King crab down, snow crab up

Fishery managers have announced a total allowable catch of 2.6 million pounds for the Bristol Bay red king crab season opening Oct. 15. That's a very poor quota, down 30 percent from last season.

Managers also have announced a TAC of 45 million pounds for the Bering Sea snow crab fishery, a 32 percent increase.

The Bering Sea Tanner crab TAC is 2.3 million pounds. The Tanner crab fishery was closed last season.

'Dangerous and completely unacceptable'

Here is remarkable congressional testimony from Stephanie Madsen, executive director of the At-sea Processors Association, describing the American fishing fleet's recent encounter with the Russian military in the Bering Sea.

Halibut season extended — in Canada

The International Pacific Halibut Commission has approved an extension of the commercial season in British Columbia (Area 2B) by three weeks, until noon local time Dec. 7.

The original closure date of Nov. 15 still applies in all other areas.

Canadian interests had proposed an even longer halibut season extension to Feb. 20, 2021.

The Canadians sought the extension "in order to increase market opportunities and alleviate the impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis," according to this IPHC memo.

Feds announce enforcement action

A Kodiak fisherman will plead guilty to misreporting halibut and sablefish catches, federal prosecutors say.

APICDA sues Trident

A partnership involving a processing plant at False Pass has gone sour, and now the Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Association is suing Trident Seafoods in federal court.

UFA likes Sullivan

United Fishermen of Alaska is endorsing U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan's reelection bid.

A major COVID-19 outbreak in Seward

Here's the press release.