The council's new skipper

Diana Evans today was named the new executive director of the Anchorage-based North Pacific Fishery Management Council.

She had been serving as interim executive director following the October retirement of longtime council chief David Witherell.

Evans becomes only the fifth executive director, and the first woman, to lead the council, which manages ocean fisheries off Alaska and includes 11 voting members from Alaska, Washington and Oregon.

The council's first executive director, hired in 1977, was Jim Branson. Following him, in order, were Clarence Pautzke, Chris Oliver and Witherell.

Evans will manage a staff of 14 employees and an annual budget of $5 million.

Something happening in Homer?

Deckboss has asked the Alaska State Troopers for information regarding possibly a major fisheries enforcement action in Homer.

We hear unofficially that authorities yesterday searched multiple boats and maybe some houses. They were said to have seized some halibut.

We'll keep you advised as we learn more.

And the winners are...

Doug Morgan, Sean Guffey and Casey Coupchiak have won seats on the Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association board of directors.

More details on the board election can be found here.

BBRSDA represents Bristol Bay commercial drift gillnet fishermen.

Another pollockpalooza next year

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council, meeting in Anchorage, today voted 11-0 in support of Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands catch quotas for 2026.

As usual, the quota — or total allowable catch — for Bering Sea pollock is gargantuan at 1,375,000 metric tons.

That's only slightly below this year's TAC of 1,389,000 tons.

Setting groundfish quotas was tricky this year as the federal government shutdown, which lasted from Oct. 1 to Nov. 12, disrupted the normal scientific stock assessment process.

2025 halibut season nears its end

Here's the word today from the International Pacific Halibut Commission:

All commercial fishing for Pacific halibut in all IPHC Regulatory Areas shall cease for the year at 23:59 local time on 7 December.

So, how did your season go?

Bone up on business

Here's something that sounds worthwhile.

Alaska Sea Grant is offering an online Business of Fishing workshop.

"It is designed for boat owners, permit holders and fishermen looking to upgrade their fishing operations and improve their financial management skills," the event description says.

National marine sanctuary effort dropped

A Bering Sea tribal government is backing off its proposal for a national marine sanctuary in the area of St. Paul Island.

The Aleut Community of St. Paul Island in late 2021 nominated what it called Heart of the Ocean for consideration as a national marine sanctuary. The nomination has been pending with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

However, the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island Tribal Government has "decided not to pursue" designation of Heart of the Ocean as a national marine sanctuary, according to a brief notice online.

The notice doesn't elaborate further.

But a recent International Pacific Halibut Commission report says the tribal government, in dropping the marine sanctuary effort, instead has "signed an agreement with the federal government focused on Indigenous-led conservation in waters surrounding the Bering Sea island."