ASMI's new communications director

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute just released the following:

ASMI is pleased to announce that Greg Smith has been hired to serve as Communications Director. Greg comes to ASMI from the Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development (DCCED) where he worked alongside Commissioner Sande as special assistant and legislative liaison. Prior to DCCED, Greg worked for several sessions as the Chief of Staff to Representative Andi Story of Juneau. Greg also serves on the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly, and, among his other talents, has also worked as a deckhand on a commercial gillnetter. Greg is a lifelong Juneauite, a graduate of Oregon State University, and he is incredibly passionate about Alaska and Alaska seafood. We look forward to Greg applying his passion and skillset within ASMI beginning June 12.

Bad situation at Sitka

One person has been recovered dead and four others are missing from an overdue charter vessel found partially submerged, the U.S. Coast Guard reports.

Troll legal battle

For important updates, revisit our May 2 post on the Wild Fish Conservancy court case, which is threatening to shut down this summer's Southeast Alaska troll Chinook fishery.

Coastal Villages acquires Honda, Ski-Doo dealer

Here's the press release.

Disaster dollars for crab and salmon fisheries

Several Alaska fisheries are in line for a piece of more than $220 million in federal disaster funding.

Lackluster Copper River opener

Seems like we say this every year, but the Copper River salmon fishery is off to a slow start.

In Monday's 12-hour season opener, driftnetters took about 10,900 sockeye, well short of the 17,600 projected, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game reports.

The fleet also took an estimated 1,100 Chinook.

Fishery participation seemed low, with 359 deliveries reported.

We haven't heard anything about prices, but early season Copper River fish typically pay handsomely.

The Copper River District will open again at 7 a.m. Thursday for a 12-hour fishing period.

And the winners are...

Here are the 2023 Southeast Alaska sablefish tag recovery drawing winners.