UFA's new skipper

United Fishermen of Alaska has hired Frances Leach as its executive director, effective Jan. 5.

Leach, a Juneau resident, was raised in a commercial fishing family in Ketchikan, says this UFA press release.

CFEC upheaval

The Alaska Dispatch News yesterday published an important story regarding the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission.

Bering Sea medevac

A crewman was "struck in the head by a 37-pound block of frozen fish," the U.S. Coast Guard said.

Here's a news release.

Pebble enlists a general

Here's the announcement.

EPA and the seafood industry

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has been on a tear lately, wrapping up enforcement cases against three companies:

Kloosterboer
North Pacific Seafoods
Norton Sound Economic Development Corp.

Death reported on Bering Sea vessel

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Dutch Harbor
Type: Death Investigation
On 10/20/17 a death was reported on the F/V Seafisher, a 230-foot catcher-processor in the Bering Sea. The deceased person is David Thok, 42, of Auburn, Wash. Thok reportedly was on shift when he collapsed and became unresponsive. CPR was performed by the vessel's medical officers under telephonic supervision of a physician. Thok was declared dead after resuscitation efforts were not successful. The incident was witnessed by several coworkers and there are no apparent indications of criminal activity. Next of kin have been notified. Thok's body was transported to Dutch Harbor and on to the state medical examiner's office.

Snow crab cut 12 percent

This season's Bering Sea snow crab quota is 18.96 million pounds, down 12 percent from last season.

The fishery opens at noon Oct. 15, but the industry typically waits until after the first of the year to take snow crab.

Fishery managers also have set a modest quota of 2.5 million pounds for Bering Sea bairdi Tanner crab. The bairdi fishery was closed last season.