Juneau watch

Legislators are holding a "lunch and learn" meeting at noon tomorrow on the topic of outmigration of limited entry fishing permits from rural Alaska.

Presenters include Rachel Donkersloot, of Coastal Cultures Research; Courtney Carothers, of the University of Alaska Fairbanks College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences; and Joe Nelson, board co-chair, Alaska Federation of Natives.

Journalist Nathaniel Herz, of Northern Journal, last year published a lengthy article on the impact of state fishing permits being sold out of, or otherwise leaving, coastal Alaska villages.

And they're off at Sitka!

The Sitka Sound herring sac roe fishery has begun, with the first opener running from noon to 6 p.m. Friday.

Another opener was set for 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today.

About 495 tons of herring was harvested in the initial opener, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game reported.

The quota for this year's fishery is 35,015 tons, but industry is not expected to take anywhere near that much.

Carl Rosier crosses the bar

Here's a recent press release from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Juneau watch

We have a hearing this afternoon in the Senate Resources Committee on Senate Bill 269, which would radically revamp the Alaska Board of Fisheries.

The bill would restructure the board from a seven-member panel to a 15-member body comprised of three regional boards, says this sponsor statement from Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel.

Trawl rep claps back at Senate candidate Peltola

Matt Tinning is CEO of the At-sea Processors Association. Read his commentary here.

It's halibut time again

Another long North Pacific halibut season opens at 6 a.m. local time tomorrow. The season is scheduled to run until Dec. 7.

This is a tough time for the halibut fishery as stocks of the big, flat fish are low.

This year's coastwide catch limit is 29.33 million pounds. Five years ago, in 2022, the limit was 41.2 million pounds.

For those who would like to delve much deeper into the numbers, click here.

We wish all halibut fishermen a fine season. Please be safe!

CFEC sets Thursday meeting

The Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission has scheduled a public meeting for 11 a.m. tomorrow in Juneau. Here's more information.

Juneau watch

The Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee today held a hearing on Senate Bill 268 with the short title "Sick leave exemption: fish processors."

The Pacific Seafood Processors Association really likes this bill.

But the Alaska AFL-CIO doesn't, writing to the committee: "Just because someone works in a seafood processing plant does not mean their right to sick leave should be taken away."

Here's the sponsor statement for SB 268 from Sen. Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak.

More council news

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson has nominated Jamie Goen for a second term on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.

Here's the governor's nomination letter.

Pollock industry says it's won MSC recertification

Here's the press release.

'This letter clarifies what is permissible'

The National Marine Fisheries Service says it's OK for Gulf of Alaska processors to convert "prohibited species catch" into fishmeal and other low-value products for sale.

The agency explains in this letter to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.

Sitka herring update No. 1

Spring is coming and the whales and sea lions are gathering. Click here.

Council nomination news

Gov. Mike Dunleavy has nominated Märit Carlson-Van Dort for a seat on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.

Here's the governor's nomination letter.

New battles coming on hatcheries, trawling

The Alaska Board of Fisheries concludes its 2025-26 meeting cycle with a five-day session starting tomorrow in Anchorage on statewide finfish and supplemental issues.

Among the more notable issues, a trio of proposals (170, 171 and 172) would constrain pink and chum production from salmon hatcheries. Two of the proposals are from the Kenai River Sportfishing Association.

Another trio of proposals (163, 164 and 165) would appear to make life tougher for trawlers. The proposals are from an organization called the Alaska Healthy Habitat Alliance.

Proposal 163 would define all trawls operating in state waters as bottom contact gear. Proposal 164 would "establish bottom contact monitoring requirements for pelagic trawl gear."

The Alaska Whitefish Trawlers Association hates these trawl proposals, commenting in a letter to the board:

There seems to be an assumption that trawlers operating in the Gulf of Alaska and Prince William Sound regularly put their pelagic nets on the bottom. This is not accurate. The seafloor in the GOA and PWS are rocky, and our pelagic nets are relatively delicate. Contact with the bottom (or sunken shipwrecks) shreds our nets, requiring time-consuming and expensive repairs or replacement, and lost fishing time. On average a pelagic trawl net alone for our members costs $110,000, and we are not going to intentionally damage an expensive piece of gear.

The wait is nearly over

We'll soon have the government's answer on whether Gulf of Alaska Chinook salmon should be listed under the Endangered Species Act.

The National Marine Fisheries Service is pledging to render its decision on or before May 13.

A nonprofit organization, the Wild Fish Conservancy, petitioned NMFS for the listing and later sued the agency for failing to meet the deadline for making its decision. The lawsuit has now been settled with the setting of the May 13 date.

Chinook runs across Alaska are weak, forcing fishery conservation measures.

But the Alaska Department of Fish and Game doesn't support listing the fish, writing in September 2024: "The best available scientific and commercial information makes it clear that GOA Chinook salmon do not meet the definition of a threatened or endangered species."

Three charged with intentionally sinking boats

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

Juneau watch

Senate Bill 161, which "puts an end to bottom trawling in state waters beginning in 2028," according to its sponsor, is up for consideration tomorrow in the Senate Resources Committee.

Report: 'Deadliest' crewman falls overboard, dies

Here's the story from the Associated Press.

Juneau watch

A bill up for a hearing tomorrow in the House Special Committee on Fisheries aims to make Metlakatla tribal interests eligible for state hatchery financing.

One commercial fishing group is very opposed.

The sponsor of House Bill 253 is Ketchikan Republican Rep. Jeremy Bynum, whose district includes Metlakatla.