The fishing vessel Masonic called for help today near the Fairweather Grounds in the Gulf of Alaska.
The U.S. Coast Guard says the four-person crew reported they were taking on water and might need an extra pump to keep up with the flooding.
The good Samaritan vessel Myra and a Sitka-based Coast Guard helicopter arrived to help the Masonic with dewatering.
The 70-foot boat was making way to protected waters in Cross Sound, and was expected to arrive Thursday morning in port at Hoonah.
The Masonic is homeported in Sitka.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Crewman medevaced off Bering Sea crab boat
A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter today safely hoisted an ailing crewman off the fishing vessel North Sea about 60 miles southwest of St. Paul.
The 23-year-old crewman reportedly was experiencing seizure-like symptoms.
The North Sea is a 126-foot crab boat that belongs to Coastal Villages Region Fund, one of Alaska's Community Development Quota companies.
The 23-year-old crewman reportedly was experiencing seizure-like symptoms.
The North Sea is a 126-foot crab boat that belongs to Coastal Villages Region Fund, one of Alaska's Community Development Quota companies.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Sandy has sailed
Alaska's attempt to grab some Superstorm Sandy money for its Chinook salmon disaster has failed.
President Obama has signed a $50.5 billion relief package for the October hurricane that trashed New York, New Jersey and other Northeast areas. Congress gave final passage to the bill Monday.
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, voted in favor of the Sandy bill despite the omission of aid for federally declared fishery disasters in Alaska and other states. But she complained about it and said she'll keep looking for a way to reel in federal funding.
Critics panned efforts to use the Sandy bill as a vehicle to address fishery disasters in states far off the storm's path.
President Obama has signed a $50.5 billion relief package for the October hurricane that trashed New York, New Jersey and other Northeast areas. Congress gave final passage to the bill Monday.
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, voted in favor of the Sandy bill despite the omission of aid for federally declared fishery disasters in Alaska and other states. But she complained about it and said she'll keep looking for a way to reel in federal funding.
Critics panned efforts to use the Sandy bill as a vehicle to address fishery disasters in states far off the storm's path.
It's out
Deckboss has not yet read it, but the Alaska Department of Fish and Game has posted its Chinook salmon research plan.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Full disclosure?
A common complaint we hear about the nation's regional fishery management councils is the apparent conflict of interest some members have in voting on the issues.
To some degree, these conflicts are by design and unavoidable. The councils make recommendations to the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Marine Fisheries Service. The council system gives people most affected by fishery management decisions — commercial fish harvesters, for example — a seat at the table.
To make sure the public knows who's who, council members are obliged to file federal financial disclosure forms reflecting their involvement in the fisheries, or in lobbying and advocacy.
Sounds good, right? Keep everything above board at least.
But current financial disclosure practices are weak and need improvement, says a new report from the Commerce Department's Office of Inspector General.
A review of 72 disclosure forms turned up numerous instances of incomplete information, the inspector general says.
The report says it's essentially up to council members themselves to judge what information to disclose, and NMFS "does not independently verify the information."
Further, council executive staffs don't feel much empowered to deal with suspected misreporting on the disclosure forms, the report says.
The inspector general says NMFS should strengthen financial disclosure requirements and procedures. Specifically, the agency should do formal reviews of financial interest disclosures, and should tighten policy on identifying and handling conflicts of interest.
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council, based in Anchorage, has 11 voting members. Four are government officials from Alaska, Washington and Oregon.
The rest are from the private sector; their financial disclosures forms are posted here.
NMFS has told the inspector general it accepts all the recommendations in the report, and will implement them.
To some degree, these conflicts are by design and unavoidable. The councils make recommendations to the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Marine Fisheries Service. The council system gives people most affected by fishery management decisions — commercial fish harvesters, for example — a seat at the table.
To make sure the public knows who's who, council members are obliged to file federal financial disclosure forms reflecting their involvement in the fisheries, or in lobbying and advocacy.
Sounds good, right? Keep everything above board at least.
But current financial disclosure practices are weak and need improvement, says a new report from the Commerce Department's Office of Inspector General.
A review of 72 disclosure forms turned up numerous instances of incomplete information, the inspector general says.
The report says it's essentially up to council members themselves to judge what information to disclose, and NMFS "does not independently verify the information."
Further, council executive staffs don't feel much empowered to deal with suspected misreporting on the disclosure forms, the report says.
The inspector general says NMFS should strengthen financial disclosure requirements and procedures. Specifically, the agency should do formal reviews of financial interest disclosures, and should tighten policy on identifying and handling conflicts of interest.
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council, based in Anchorage, has 11 voting members. Four are government officials from Alaska, Washington and Oregon.
The rest are from the private sector; their financial disclosures forms are posted here.
NMFS has told the inspector general it accepts all the recommendations in the report, and will implement them.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Bad boys, bad boys
NOAA has posted its draft enforcement priorities for 2013.
Alaska priorities are on pages 4-5. Among "high priority" items:
• Observer assault, harassment or interference violations
• Felony and major civil cases involving significant damage to the resource or the integrity of management schemes
• Commercialization of sport-caught or subsistence halibut
• Maritime Boundary Line incursions by foreign fishing or transport vessels
Agree? Disagree?
Click here to learn how you can submit comments to NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement.
Alaska priorities are on pages 4-5. Among "high priority" items:
• Observer assault, harassment or interference violations
• Felony and major civil cases involving significant damage to the resource or the integrity of management schemes
• Commercialization of sport-caught or subsistence halibut
• Maritime Boundary Line incursions by foreign fishing or transport vessels
Agree? Disagree?
Click here to learn how you can submit comments to NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement.
Friday, January 25, 2013
McPollock
McDonald's uses Alaska pollock for its popular fish sandwich, and the MSC certifies Alaska's pollock fisheries as sustainable.
McDonald's has produced a glossy video featuring Dutch Harbor, the trawl vessel Defender and skipper Kenny Longaker. Go here and click on fish.
Another pollock-based product, Fish McBites, reportedly is slated for national release.
If the fast-food titan really insists on MSC-blessed fish, it soon might have a choice of suppliers. Producers in Russian waters including the Sea of Okhotsk and the western Bering Sea are closing in on certification.
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