Fishy bill filed ahead of legislative session

The Alaska Legislature goes back into regular session Jan. 19 and some lawmakers already have prefiled bills, including one "establishing a fisheries enhancement permit."

House Bill 220 is sponsored by Rep. David Talerico, R-Healy. He's co-chair of the House Resources Committee.

No sponsor statement is available yet for HB 220, and the impetus for the legislation is unclear from the language of the bill itself.

So make of it what you will.

Reaction to setnet ruling

Two industry groups are applauding the Alaska Supreme Court opinion blocking a proposed statewide vote on banning commercial setnets in Cook Inlet and elsewhere.

Kenai Peninsula Fishermen's Association press release

Resources for All Alaskans press release

Setnetters win

The Alaska Supreme Court, in an opinion issued today, struck down a proposed ballot initiative to ban commercial setnets in certain areas of the state including Cook Inlet.

Pollock climbs, sablefish drops

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council has set the 2016 total allowable catch (TAC) for Alaska groundfish.

Here are the TACs for key species and the percent change from 2015.

BERING SEA AND ALEUTIAN ISLANDS

Eastern Bering Sea pollock, 1,340,000 tons, up 2.3 percent
Pacific cod, 251,519 tons, up 0.8 percent
Yellowfin sole, 144,000 tons, down 3.4 percent
Atka mackerel, 55,000 tons, up 0.9 percent
Pacific Ocean perch, 31,900 tons, down 0.4 percent
Sablefish, 2,708 tons, down 13.6 percent

GULF OF ALASKA

Pollock, 257,872 tons, up 29.5 percent
Pacific cod, 71,925 tons, down 4.4 percent
Pacific Ocean perch, 24,437 tons, up 16.3 percent
Sablefish, 9,087 tons, down 13.6 percent

The TACs are subject to U.S. commerce secretary approval.

Coast Guard issues heavy weather bulletin

Read it here.

Stikine, Taku Chinook forecasts posted

Here's the announcement.

We have halibut commission news!

Read it here.