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.

Alaska's very own pet food brand?

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute is in line for a $500,000 federal grant for "development and marketing of an Alaska seafood pet food brand."

Learn more about this and other grants here.

Agency to entertain Chinook listing

The National Marine Fisheries Service announced today that listing of Gulf of Alaska Chinook salmon as threatened or endangered "may be warranted."

This is a preliminary, pro forma finding by the agency; we remain far from any actual listing under the Endangered Species Act.

The NMFS announcement comes in response to a petition from the Wild Fish Conservancy, the same organization that's fighting in court to shut down the Southeast Alaska troll Chinook salmon fishery.

Peltola takes on trawlers

Alaska Democratic Congresswoman Mary Peltola, currently running for reelection, today introduced two bills to "restrict bottom trawling and reduce bycatch."

The Alaska Pollock Fishery Alliance issued this statement expressing disappointment in one of the bills.

Red Lobster files for bankruptcy

Here's a news account.

And here's a press release.

Feds declare Bering Sea snow crab disaster

Details in this news release.

Fast start for the Copper River

Yesterday's Copper River season opener produced an estimated 43,000 sockeye salmon, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game reports.

That's way above the projected harvest of 14,900 sockeye for the 12-hour period.

Fishermen also took 1,100 Chinook, the department said.