Dismal salmon news out of Kodiak

Here's an Alaska Department of Fish and Game advisory announcement describing pitiful Chinook salmon escapements and implications for commercial fisheries.

Juneau watch

The House Special Committee on Fisheries tomorrow will consider the governor's appointees to the Alaska Board of Fisheries.

The appointees include newcomers Paul Cyr and Blair Hickson.

Mike Wood is up for reappointment to the board.

The committee hearing is set to begin at 10 a.m.

Dave Bronson claims fishy business at Dutch Harbor

Here's a press release.

The new salmon season comes in sight!

The famed Copper River salmon fishery will open at 7 a.m. May 22 for a 12-hour period, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced today.

The commercial harvest forecast for this year is 728,000 sockeye, which is on par with the 10-year average of 733,000, the department said.

Sockeye and king salmon from the Copper River are a highly anticipated culinary treat each year, with the start of the fishery serving as the kickoff to a new Alaska salmon season.

Rep. Begich wants North Pacific Council revamp

Congressman Nick Begich, R-Alaska, has introduced a bill to restructure the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.

The Anchorage-based council makes recommendations for managing ocean fisheries off Alaska. Its 11 voting members come from Alaska, Washington and Oregon, and most members are representatives of government agencies or commercial fishing interests.

Begich's bill, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council Representation Enhancement Act of 2026, would guide Alaska's appointments to the council.

The legislation would "require that voting members include at least one representative each from recreational, small-scale commercial, rural subsistence, and urban subsistence user groups," says this press release from Begich's office.

Juneau watch

Gov. Mike Dunleavy has signed House Bill 33 into law.

Kodiak Republican Rep. Louise Stutes, in her sponsor statement, said the bill would allow members of the Board of Fisheries to have a say on subjects for which they have a personal or financial interest.

"The passage of this bill will allow the conflicted board members to offer remarks and input on deliberations but still precludes them from voting on the conflicted issue," the statement said.

Commercial fishing organizations including United Fishermen of Alaska generally supported the legislation, while other interests such as the Kenai River Sportfishing Association opposed it.

ASMI hails federal funds for international marketing

Here's a press release from the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute.