A processing leap for Bristol Bay?

Northline Seafoods today unveiled plans to build a vessel, the Hannah, that the company says will "revolutionize" Bristol Bay salmon processing. This press release lays out more detail on the project, including its financing.

One person safe, one missing after boat grounds

Details in this press release from the Alaska State Troopers.

North Pacific Seafoods penalized $345,000

Here's the press release from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Trouble for trawlers?

The National Marine Fisheries Service is reinitiating Endangered Species Act consultation to evaluate effects of Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska groundfish fisheries on listed species and critical habitat.

Overboard death reported at Togiak

Here's the press release.

Washington state says no more fish farming

Washington state's public lands commissioner, Hilary Franz, on Friday announced an executive order to prohibit commercial finfish net pen aquaculture in state waters.

"Commissioner Franz's order will align Washington's net pen salmon aquaculture policy with policies already in place in Alaska, California and Oregon," says this news release.

Pushing for help

U.S. senators from Alaska and Washington state want the Biden administration to hurry up and declare a disaster for the crab crash.

Bill Hogarth, former head of NMFS, crosses the bar

Here's an obituary.

Crab association appeals for help

The crab crash has hit so hard that Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers is resorting to a GoFundMe campaign to buoy the organization.

ABSC is a Seattle-based trade association representing crab fishermen and vessel owners.

In better times, ABSC appeared to be a fairly well-financed organization.

According to its most recent Form 990 annual information return filed with the IRS, the association reported total revenue of $672,875 and $199,999 in compensation to its executive director, Jamie Goen.

How Alaska's salmon season fared

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has posted its summary of the 2022 salmon harvest.

The harvest value was $720.4 million, a nearly 12 percent increase from the prior year, the department reports.

A total of 160.7 million fish were harvested, almost exactly as forecast.

Sockeye was the dominant catch, accounting for two-thirds of harvest value, the department said.

Semper paratus

Here's some amazing Coast Guard history.

'Weak' forecast for Southeast Alaska pink salmon

Here's the announcement.

NPFMC names Salmon Bycatch Committee members

Click here to see who's on the committee.

A $1 million hit to PWSAC

Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corp. has signed a plea agreement in a case involving the illegal disposal of waste oil and jet fuel, resulting in severe burns to an employee.

Under the plea agreement, PWSAC agrees to pay $550,000 in restitution to the victim and a $450,000 fine.

PWSAC is a major operator of salmon hatcheries.

Bristol Bay forecast is out!

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is forecasting a 2023 Bristol Bay sockeye salmon harvest of 36.7 million fish.

That would be a large harvest, though way smaller than last season's record-setting 60.1 million sockeye.

Peter Pan owner invests in farm startup LocalCoho

Here's the press release.

Personnel file

Here are some big announcements dropping in recent days:

• Kevin Bixler has been named CEO at Peter Pan Seafood.

• Paul Doremus, formerly a top official with the National Marine Fisheries Service, has joined Trident Seafoods in the latest example of the revolving door between government and industry.

• Merle Knapp, retired from Glacier Fish, has launched a global seafood consulting business.