Salmon notes

• A major Bristol Bay fish processor, Trident Seafoods, is paying a base price of 95 cents a pound for sockeye, Dillingham radio station KDLG reports. That compares to a Bristol Bay average of 89 cents in 2024.

• Bristol Bay's Nushagak District has netted a strong sockeye catch this season. "Harvest in the district is at 15.9 million, the fourth-largest harvest for the Nushagak District ever, but harvest has slowed and fishermen are pulling boats and ending their seasons," the Alaska Department of Fish and Game reported Friday.

• Fish and Game provided new details on a reported fuel spill at Chignik: "Leaking fuel in the Chignik Lagoon due to a capsized seiner caused the commercial opener on Sunday, July 13, to be prematurely closed in the Chignik Bay District. The fishery was able to reopen on Tuesday, July 15."

4 million pounds of cod up for grabs at Chignik

But does anyone want it?

More details in this Alaska Department of Fish and Game announcement.

Man overboard at Chignik

The Alaska State Troopers today reported the following:

Location: Chignik

Type: Search and rescue

On 10/10/24 at approximately 0810 hours, Alaska State Troopers received a report of a man overboard in Chignik Bay. Jimmy Prokopeuff, 45, of Chignik, fell over the railing of his fishing vessel coming into the fueling dock. The captain attempted to rescue him with a mooring line and life jackets, but the individual was ultimately rescued by search and rescue volunteers who deployed in a skiff at 0829 hours. They retrieved him and transported him to the local clinic for treatment.

More disaster relief

The feds today announced disaster determinations for two more Alaska fisheries — the 2023 Upper Cook Inlet eastside setnet salmon fishery and the 2022 Chignik salmon fishery.

Looking up at Chignik

The remote Southwest Alaska fishery at Chignik saw a catch of nearly 1.1 million sockeye this year, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game reports.

That's a decent tally after five dreadful seasons of producing as few as zero sockeye.

Through its history, Chignik has yielded on occasion more than 2 million sockeye annually, and in 1999 actually cleared 3.1 million.

The fishing fleet was small this season, with 35 active permits, and the sockeye catch paid about $3.85 million ex-vessel, the department said. Other species including pink salmon added almost $1.3 million, bringing value per permit to $146,491.

Disaster relief plans proposed

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has posted distribution plans for federal disaster funds.

The state is inviting public comments on the proposed plans, which cover two fisheries:

2018 Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod
2018 Chignik sockeye salmon

Disaster aid OK'd for cod, Chignik salmon fisheries

Alaska's congressional delegation says $24.4 million in disaster relief has been approved for the 2018 cod crash and $10.3 million for the 2018 sockeye failure at Chignik.

More details in this press release.

Disaster declarations for Gulf cod, Chignik sockeye

The U.S. Department of Commerce today announced a raft of disaster declarations in multiple states.

Julie Speegle, spokeswoman for the National Marine Fisheries Service in Juneau, tells us the declarations include the 2018 Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod fishery and the 2018 Chignik sockeye salmon fishery.

Governor declares Chignik salmon disaster

Here's the press release.

Chignik discontent

Folks at Chignik are unhappy with the management of local salmon fisheries and are petitioning the governor for changes.

Coast Guard medevacs crewman near Chignik

A Coast Guard helicopter today medevaced a 32-year-old crewman off the fishing vessel Cape Caution. He reportedly was suffering from "severe abdominal distress."

The boat was 69 miles southeast of Chignik. The Coast Guard said it was notified at 3:32 a.m., and the helicopter out of Kodiak hoisted the patient around 6:30 a.m.

The Cape Caution is a 90-foot pot boat out of Homer.

USCG, good Samaritans help injured skipper

From the U.S. Coast Guard:

June 11, 2012

Coast Guard medevacs fisherman near Chignik

JUNEAU — Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak personnel this morning medevaced the captain of the fishing vessel Providence after he injured his hand near Chignik.

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and a supporting HC-130 Hercules airplane launched at 4:35 a.m. after Coast Guard watchstanders received a medevac request through the good Samaritan vessel Flying Ocean.

The injured captain of the Providence was transferred to the Flying Ocean and the Flying Ocean began making way toward Kodiak to shorten the helicopter's flight distance.

The Jayhawk reached the Flying Ocean near Sutwik Island and safely hoisted the patient at 6:54 a.m., then returned to Kodiak and transferred him to emergency medical services.

"Help from good Samaritans like the Flying Ocean crew significantly reduces response time in medevac cases," said Master Chief Jeremiah Roberts, a watchstander at the 17th Coast Guard District command center. "The willingness of mariners to help others on the water has saved countless lives, and the Coast Guard is grateful for their assistance."

'Hook, Line & Sisters'

Yet another reality TV show about Alaska commercial fishing is set to make its premiere.

Hook, Line & Sisters will focus on fisherman Dean Anderson and family.

Deckboss understands the one-hour opening episode will feature this year's Sitka herring fishery, with six more episodes taking in salmon seining at Chignik.

The series website describes Anderson as "a grizzled sea dog known for his aggressive fishing."

The series begins Thursday night and runs through Feb. 2 on TLC. Check your local listings for times.

It took a while, but Chignik has a new harbor

Chignik, on the Alaska Peninsula, is moving up in the world. Here's a press release from the Lake and Peninsula Borough:

Dec. 16, 1011

Chignik boat harbor fully operational

KING SALMON — The Lake and Peninsula Borough is pleased to announce that the Chignik boat harbor is complete and open for business.

The $3.4 million project included installation of 40 slips, a harbormaster building, and full water and electrical support. The construction finished ahead of budget and schedule, allowing the Chignik fleet to begin using the harbor to prepare for the winter longlining and crab season.

"Everyone involved in this project is thrilled that our fishermen have a fully functional harbor," said borough Mayor Glen R. Alsworth Sr. "The idea of a boat harbor in Chignik dates all the way back to 1955 when Chignik's residents wrote to Delegate Bob Bartlett to ask for assistance. To be part of the group that has made it a reality is gratifying."

The city of Chignik, the Lake and Peninsula Borough and the Army Corps of Engineers have played roles in the project throughout its 55-year history.

"The boat harbor will be a tremendous boost to the Chignik fishery," said Chignik Mayor Richard Sharpe. "Now the fleet will be able to quickly and safely wait out storms and have a viable, year-round storage location for their boats."

Previously, fishermen had to store their boats in Kodiak or Sand Point, he noted.

The boat harbor completion follows the best salmon season in 40 years and the prospect of expanded winter fishery allocations for Chignik fishermen.

Salvage plans emerge for grounded tender

Here's the salmon tender Unimak, which went aground Thursday near Chignik. Three crewmen got off safely in a life raft and were taken to shore on the good Samaritan boat Sylvia Star. Magone Marine out of Dutch Harbor has been hired for the salvage job, the U.S. Coast Guard reported today. The 83-foot, wood-hulled tender had about 800 gallons of diesel on board. USCG photo

Three rescued after boat hits rocks near Chignik

The U.S. Coast Guard is reporting a wood-hulled fishing boat, the Unimak, is on the rocks 143 miles southwest of Kodiak near Chignik.

The three people on board abandoned ship in a life raft. Another vessel, the Sylvia Star, rescued them before a Coast Guard helicopter could arrive on scene.

The Coast Guard possibly will fly over the wreck this afternoon, so we might see a photo.