A crewman died aboard the factory trawler Alaska Juris this past Thursday, reportedly after a cable snapped and hit him in the head, a U.S. Coast Guard spokeswoman said.
Two rescue helicopters responded and lowered a rescue swimmer to the 238-foot vessel, which was more than 150 miles southwest of Dutch Harbor when the call for help came in, said Coast Guard Petty Officer Charly Hengen.
The crewman wasn't hoisted, however, as he was deceased.
The Alaska State Troopers identified the victim as Andrew Fotu, 25, of Seattle.
The Alaska Juris is part of the Fishing Company of Alaska fleet. The company is based in Renton, Wash.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Southeast seiners face a subsistence fight
The Federal Subsistence Board, at a meeting set for March 21-23 in Juneau, will consider a petition seeking to close or curtail commercial salmon fishing in Southeast Alaska.
Kootznoowoo Inc., the Native corporation for the village of Angoon, submitted the petition to the federal government.
The petitioner asks the feds to exercise "extraterritorial jurisdiction" to protect the subsistence priority for Angoon residents. It contends the state-managed commercial fisheries have interfered with subsistence fishing for sockeye.
Kootznoowoo wants commercial fisheries in the waters around Angoon closed or restricted. This includes fishing districts in Chatham, Icy and Peril straits.
The Native corporation also recommends reducing the harvest area adjacent to Hidden Falls Hatchery, located across Chatham Strait from Angoon.
In advance of the meeting, the Federal Subsistence Board has posted a staff report that looks at the petition, area salmon runs, Angoon subsistence practices and fishery management.
The report concludes by saying "not enough information" is available to know if a total closure of commercial purse seine fisheries would meet all of Kootznoowoo's stated needs.
The report adds, however, that it "appears more likely than not that the commercial purse seine fishery is reducing the number of sockeye salmon returning" to federally managed waters.
To see Kootznoowoo's petition and supplement, go to the Federal Subsistence Board website.
Kootznoowoo Inc., the Native corporation for the village of Angoon, submitted the petition to the federal government.
The petitioner asks the feds to exercise "extraterritorial jurisdiction" to protect the subsistence priority for Angoon residents. It contends the state-managed commercial fisheries have interfered with subsistence fishing for sockeye.
Kootznoowoo wants commercial fisheries in the waters around Angoon closed or restricted. This includes fishing districts in Chatham, Icy and Peril straits.
The Native corporation also recommends reducing the harvest area adjacent to Hidden Falls Hatchery, located across Chatham Strait from Angoon.
In advance of the meeting, the Federal Subsistence Board has posted a staff report that looks at the petition, area salmon runs, Angoon subsistence practices and fishery management.
The report concludes by saying "not enough information" is available to know if a total closure of commercial purse seine fisheries would meet all of Kootznoowoo's stated needs.
The report adds, however, that it "appears more likely than not that the commercial purse seine fishery is reducing the number of sockeye salmon returning" to federally managed waters.
To see Kootznoowoo's petition and supplement, go to the Federal Subsistence Board website.
Full Alaska delegation jumps into J-1 visa issue
Here's an update on our recent report that the State Department might stop granting foreign students J-1 visas to work in U.S. seafood processing plants.
As you'll recall, U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, was telling Secretary of State Hillary Clinton this would be a bad move, that Alaska's seafood industry heavily depends on these student workers.
Now, Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Rep. Don Young, both Republicans, have joined Begich on an objection to the Obama administration.
Looking back a few months, Deckboss wonders about the role this Begich letter might have played in precipitating this looming labor crisis for the 2012 salmon season.
Begich suggested the J-1 program might need "modification," noting foreign students had come to work in Kodiak, Kenai and elsewhere without appropriate housing or transportation, and that their employment had cost local resident workers overtime pay.
Some locals even had to resort to a food bank due to the loss of income, Begich wrote.
"Especially when it comes to placing students in smaller communities, we need to assure there is accountability and we are not over-burdening the local area with additional workers competing for jobs," the letter said.
As you'll recall, U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, was telling Secretary of State Hillary Clinton this would be a bad move, that Alaska's seafood industry heavily depends on these student workers.
Now, Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Rep. Don Young, both Republicans, have joined Begich on an objection to the Obama administration.
Looking back a few months, Deckboss wonders about the role this Begich letter might have played in precipitating this looming labor crisis for the 2012 salmon season.
Begich suggested the J-1 program might need "modification," noting foreign students had come to work in Kodiak, Kenai and elsewhere without appropriate housing or transportation, and that their employment had cost local resident workers overtime pay.
Some locals even had to resort to a food bank due to the loss of income, Begich wrote.
"Especially when it comes to placing students in smaller communities, we need to assure there is accountability and we are not over-burdening the local area with additional workers competing for jobs," the letter said.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Nice save
A good Samaritan vessel, the Glacier, this morning pulled three people from the water after the 32-foot F/V Cyclone was reported sinking about 20 miles southeast of Kodiak, the U.S. Coast Guard reported.
The three rescued Cyclone crewmen were reported in good condition following the 7:30 a.m. rescue.
Here is audio of the Cyclone's mayday call and the Coast Guard coordination of the rescue.
The three rescued Cyclone crewmen were reported in good condition following the 7:30 a.m. rescue.
Here is audio of the Cyclone's mayday call and the Coast Guard coordination of the rescue.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
We're moving closer to Southeast seine buyback
This notice was published today in the Federal Register regarding the proposed buyback of Southeast Alaska salmon seine permits.
The notice lays out a schedule of public meetings to be held in Seattle, Petersburg, Ketchikan and Sitka, and lists people eligible to vote on whether to go forward with the buyback.
The notice lays out a schedule of public meetings to be held in Seattle, Petersburg, Ketchikan and Sitka, and lists people eligible to vote on whether to go forward with the buyback.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Shut-out charter operators lose court case
A federal judge has thrown out a challenge to limited entry for Alaska halibut charter boats. Here's the ruling.
And here's what we posted last year when the lawsuit was filed.
And here's what we posted last year when the lawsuit was filed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
