Shooting, drug seizure involving vessel reported

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

Commercial fisherman sentenced to prison time

Here's a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Misreporting, whale shooting land longliner in court

Federal prosecutors say a longline fisherman, Dugan Paul Daniels, of Coffman Cove, misreported sablefish and halibut catches and had a crewman shoot a sperm whale, an endangered species.

The misreporting is a felony and the shooting is a misdemeanor, court records say.

Under a plea agreement, Daniels is expected to plead guilty with prosecutors recommending a sentence of no more than six months in prison. He'll be fined $25,000, and also agree not to engage in commercial fishing for a year.

The case is set for a June 6 hearing in Juneau.

Reward for sea lion shooter

Federal authorities are offering a reward for information on the shooting of seven Steller sea lions near Cordova.

'Fishermen shooting at bears from their boats'

Quite an interesting letter here from the National Park Service to the Alaska Board of Fisheries.

Skipper, deckhand charged with shooting sea lions

Here's the press release.

A marine mammal whodunit

The federal fish cops are investigating the possible illegal killing of marine mammals near Skagway.

"Since January, the carcasses of two Steller sea lions and three harbor seals have been discovered," the National Marine Fisheries Service said in a press release issued yesterday.

"Of the five deceased mammals, four showed signs of head trauma, and a bullet was recovered from one harbor seal skull during a necropsy."

Read more here.