Cantwell takes the gavel

U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, is the new chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

The committee's vast range of oversight includes oceans, fisheries, weather, and the Coast Guard.

He's starting to become a big fish

Alaska's junior U.S. senator, Dan Sullivan, has been named chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard.

Commerce IG looks at catch shares, observers

Deckboss hasn't had a chance to read them, but here are a couple of intriguing items from the Commerce Department inspector general:

Review of NOAA Catch Share Programs

Announcement of Observer Program Audit