UFA's new skipper

Thatcher Brouwer is the new executive director for United Fishermen of Alaska, the state's top commercial fishing organization.

Brouwer is a 20-year commercial fisherman who also has worked as a legislative aide every winter since 2015, said an announcement on Facebook.

He succeeds UFA's former executive director, Tracy Welch, who was appointed to the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission.

UFA seeks new skipper

The state's top commercial fishing organization, United Fishermen of Alaska, is recruiting a new executive director.

The position carries an estimated starting salary of $90,000 to $100,000 depending on experience, a job description says.

The successful candidate will replace the outgoing executive director, Tracy Welch, who just won legislative confirmation to the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission.

Fish and the farm bill

Two top commercial fishing organizations like the new farm bill taking shape in Congress.

United Fishermen of Alaska

Seafood Harvesters of America

Headwinds for board appointees

United Fishermen of Alaska is opposing Curtis Chamberlain and Märit Carlson-Van Dort for the state Board of Fisheries. Here's the letter.

The seafood industry fishes for help

Efforts in Juneau to create a Joint Legislative Seafood Industry Task Force suggest serious difficulty in the fishing business as the new salmon season approaches.

The Senate resolution establishing the task force says "considerable changes in the global salmon market in recent years have placed the state's seafood industry in economic peril."

In recent months, we've received numerous signals of industry distress not only on the salmon side but in other fisheries as well. And we've seen extraordinary actions such as companies publicly putting assets up for sale.

All these signs portend a potential price crash for commercial fishermen this year.

The task force resolution is set for a hearing at 9 a.m. Thursday in the powerful Senate Finance Committee.

Deckboss understands the task force idea has the backing of the state's two flagship industry organizations — United Fishermen of Alaska and the Pacific Seafood Processors Association.

Such a task force is reminiscent of the Joint Legislative Salmon Industry Task Force that operated from 2002 to 2004.

What is the industry looking to get out of this latest task force?

A PSPA position paper currently making the rounds suggests a number of state actions including low-interest loans and loan guarantees for seafood processors via the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority. It also suggests loan concessions for fishermen and hatcheries.

UFA announces board members

Here's the press release.

UFA seeks new skipper

United Fishermen of Alaska, the state's flagship commercial fishing organization, is seeking a new executive director.

That's because the current executive director, Frances Leach, who has held the job since January 2018, is leaving to start a Juneau lobbying firm.

Fish politics

Saturday could be an especially interesting day in the Alaska Legislature.

Starting at 1 p.m., the House Fisheries and Resources committees will meet jointly to consider the governor's appointees to the state Board of Fisheries.

Two of these appointees face serious opposition.

Abe Williams is a Bristol Bay commercial salmon fisherman. He also works for the company looking to develop the Pebble mine, a fact that makes Williams a controversial pick for the board.

United Fishermen of Alaska is opposing Marit Carlson-Van Dort for continued service on the board. UFA says she's not truly a commercial fishing representative but rather a favorite of the Kenai River Sportfishing Association.

Juneau watch

A proposal to raise the state's fuel tax is again up for debate in the Alaska State Capitol.

House Bill 104 would, among other things, double the tax on motor fuel used in watercraft to a dime per gallon.

However, the bill specifies that "a watercraft licensed ... and used for commercial fishing is entitled to a motor fuel tax refund of 5 cents a gallon if the tax on the motor fuel has been paid."

With that provision, the bill has the support of United Fishermen of Alaska.

UFA likes Sullivan

United Fishermen of Alaska is endorsing U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan's reelection bid.

'A rare occurrence'

United Fishermen of Alaska hates the idea of Judge Karl Johnstone returning to the Board of Fisheries, and has submitted this pointed letter of opposition to state legislators.

UFA opposes Johnstone

In an "action alert" issued today, United Fishermen of Alaska urges its members to oppose Karl Johnstone's appointment to the state Board of Fisheries.

Johnstone, a retired Superior Court judge, served on the board from 2008 to 2015.

Now he's set to return as one of Gov. Mike Dunleavy's recently announced board appointees.

UFA, the state's flagship commercial fishing organization, said its directors met and voted to oppose Johnstone "based on his actions" during his previous time on the board.

New leadership for UFA

Matt Alward will succeed Jerry McCune as president of United Fishermen of Alaska, the state's top commercial fishing organization.

Here's the press release.

UFA's new skipper

United Fishermen of Alaska has hired Frances Leach as its executive director, effective Jan. 5.

Leach, a Juneau resident, was raised in a commercial fishing family in Ketchikan, says this UFA press release.

Case dismissed

A Juneau judge has thrown out a lawsuit challenging Gov. Bill Walker's dismantling of the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission.

Here's the ruling.

Lawsuit challenges CFEC dismantling

Here's a lawsuit seeking to block implementation of Gov. Bill Walker's recent administrative order transferring key functions of the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission to the Department of Fish and Game.

The plaintiffs are Bob Thorstenson Jr., a commercial fisherman and lobbyist, and United Fishermen of Alaska.

The lawsuit contends the administrative order is unconstitutional and unlawfully sidesteps the Alaska Legislature.

Juneau attorney Bruce Weyhrauch, representing Thorstenson and UFA, is himself a former state legislator.

Naturally, the state is asking the court to dismiss the lawsuit.

UFA likes Murkowski for another term

United Fishermen of Alaska, the state's top commercial fishing association, is endorsing U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski for re-election.

UFA weighs in

United Fishermen of Alaska, the state's flagship commercial fishing group, is spelling out its policy position as legislators grapple with the state budget crunch.

Here are three UFA documents addressing key issues:

UFA resolution on state fiscal crisis

UFA resolution on state fisheries loan funds

UFA letter on Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission

Jerry McCune re-elected UFA president

Here's the press release.

Begich, Young net UFA endorsements

U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, says United Fishermen of Alaska has endorsed his re-election bid.

The Begich campaign says longtime Alaska Congressman Don Young, a Republican, also has UFA's support.

Read more here.

UFA is the state's top commercial fishing organization. No word yet whether the group likes Gov. Sean Parnell for another term.