Bay Seafoods describes its plans to become a major mariculture producer.

Personal use priority?

State Sen. Scott Kawasaki, D-Fairbanks, has introduced Senate Bill 99, which appears to give personal use fisheries priority over commercial and sport fisheries but not subsistence.

UFA opposes Johnstone

In an "action alert" issued today, United Fishermen of Alaska urges its members to oppose Karl Johnstone's appointment to the state Board of Fisheries.

Johnstone, a retired Superior Court judge, served on the board from 2008 to 2015.

Now he's set to return as one of Gov. Mike Dunleavy's recently announced board appointees.

UFA, the state's flagship commercial fishing organization, said its directors met and voted to oppose Johnstone "based on his actions" during his previous time on the board.

More on the proposed Cook Inlet setnet buyback

A nonprofit, the Eastside Consolidation Association, is pushing for a buyback of Cook Inlet salmon setnet fishing permits.

Here's a presentation the group made to Alaska legislators, who are considering buyback legislation in the form of Senate Bill 90.

Pebble is financing the lawsuit, BBRSDA says

Here's the statement.

BBRSDA sued

Six commercial fishermen have filed this lawsuit seeking to bar the Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association from spending its money on trying to kill the proposed Pebble mine.

Deckboss first learned of this suit from craigmedred.news.

Gov. Dunleavy appoints four to Board of Fisheries

Here's the press release.

The governor's office also provided these additional notes:

There were four seats open on the Board of Fish, two from expiring terms and two from resignation (Al Cain and Orville Huntington). Israel Payton was reappointed, Gerad Godfrey replaces Robert Ruffner, Karl Johnstone replaces Al Cain, and Marit Carlson-Van Dort replaces Orville Huntington who is now taking a seat on the Board of Game. Johnstone and Carlson-Van Dort take their seats immediately, Godfrey takes his seat July 1, and Payton will continue to serve.