UFA seeks new skipper

United Fishermen of Alaska, the state's flagship commercial fishing organization, is seeking a new executive director.

That's because the current executive director, Frances Leach, who has held the job since January 2018, is leaving to start a Juneau lobbying firm.

Jim Balsiger to retire

Jim Balsiger, Alaska regional administrator for the National Marine Fisheries Service, is planning to retire. His last day will be Nov. 30.

Balsiger has been the agency's Alaska chief since May 2000. He would be away from Alaska for a time to serve as acting head of NMFS in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Balsiger lives in Juneau and says he intends to remain there after retirement.

Sitka outbreak

The City and Borough of Sitka this week reported a COVID-19 outbreak at Sitka Sound Seafoods.

Local officials did not specify the number of positive cases.

But this state COVID-19 summary cites 12 new nonresident cases with "purpose seafood" in Sitka.

Sitka Sound Seafoods is a unit of North Pacific Seafoods.

Halibut, sablefish win five-year MSC recertification

Here's the new certificate.

Kodiak fisherman draws prison time, $1 million fine

Details in this press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Anchorage.