Fatality reported at Akutan

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Akutan

Type: Death investigation

On July 30, 2026, at 7:30 p.m., the Alaska State Troopers were notified that 36-year-old Seattle resident Vincent Short had fallen from the mast of a boat in Akutan and sustained significant injuries. Shortly after, he succumbed to his injuries. Next of kin has been notified. The U.S. Coast Guard has assumed case responsibility, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Kodiak fish debates set

Here's a press release.

An update on the F/V Arctic Sea grounding

Readers will recall the Jan. 5 wreck of the fishing vessel Arctic Sea along the rugged north coast of St. George Island and the rescue of nine crew.

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation has released a new situation report on the wreck concluding: "No further spill response or cleanup actions are required at this time."

As for salvage, the report says: "Resolve Marine has been contracted to perform the wreck removal. Work is scheduled to begin in early August 2026 and should be completed before the Bering Sea winter season begins."

Port Moller limbo

A recent court order calls into question the ownership of a remote Southwest Alaska seafood processing plant.

The Port Moller plant was among assets of failed processor Peter Pan. The plant was sold at auction in 2024 to Rodger May, who was Peter Pan's owner, and a Washington court approved the sale.

But on July 9, Alaska Superior Court Judge Laura Hartz ruled the Washington court lacked jurisdiction to dispose of property in Alaska without approval of the Alaska court.

The judge concluded that John Ketcham, who had loaned Peter Pan money, has a first priority lien against the Port Moller plant.

The plant currently is under lease to Silver Bay Seafoods, which is using it not to process fish but to provide support services for area fleets.

Blotter

Lots of enforcement news over on our sister blog The Brig.

Bristol Bay homicide investigation

The Alaska State Troopers today posted this press release.

State records list a Henry Ayojiak, of Manokotak, as a Bristol Bay salmon setnet permit holder.

Juneau watch

The Legislative Budget and Audit Committee tomorrow will consider a special audit request from Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, chair of the House Fisheries Committee.

She's seeking a review of how the Alaska Board of Fisheries has been conducting business of late, saying the board has "lost the public's trust."

Here's the committee agenda. The hearing begins at 8:30 a.m. and will be teleconferenced.

Salmon notes

• The Bristol Bay catch now stands at 23.6 million sockeye toward a preseason harvest forecast of 32.3 million.

• Dillingham radio station KDLG has a report on the Northline Seafoods freezer barge and its alliance this season with Silver Bay Seafoods. Listen to it here.

• The Southeast Alaska summer Chinook troll fishery appears to be progressing slowly and will remain open "until further notice," the Alaska Department of Fish and Game said yesterday. "Based on landed catch and reported harvest onboard freezer vessels to date, less than 40,000 of the 83,700 Chinook salmon allocation has been harvested over the first 10 days of the fishery."

• Looking farther south, to Canada, the forecasted run size for Fraser River sockeye is 7.7 million fish, the Pacific Salmon Commission reports.

What's behind the decline of Yukon Chinook?

Increased natural mortality associated with Bering Sea marine heatwaves is "an important driver" of the Yukon River Chinook salmon crash, a new study finds.

The study also "found no evidence that harvest of adult salmon or bycatch removals prior to spawning have been significant factors in population level declines of Yukon River Chinook," says this write-up from NOAA Fisheries.

Blotter

Bristol Bay fishermen are catching a lot of salmon — and a lot of citations from the Alaska Wildlife Troopers. Follow all the enforcement action on our sister blog The Brig.

'The question that needs to be asked'

Independent journalist Craig Medred today posted this remarkably cogent comment on his site:

When you look at the data, the pollock trawl fishery is among the cleanest damn fisheries in the state. Should the country sacrifice millions of tons of renewable, high-quality protein to save the comparatively small number of kings taken as bycatch in that fishery? That's the question that needs to be asked.

A trawler takes to task both Sullivan, Peltola

Here's his opinion piece on the Anchorage Daily News website.

Salmon notes

• Bristol Bay exploded for a Fourth of July catch of more than 2.3 million sockeye, the largest daily catch of the season so far and the first day for a haul exceeding 2 million fish.

• An available surplus of sockeye will allow for a commercial fishery at Goodnews Bay, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced. "Sockeye salmon run strengths in the Kuskokwim area have been increasing over the last 20 years," the department said, noting one commercial processor is registered to buy.

• The long closure in the Copper River District continues. Here's the latest from Fish and Game. The last opener was June 11.

Salmon spill

A truck hauling salmon overturned Friday night on the Seward Highway, causing quite a mess, the Alaska State Troopers reported.

Blotter

Be sure to catch our sister blog The Brig for fisheries enforcement news.

Bristol Bay builds steam

We're now seeing substantial harvest numbers at Bristol Bay, scene of Alaska's richest commercial salmon fishery.

As of this moment, the cumulative catch stands at nearly 11.4 million sockeye. The state forecast calls for a potential harvest of 32.3 million this season.

The Nushagak District on the west side of Bristol Bay is leading the catch with 4.3 million sockeye so far, followed by the eastside Egegik District with 3.6 million.

Fishing effort was concentrated in the Nushagak District with 475 vessels and 673 permits registered there, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game said yesterday.

Daily catches baywide have been strong in recent days, well above 1 million fish, providing a steady stream of deliveries to processors. The biggest day was June 28 with 1.8 million fish.

Feds announce seafood 'regional priorities'

Here's the press release.

Man overboard in Bristol Bay

A man was reported overboard from a fishing vessel in Bristol Bay this week, and an intensive search failed to locate him.

The Alaska State Troopers identified the missing man as Seth Whiteman, 23, of Eagle River.

U.S. Coast Guard watchstanders on Monday received a report of a man overboard from the F/V Sandman near Egegik Bay, Petty Officer 3rd Class Cameron Snell said.

A seven-hour search ensued involving the cutter Frederick Mann, a helicopter from Air Station Kodiak, the Alaska State Troopers patrol vessel Stimson and state aircraft.

The search was suspended late Monday pending development of new information.

The missing man reportedly was not wearing a life jacket, Snell said.

State records indicate the Sandman belongs to Isaac J. Thistle, of Wasilla.

Pollock wars

The state of Alaska is objecting to Marine Stewardship Council recertification of Russia's Western Bering Sea pollock fishery.

Here's a letter from Alaska Fish and Game Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang to MSC Chief Executive Rupert Howes.