Coast Guard seizes 'unreported' pollock roe

The crew of the cutter Waesche seized more than 5 metric tons of pollock roe, worth over $65,000, after uncovering "significant violations of federal fishing regulations" aboard the factory trawler Northern Eagle, says this U.S. Coast Guard press release.

Bernt Bodal crosses the bar

Here's a press release from American Seafoods Co.

A new skipper for American Seafoods

American Seafoods Co. announced Inge Andreassen, chief operating officer and president, has "assumed leadership of American Seafoods," succeeding CEO Einar Gustafsson.

Here's a press release.

Seattle-based American Seafoods operates a fleet of Bering Sea pollock factory trawlers.

Factory trawler charged with salmon violation

NOAA's Office of General Counsel reports this case charged in August:

• C/P Northern Eagle — Owners American Seafoods Co. LLC and Northern Eagle LLC were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act with failing to ensure no salmon of any species passed the observer collection point. A $15,000 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued.

Deckboss invites readers to visit our companion blog The Brig for more fisheries enforcement news.

Those sneaky Russians

Writing in the Anchorage Daily News, Einar Gustafsson, CEO of American Seafoods, which operates a fleet of Bering Sea pollock factory trawlers, complains about market competition from Russia.

Any takers for American Seafoods?

The American Seafoods factory trawler Ocean Rover moored in Seattle. Wesley Loy photo

Seattle-based American Seafoods has been for sale for years. But a sale has proved elusive, and now the company has "paused its sale process."

"Our business remains strong," CEO Einar Gustafsson said in this press release. He said the company would revisit sale discussions "when the macroeconomic environment improves."

American Seafoods is one of the biggest players in Alaska's groundfish industry. It operates several enormous factory trawlers and controls a large percentage of the total allowable catch of pollock in the Bering Sea.

It's not surprising that American Seafoods is a hard sell.

The company has operated on a foundation of risk and debt. Risk, in that it's largely dependent on the health of a single stock — pollock. And American Seafoods historically has dragged a heavy debt load, though we can't quantify the company's current status in that regard.

Another concern for American Seafoods is the advanced age of its fleet. Most of its vessels were built originally in the 1960s and '70s.

The major shareholder of American Seafoods is Bregal Partners, a private equity firm.

Transit scheme costs American Seafoods $9.5M

Two subsidiaries of American Seafoods, a major harvester of Bering Sea pollock, have agreed to pay $9.5 million to settle violations of a shipping law known as the Jones Act, federal prosecutors say.

More details in this press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Anchorage.

We've asked American Seafoods for comment.

'Corporate purgatory'

Readers will recall how federal authorities hit Alaska pollock industry players with huge fines, alleging unlawful transport of fish to the eastern United States. Deckboss wrote about the case in the October 2021 issue of Pacific Fishing magazine.

Well, it seems the two sides have reached a settlement.

But the pollock industry is furious government brass still haven't signed off on the deal struck nearly six months ago.

This has left the industry in "corporate purgatory," with the delay in resolving the enormous penalties interfering with corporate transactions, finances, and operations, according to this court filing.

EPA penalizes American Seafoods nearly $1 million

Here's a news release with more details.

Crewmember death on factory trawler reported

A crewmember on the American Seafoods factory trawler Northern Eagle died at sea, likely from an ammonia leak, KUCB radio reports.

New skipper for American Seafoods

Bering Sea factory trawl operator American Seafoods has named a new chief executive officer to succeed Mikel Durham, who has "decided to step down."

Personnel file

The governor's office has appointed Duncan Fields, of Kodiak, to the board of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute.

The governor also has announced two recommendations for the International Pacific Halibut Commission:

• Andrew Mezirow, of Seward
• Rachel Baker, of Juneau

In other news, Indy Walton, of Soldotna, recently resigned from the Alaska Board of Fisheries for health reasons.

Also, Cordova District Fishermen United is looking for an executive director.

And American Seafoods, the big Bering Sea factory trawl operator, has hired its first chief sustainability officer.

'Years of flagrantly illegal conduct'

The federal government has entered this court filing explaining why it has slapped Alaska pollock industry players with many millions of dollars in Jones Act penalties.

The matter involves a "scheme" to transport seafood unlawfully to the East Coast, and centers on a tiny railroad — about 100 feet long — that "goes nowhere."

'A shock to the industry'

This highly interesting press release just dropped.

The revolving door

Chris Oliver, who headed the National Marine Fisheries Service during the Trump administration, has joined Bering Sea trawl heavyweight American Seafoods as special adviser on government affairs.

Two more American Seafoods boats have virus

Details in this press release from the Whatcom County Health Department in Bellingham.

The vessels involved are the factory trawlers American Triumph and Northern Jaeger.

Badass boat

During last month's Pacific Marine Expo in Seattle, Deckboss went looking for fish boats and found the Ocean Rover tied up at Terminal 91. The 256-foot factory trawler, part of the American Seafoods fleet, fishes Bering Sea pollock.

Big news from big trawl company

American Seafoods has named a new CEO.

American Seafoods — all paid up

Readers surely will recall how federal regulators last year reached a $1.75 million settlement with American Seafoods Co. for alleged monkey business involving flow scales aboard three of the company's Bering Sea factory trawlers.

At the time, the feds failed to release the written settlement agreement.

Deckboss acquired the agreement through a Freedom of Information Act request, and is happy to share it with you here.

The two-page document says American Seafoods "admits the facts constituting the violation." It also set a March 31 deadline for paying the entire $1.75 million civil penalty.

So, has the company paid?

Julie Speegle, spokeswoman for the National Marine Fisheries Service, sent the following in response to our recent inquiry:

American Seafoods paid $1,750,000.00 on April 2, 2015. This case is considered "paid in full."

FYI on my FoIA

Track it here.