High court backs state in Yukon, Kusko salmon case

Here's the 18-page opinion from the Alaska Supreme Court.

Hefty quota increases for Bering Sea crab

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game today announced Bering Sea crab harvest quotes for the 2025-26 season.

The Bristol Bay red king crab quota is 2.68 million pounds, a 16 percent increase from last season.

The Bering Sea snow crab quota is 9.3 million pounds, up 97 percent.

The Bering Sea bairdi Tanner crab quota is 11.25 million pounds, a 79 percent increase.

The season opens at noon Oct. 15, with the fleet expected to first go after Bristol Bay red king crab.

Deckboss is advised the federal government shutdown is not expected to delay issuance of individual fishing quotas for crabbers.

Washington watch

Two senators are questioning the Trump administration's withholding of $246 million in NOAA funding.

Trident among winners in huge USDA pollock buy

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the purchase of 34.7 million pounds of Alaska pollock products — frozen fish sticks, nuggets and fillets — for $84.2 million.

USDA awarded contracts to three companies including Seattle-based Trident Seafoods Corp., which sold 5.6 million pounds for $14.7 million.

The pollock purchase is "in support of child nutrition and other related domestic food distribution programs," the USDA said.

Bristol Bay's incredible staying power

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has released its summary of the 2025 Bristol Bay salmon season, and the numbers are once again impressive.

• This is the 11th year in a row that the total inshore sockeye run exceeded 50 million fish.

• The commercial harvest of 41.2 million sockeye was 18 percent above the preseason forecast.

• Sockeye remained on the small side this season, averaging 5.05 pounds. But that's a big improvement over last season's 4.53 pounds, the smallest average weight on record.

• The sockeye paid a preliminary average ex-vessel price of $1.03 a pound for a total sockeye fishery value of $214.3 million. The average price last year was 89 cents a pound.

USCG is changing key emergency phone numbers

Details in this press release.

An even grand

This year's Alaska Permanent Fund dividend amount is $1,000, with payments to go out starting Oct. 2.

More details in this press release.