Coastal Villages Region Fund is having a fine year, with revenue from its Bering Sea fishing operations projected to reach almost $100 million.
That's better than expected, so the Anchorage-based company plans to break off a $2 million bonus for its 20 member villages in Western Alaska.
The money will go to village governing bodies, mainly tribal councils.
Each village can use its share of the $2 million for purposes such as supplying the needy with heating oil, providing services to elders, paying for public safety, or repairing and marking trails, Coastal says.
You might already know that Coastal is the biggest of Alaska's six Community Development Quota companies in terms of revenue.
But nevermind that!
Coastal now reckons it is "the largest Alaskan-owned seafood company in history."
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Friday, October 26, 2012
What's the deal with Rep. Thomas?
Earlier this month we reported that a Southeast Alaska commercial fishing group was endorsing state Rep. Bill Thomas for another term, despite his "conflict of interest" in trying to influence state salmon fishery managers.
The suggestion of a conflict is rooted in two facts: Thomas himself is a commercial fisherman, and he holds considerable sway over the Department of Fish and Game budget as co-chair of the House Finance Committee.
The Haines Republican appears to be in quite a battle for re-election this year.
Since that initial report, Deckboss has acquired a raft of public records, including email and other documents, from Fish and Game that shed light on Thomas and his dealings with the department.
The records center on the state's management of the 2011 salmon fisheries in northern Southeast, the legislator's home region, and the rivalry between two gear groups — gillnetters and seiners.
Thomas, a gillnetter, appears to push managers for actions that would benefit the gillnetters.
As an example of the records we obtained, here is an internal memo known as a notification of legislative contact in which a Fish and Game supervisory biologist details a call from Thomas.
Thomas, according to the memo, complained that gillnetters had been restricted but not seiners.
He said he would take his concerns to the Fish and Game commissioner and the state Board of Fisheries.
He asserted he was the only commercial fisherman in the Legislature.
And he noted that he "had done a lot for ADF&G's budgets."
More instances of Thomas contacting department staff can be found in this string of documents. Note that some sections have been redacted.
The Petersburg Vessel Owners Association endorsed Thomas, but told him his in-season interactions with Fish and Game managers constituted a "conflict of interest."
"Salmon management and allocation issues should be addressed in the appropriate forums and through the proper channels, allowing due process to take its course," the group said.
Deckboss has not contacted Thomas regarding this issue. But certainly he is welcome to respond.
The suggestion of a conflict is rooted in two facts: Thomas himself is a commercial fisherman, and he holds considerable sway over the Department of Fish and Game budget as co-chair of the House Finance Committee.
The Haines Republican appears to be in quite a battle for re-election this year.
Since that initial report, Deckboss has acquired a raft of public records, including email and other documents, from Fish and Game that shed light on Thomas and his dealings with the department.
The records center on the state's management of the 2011 salmon fisheries in northern Southeast, the legislator's home region, and the rivalry between two gear groups — gillnetters and seiners.
Thomas, a gillnetter, appears to push managers for actions that would benefit the gillnetters.
As an example of the records we obtained, here is an internal memo known as a notification of legislative contact in which a Fish and Game supervisory biologist details a call from Thomas.
Thomas, according to the memo, complained that gillnetters had been restricted but not seiners.
He said he would take his concerns to the Fish and Game commissioner and the state Board of Fisheries.
He asserted he was the only commercial fisherman in the Legislature.
And he noted that he "had done a lot for ADF&G's budgets."
More instances of Thomas contacting department staff can be found in this string of documents. Note that some sections have been redacted.
The Petersburg Vessel Owners Association endorsed Thomas, but told him his in-season interactions with Fish and Game managers constituted a "conflict of interest."
"Salmon management and allocation issues should be addressed in the appropriate forums and through the proper channels, allowing due process to take its course," the group said.
Deckboss has not contacted Thomas regarding this issue. But certainly he is welcome to respond.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Expect Carlson checks soon
The marathon Carlson class-action case is finally at the finish line.
An Alaska judge has signed an order directing the disbursement of refunds to nonresident commercial fishermen the state overcharged for permits and licenses.
The refund administrator, A.B. Data of Milwaukee, Wis., is expected to start sending out checks soon, perhaps within a week.
Find the payout list and other information at carlsonrefund.com.
An Alaska judge has signed an order directing the disbursement of refunds to nonresident commercial fishermen the state overcharged for permits and licenses.
The refund administrator, A.B. Data of Milwaukee, Wis., is expected to start sending out checks soon, perhaps within a week.
Find the payout list and other information at carlsonrefund.com.
Where will wild fish stand in 2030?
Frank Asche, a prominent fisheries economist from Norway, will give a presentation tomorrow in Anchorage on global seafood markets and the rising tide of aquaculture.
Click here for details.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
No go again
Another season, another herring shutdown in Prince William Sound. Here's the bleak announcement from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Grim update on man overboard
The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended the search for a man reported overboard today near Skagway in Southeast Alaska.
The Coast Guard identified the boat involved as the Darlin' Michele, out of Haines.
State records show the 48-foot vessel belongs to Theodore L. Lynch, of Haines.
Haines radio station KHNS reported the vessel captain and a deckhand were commercial shrimping in an inlet between Haines and Skagway when the 62-year-old skipper, believed to be Lynch, went overboard. Listen to the radio report here.
"It is always a very hard decision to make when you have to suspend a search for a man overboard," said Nick Meyers, a watchstander at the Coast Guard Sector Juneau command center. "Our hearts go out to the family, friends and the crew of the fishing vessel."
The Coast Guard identified the boat involved as the Darlin' Michele, out of Haines.
State records show the 48-foot vessel belongs to Theodore L. Lynch, of Haines.
Haines radio station KHNS reported the vessel captain and a deckhand were commercial shrimping in an inlet between Haines and Skagway when the 62-year-old skipper, believed to be Lynch, went overboard. Listen to the radio report here.
"It is always a very hard decision to make when you have to suspend a search for a man overboard," said Nick Meyers, a watchstander at the Coast Guard Sector Juneau command center. "Our hearts go out to the family, friends and the crew of the fishing vessel."
Man overboard reported near Skagway
The U.S. Coast Guard reports a search is under way for a man reported overboard from a fishing vessel near Skagway.
A press release does not name the lost man, nor the boat involved.
The Coast Guard says it received a call from Skagway police this afternoon saying the man had fallen overboard.
Efforts to pull him back aboard with a life ring failed, the Coast Guard says.
Two helicopters, a C-130 airplane, three good Samaritan vessels and Skagway emergency responders are involved in the search.
A press release does not name the lost man, nor the boat involved.
The Coast Guard says it received a call from Skagway police this afternoon saying the man had fallen overboard.
Efforts to pull him back aboard with a life ring failed, the Coast Guard says.
Two helicopters, a C-130 airplane, three good Samaritan vessels and Skagway emergency responders are involved in the search.
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