Monday, February 29, 2016

Sitka herring quota downsized a bit

The Department of Fish and Game is now forecasting a target harvest of 14,741 tons for this year's Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery.

That's a step down from the preliminary guideline harvest level of 15,674 tons announced back in November.

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Two more fishy bills filed in Juneau

House Bill 358 would establish a "fisheries bycatch tax." The sponsors are Rep. Mark Neuman, R-Big Lake, and Rep. Les Gara, D-Anchorage.

House Bill 366 would establish "regional community permit banks" for certain commercial fishing permits. The sponsor is Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, D-Sitka.

Monday, February 22, 2016

Royalty proposed on Alaska seafood catches

State Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla, today introduced Senate Bill 198 "establishing a 12.5 percent Alaska fisheries royalty on seafood caught commercially in the state."

FYI, the state collects a 12.5 percent royalty on many of its oil leases.

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Processors association announces new addition

Looks like another regulator is joining the ranks of the regulated.

Here's the press release.

Friday, February 19, 2016

Is 'merger' another word for this?

Here's big news from longline heavies Blue North and Prowler Fisheries.

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

So long, CFEC

Gov. Bill Walker has signed an administrative order transferring the administrative and research functions of the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission to the Department of Fish and Game.

The move will save the state more than $1.3 million a year, Walker said in a press release.

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Troller jailed at Sitka after drunken ruckus at sea

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: Multiple offenses
On 2/13/16 at 1347 hours, Alaska Wildlife Troopers and Sitka police responded on the P/V Courage to reports of a fishing vessel attempting to ram other boats near Cape Edgecumbe during the Sitka Sound winter salmon troll fishery. Investigation revealed Timothy D. Demmert, 33, of Klawock, was operating the 47-foot power troller F/V Emmanuel and had intentionally run over gear of other fishermen causing loss of the gear and loss of fishing time. Demmert refused a boarding at sea by troopers and was eventually boarded in Sitka harbor at 1824 hours where he was found to be under the influence of alcohol and in possession of a loaded shotgun. Demmert was arrested and remanded to Sitka jail on charges including DUI watercraft, misconduct involving a weapon, refuse boarding, interfere with commercial gear, criminal mischief and reckless endangerment. Bail was set at $10,000 cash performance bond. The investigation is continuing and more charges are likely to be forwarded to the district attorney's office.

Monday, February 8, 2016

Betting on herring spawn

State Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, D-Sitka, has filed House Bill 294 to create a "herring spawn classic."

The classic would be "a game of chance in which prizes are awarded for the closest guess of the postseason preliminary estimate of nautical miles of shoreline receiving spawn of Pacific herring, as determined by the Department of Fish and Game from aerial surveys between March and May," the bill says.

The Sitka Tribe of Alaska would operate the classic, Kreiss-Tomkins says in this sponsor statement.

Monday, February 1, 2016

Injured man airlifted off Trident vessel

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter on Sunday hoisted an injured fisherman off the F/V Barbara J near Unimak Pass.

The man was injured in a fall down a stairwell, the Coast Guard said.

The 110-foot Barbara J belongs to Trident Seafoods and uses pot gear to target cod and crab.