Trawl bill moving fast

The state Senate yesterday passed House Bill 117, which includes language giving Alaska's fish and game commissioner authority to require electronic monitoring for trawl vessels.

The sponsor of the language, Sen. Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage, said in a recent Facebook post that electronic monitoring "will allow the state to better manage our fisheries through better bycatch data, monitoring compliance, and catch and discard information."

The bill now needs House concurrence. The House already has passed the bill, but that version didn't include the electronic monitoring provision.

The legislative session is due to end soon, on May 20.

Juneau watch

Legislators on Thursday confirmed the governor's appointments and reappointments:

• Paul Cyr, Blair Hickson and Mike Wood to the Board of Fisheries

• Tracy Welch to the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission

• Renee Alward to the Fishermen's Fund Advisory and Appeals Council.

The only drama involved Hickson with Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, objecting to his confirmation. On the ensuing roll call of legislators, Hickson was confirmed on a vote of 39 yeas 21 nays.

Here is Hickson's resume.

To see how all legislators voted, check this legislative journal report.

Silver Bay announces its Bristol Bay starting price

Deckboss found the following "Bristol Bay Fleet Update" floating around on Facebook, and a Silver Bay Seafoods spokesperson verified it.

Bristol Bay Fleet Update

Dear Bristol Bay Fishermen,

Silver Bay Seafoods is pleased to announce the 2026 pre-season price of $1.60/lb for qualifying (chilled, floated, bled) sockeye. This is $.30/lb more than last year's pre-season price and is considered a conservative starting price for the 2026 season.

Please hold the date for pre-season fishermen meetings. Silver Bay Seafoods Management, Board Members, and Fishermen Committee Members will be joining these meetings to talk about company business, market updates, and 2026 fleet operations and support.

Preseason meeting dates:

• Naknek: June 13

• Egegik: June 14

• Dillingham: June 19

Stay tuned for more preseason info. See you soon!

No ESA listing for Chinook

The National Marine Fisheries Service has found that listing Gulf of Alaska Chinook salmon under the Endangered Species Act is "not warranted at this time."

Here's a notice to be published in the Federal Register.

ESA watch

Tomorrow is the deadline for the National Marine Fisheries Service to submit its finding on whether Gulf of Alaska Chinook salmon should be listed under the Endangered Species Act.

The agency is considering the question in response to a listing petition from the Wild Fish Conservancy, a nonprofit headquartered in Washington state.

A finding that some or all Gulf of Alaska Chinook stocks are threatened or endangered would be momentous.

Deckboss will be watching closely to see what drops!

Whittier commissioning for destroyer Ted Stevens

Details in this Navy press release.

SE fisherman fined, banned in halibut conspiracy

Here's a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.