Gov. Sean Parnell today appointed Bristol Bay commercial fisherman Fritz Johnson to the Alaska Board of Fisheries.
Johnson replaces board veteran Vince Webster, who in April failed to win legislative confirmation for another term.
For more background on Johnson, read the governor's press release.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Monday, July 29, 2013
No new IPHC commissioners anytime soon
We've been waiting quite a while for the Obama administration to decide on appointments to the International Pacific Halibut Commission.
And it appears the wait could last months longer.
The IPHC is a Seattle-based fishery management panel with three members from the United States and three from Canada.
The regular terms for U.S. members expired some time ago.
Now their terms have been extended pending new presidential appointments, says a recent update to nominees from Jim Balsiger, Alaska regional administrator for the National Marine Fisheries Service and himself an IPHC commissioner.
Here's the update:
June 28, 2013
Dear 2013 IPHC Nominee:
This note is to bring you up-to-date on the latest developments concerning commissioner appointments for the International Pacific Halibut Commission. Current U.S. IPHC commissioners Ralph Hoard, Phillip Lestenkof, and myself received letters of alternate appointments this week from the U.S. State Department, notifying us that our terms as IPHC commissioners had been extended until June 2014, or until the President appoints two new commissioners, whichever occurs first.
Our appointment terms had expired in March. The extension of current appointments is to ensure U.S. representation on the IPHC until new presidential appointments can be made.
The process to fill the two vacant IPHC commissioner seats — for which you have been nominated — continues to go forward at this time.
Thank you for your continued patience.
Sincerely,
Jim
And it appears the wait could last months longer.
The IPHC is a Seattle-based fishery management panel with three members from the United States and three from Canada.
The regular terms for U.S. members expired some time ago.
Now their terms have been extended pending new presidential appointments, says a recent update to nominees from Jim Balsiger, Alaska regional administrator for the National Marine Fisheries Service and himself an IPHC commissioner.
Here's the update:
June 28, 2013
Dear 2013 IPHC Nominee:
This note is to bring you up-to-date on the latest developments concerning commissioner appointments for the International Pacific Halibut Commission. Current U.S. IPHC commissioners Ralph Hoard, Phillip Lestenkof, and myself received letters of alternate appointments this week from the U.S. State Department, notifying us that our terms as IPHC commissioners had been extended until June 2014, or until the President appoints two new commissioners, whichever occurs first.
Our appointment terms had expired in March. The extension of current appointments is to ensure U.S. representation on the IPHC until new presidential appointments can be made.
The process to fill the two vacant IPHC commissioner seats — for which you have been nominated — continues to go forward at this time.
Thank you for your continued patience.
Sincerely,
Jim
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Salmon notes
We're now smack in the middle of Alaska's commercial salmon season. Here are a few observations.
• The statewide all-species catch stands at nearly 89 million fish, or roughly half the preseason forecast of 179 million.
• Harvest of the state's most valuable salmon crop, sockeye, is nearly done, and the catch is likely to end up short of forecast. The tally of 27.8 million fish is well short of the projected 34.3 million.
• We're entering prime time for pink salmon purse seiners. Prince William Sound boats already have taken nearly 25 million pinks, while Southeast Alaska seiners have bagged 15 million. The statewide forecast calls for a big haul of nearly 118 million pinks this year.
• Kodiak has taken nearly 5.5 million salmon of all species so far, including a strong 1.9 million sockeye.
• The Lower Yukon River summer chum salmon fishery is over, and the catch of about 378,000 fish is the highest since 1989, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game reports. During the fishery, 928 Chinook salmon were caught and released and 436 Chinook were reported kept but not sold.
• The statewide all-species catch stands at nearly 89 million fish, or roughly half the preseason forecast of 179 million.
• Harvest of the state's most valuable salmon crop, sockeye, is nearly done, and the catch is likely to end up short of forecast. The tally of 27.8 million fish is well short of the projected 34.3 million.
• We're entering prime time for pink salmon purse seiners. Prince William Sound boats already have taken nearly 25 million pinks, while Southeast Alaska seiners have bagged 15 million. The statewide forecast calls for a big haul of nearly 118 million pinks this year.
• Kodiak has taken nearly 5.5 million salmon of all species so far, including a strong 1.9 million sockeye.
• The Lower Yukon River summer chum salmon fishery is over, and the catch of about 378,000 fish is the highest since 1989, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game reports. During the fishery, 928 Chinook salmon were caught and released and 436 Chinook were reported kept but not sold.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
More time to weigh in on halibut catch sharing
The National Marine Fisheries Service has extended the deadline for public comments on the proposed halibut catch sharing plan. The new deadline is Aug. 26.
The agency says it still aims to implement the catch sharing plan for the 2014 fishing season.
The agency says it still aims to implement the catch sharing plan for the 2014 fishing season.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
State fights Cook Inlet setnetter suit
Here are three documents the state filed yesterday in response to the lawsuit seeking additional fishing time for Cook Inlet salmon setnetters.
State opposition to preliminary injunction
Affidavit of Jeff Regnart, director, Division of Commercial Fisheries
Affidavit of Robert Clark, chief scientist, Division of Sport Fish
State opposition to preliminary injunction
Affidavit of Jeff Regnart, director, Division of Commercial Fisheries
Affidavit of Robert Clark, chief scientist, Division of Sport Fish
State, industry lose Steller sea lion appeal
Here's the opinion from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Teen on four-wheeler hits setnet cable, dies
From the Alaska State Troopers:
Location: Clam Gulch
Type: Fatality
On 7/20/13 at about 1242 hours, troopers responded to a report of a single-vehicle collision on Clam Gulch Beach in Clam Gulch. Central and Ninilchik EMS responded to the scene with troopers and located Peter J. Janke, 15, of Clam Gulch, deceased after he struck a setnet cable anchored into the bluff while riding a four-wheeler. Next of kin was notified. Janke's remains have been sent to the state medical examiner for autopsy. Investigation is ongoing.
Location: Clam Gulch
Type: Fatality
On 7/20/13 at about 1242 hours, troopers responded to a report of a single-vehicle collision on Clam Gulch Beach in Clam Gulch. Central and Ninilchik EMS responded to the scene with troopers and located Peter J. Janke, 15, of Clam Gulch, deceased after he struck a setnet cable anchored into the bluff while riding a four-wheeler. Next of kin was notified. Janke's remains have been sent to the state medical examiner for autopsy. Investigation is ongoing.
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