Kodiak gets second fast-response cutter

Here's a U.S. Coast Guard press release with photos.

Nearly $1.2M penalty imposed in pollution case

Details in this press release from the U.S. Coast Guard.

Kodiak trawl case draws nearly $13K in penalties

A trawling enforcement case we've been following for nearly two years recently was resolved without going to trial.

The defendant, Steven Spain, who was operator of the fishing vessel Mar Pacifico, on March 24 pleaded no contest in Kodiak District Court to a reduced charge and was fined $1,500 and ordered to pay restitution of $11,198.65.

According to court notes, Spain said he didn't feel he had done anything wrong, and that financially it was getting hard for him to carry on.

Fields family charged after extensive investigation into salmon setnet activity at Kodiak

Here's a press release from the Alaska State Troopers.

Kodiak notes

Here are a couple of interesting items from Alaska's Emerald Isle:

• ComFish Alaska, Kodiak's big fisheries trade show, is set for April 15-17. Here are all the details.

• The U.S. Coast Guard commissioned a new cutter, the John Witherspoon, in a ceremony Thursday in Kodiak. It's the first of three fast-response cutters to be homeported at Coast Guard Base Kodiak.

A new cutter for Kodiak

Here's a press release from the U.S. Coast Guard.

EPIRB saves two in Kodiak capsizing

Details and a video in this press release from the U.S. Coast Guard.

A big announcement from Maersk

The shipping giant Maersk today posted this advisory saying in part: "We will no longer be calling terminals in Dutch Harbor and Kodiak on the Transpacific Network in the coming year."

How will this affect Alaska's fishing industry?

A done deal in Kodiak

Pacific Seafood has completed its acquisition of Trident's Kodiak processing operations. Here's a press release.

An update on that Kodiak trawling case

An interesting case involving an alleged trawling violation has been pending quietly for about a year and a half in Kodiak District Court.

Now, the matter seems to be heating up.

The defendant, Steven Spain, who was operator of the fishing vessel Mar Pacifico, has filed a motion to dismiss the case against him.

The Alaska Office of Special Prosecutions appears determined to press on with the case, filing this 19-page opposition to the motion to dismiss.

Spain, 63, is charged with a misdemeanor. He's accused of operating nonpelagic trawl gear in state waters closed to such gear.

The case raises an important question for the fishing industry: What constitutes a pelagic trawl — that is, gear that doesn't contact the bottom?

The complaint filed against Spain says a claimed pelagic trawl net on the Mar Pacifico had prohibited attachments including chafing gear and chain rib lines "making this net suitable for fishing on the seabed."

Prosecutors argue the state definition of pelagic trawl gear is clear.

Their opposition filing includes details about Operation Bottom Drag, an enforcement action said to have reverberated throughout the trawl industry.

A big cutback for Kodiak crab

The state has set a catch quota of 560,000 pounds for the Kodiak District Tanner crab fishery set to open at noon Jan. 15.

That's a big reduction from the 3 million pounds allowed last season.

Debating fish

Candidates for Alaska's lone congressional seat will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Kodiak for a fisheries debate.

The candidates include incumbent Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola, Republican challenger Nick Begich and John Wayne Howe, of the Alaskan Independence Party.

The debate will be broadcast live on Kodiak radio station KMXT and streamed at kmxt.org.

For more information, including debate topics, click here.

A Kodiak trawl Chinook bycatch blowout

Here's the story from Nathaniel Herz and his Northern Journal.

Kodiak fish debate set for congressional candidates

Details in this press release from the Kodiak Chamber of Commerce.

Eagles on the attack in Kodiak

KMXT radio has the story.

Trident to continue Kodiak operations

Trident Seafoods today announced it would continue operating its Kodiak processing plant through "B" season for pollock, an important Gulf of Alaska fishery.

The announcement helps allay anxiety over the status of the plant, which Trident is attempting to sell as part of a company restructuring.

"We're currently in the middle of sale negotiations for Kodiak," Trident CEO Joe Bundrant said.

The potential buyer remains confidential.

Roughed up trawler makes injury stop at Kodiak

The factory trawler Araho called on Kodiak over the weekend to seek medical attention for six crewmembers injured in rough seas, the Kodiak Daily Mirror reports.

Four rescued after vessel capsizes near Kodiak

Details in this press release from the U.S. Coast Guard.

Kodiak crab quota is out!

The state just announced a Kodiak Tanner crab quota of 3 million pounds, down considerably from last season's strong 5.8 million pounds.

Remembering an Alaska fisheries pioneer

A celebration of life for Al Burch is set for noon Saturday at the Kodiak Elks Lodge.

We understand donations in his honor can be made to the Kodiak Maritime Museum.