What killed the killer whales?

The National Marine Fisheries Service says it has confirmed the cause of death or injury for 11 killer whales taken as bycatch this year in Alaska.

Orca bycatch outbreak

The National Marine Fisheries Service says it is "evaluating data collected on 10 killer whales incidentally caught in Alaska by Bering Sea and Aleutian Island groundfish trawl fisheries in 2023."

In addition, NMFS says a killer whale was caught this summer during a longline survey for sablefish and groundfish.

More details in this agency statement.

A victory for trollers

The federal appeals court in San Francisco today issued an order removing the threat of a closure of the summer troll Chinook salmon fishery in Southeast Alaska.

It's a victory for troll fishermen and fishery management agencies who argued such a closure was unnecessary and economically ruinous. It's a loss for the Wild Fish Conservancy, which contends the fishery is starving endangered killer whales of a key food source.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals order overrules a Seattle judge's order that could have closed the summer and winter troll fisheries.

The 9th Circuit order likely means the summer troll fishery will open as usual on July 1.

Troll legal battle

For important updates, revisit our May 2 post on the Wild Fish Conservancy court case, which is threatening to shut down this summer's Southeast Alaska troll Chinook fishery.

Hammer drops on Southeast trollers

A Seattle federal judge today issued a two-page order that would appear to close this summer's Southeast Alaska Chinook salmon troll fishery.

We'll update this post with reaction expected to pour in shortly.

Updates:

The Alaska Trollers Association says the judge's order "will cause irreparable harm to the communities of Southeast Alaska."

SalmonState, an environmental organization, condemns the Wild Fish Conservancy lawsuit and concludes: "This fight is far from over."

The state of Alaska plans to appeal "a bitter ruling" that takes the "radical step" of closing a fishery.

The Wild Fish Conservancy hails "a landmark order halting the overharvest of Chinook salmon in Southeast Alaska that has persisted for decades, jeopardizing the survival of federally protected Southern Resident killer whales and wild Chinook populations coastwide."

Eric Jordan, of Sitka, writing on Facebook: "Tough news for this lifelong troller."

Alaska Fish and Game Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang: "I find this ruling to be wholly unfair and disappointing."

The Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association calls out the court's "disappointing decision" and vows to "continue to fight Wild Fish Conservancy's spurious lawsuit."

The state of Alaska wastes no time in filing its notice of appeal.

The Alaska congressional delegation condemns the court order.

The National Marine Fisheries Service issues a statement saying: "We are working expeditiously to address the court's order."

The state of Alaska moves for a partial stay of the judge's order pending appeal.

The Alaska Trollers Association says it has received confirmation from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game that the troll coho and chum fisheries "will occur this year as normal, although without Chinook retention."

Norman Pillen, president of Seafood Producers Cooperative, writes in a column that the company and its fishermen "will survive this debacle."

NMFS also is appealing the judge's order.

Jon Kurland, head of NMFS for Alaska, will be in Sitka on June 7 to give salmon trollers an update on the agency's response to the Wild Fish Conservancy lawsuit.

NMFS summarizes its actions in the case.

Seattle federal Judge Richard A. Jones denies the state's motion for a partial stay of his May 2 order. Thus, Southeast Alaska's summer Chinoook salmon troll fishery remains in jeopardy of closure this year.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game releases an update on the situation.

NMFS hasn't ruled out opening the summer troll season despite the judge's rulings, Sitka radio station KCAW reports.

Southeast Alaska tribes and Native corporations have filed papers in support of keeping the troll fishery open. "Approximately 31 percent of Southeast Alaska's trollers are tribal citizens," the filing says.

'An economic catastrophe'

In a court filing this week, the state of Alaska strenuously opposes a shutdown of troll Chinook fisheries, arguing it would be "an economic catastrophe for Southeast Alaska fishing towns for no reason."

Into the fray

The state is looking to join the fight against a lawsuit seeking to shut down the Chinook salmon fishery in federal waters off Southeast Alaska.

A likely victory for trollers

A U.S. magistrate judge is recommending denial of a motion to close the commercial troll salmon fishery in the federal waters off Southeast Alaska.

Feds fight troll fishery shutdown

As we reported last month, the Wild Fish Conservancy is seeking an injunction to block the summer Chinook salmon fishery in federal waters off Southeast Alaska. The environmental organization says the fishery poses a starvation threat to endangered Southern Resident killer whales.

Now the National Marine Fisheries Service is vigorously opposing the motion for injunction. In its 34-page filing, the agency argues that closing the fishery would have only a "very small effect" on the availability of prey for killer whales.

Injunction sought against troll fishery

Wild Fish Conservancy is seeking an injunction to block the summer Chinook salmon fishery in federal waters off Southeast Alaska. The environmental organization says the fishery poses a starvation threat to endangered Southern Resident killer whales.

Here is a response from the Alaska Trollers Association.

Troll fishery in the crosshairs

Wild Fish Conservancy, a Seattle-area conservation group, is serving notice of its intent to sue the federal government regarding "overharvest" of Chinook salmon in the Southeast Alaska troll fishery.

"It is irresponsible for NOAA to authorize this harvest in Alaska when they know it undermines efforts to restore imperiled wild Chinook populations in Washington, British Columbia, and Oregon rivers, and contributes to the starvation of endangered Southern Resident killer whales and fishing communities all along the coast," says Kurt Beardslee, the group's executive director.

More here.