Alaska Fisheries Report

  The Alaska Legislature is in session and working on the budget. Fisheries programs across the state are on the chopping block—this after last year’s major cuts to the commercial fisheries division. Kodiak’s Representative Louise Stutes hopes the legislature will fix a measure approved previously that requires some fishing boat owners to double register their vessels. The intent was to …

  Both sides of the Sitka Sound herring lawsuit presented oral arguments this week. The suit brought by the Sitka Tribe of Alaska seeks to preserve the traditional herring spawn subsistence fishery. ADF&G scientists confirm what many fishermen knew anecdotally—2019 was a hot year and the warmer water temps killed hundreds of thousands of sockeye salmon transiting Bristol Bay to …

The Alaska Board of Fisheries dealt a double blow to Kodiak salmon fishermen. Fishing was limited in two of Kodiak’s traditional fishing areas in the hope of increasing fishing opportunities in Chignik and Cook Inlet. But fishermen in Chignik say the change to the Cape Igvak fishery is long overdue. We have reports from both sides of the Cape Igvak …

The Alaska Board of Fisheries continued its Kodiak meeting last week. Two big issues deal with salmon. We hear what some of those testifying have to say. Chinook salmon are getting smaller and a University of Washington research team think killer whales might be behind the shrinking kings. The Young Fishermen’s Summit is set for Jan. 21-23  to teach a …

  The Alaska Board of Fisheries is meeting in Kodiak Jan. 11-14 to consider a number of finfish proposals, several of which pit Kodiak fishermen against Chignik and Cook Inlet in a fight for salmon. Speaking of Kodiak, island Tanner fishermen are gearing up for a small fishery set to begin Jan. 15. And, here’s a question for you fish …

    We’re going to ease into the new year with a few good books. First up, we have the story of a Bering Sea Captain. Jake Jacobson recounts stories and memories of his five decades fishing Alaska’s dangerous and unpredictable waters. And an we look at the early days of ocean exploration Not the sailing the ocean blue kind …

  Togiak herring fishermen are expecting a huge harvest in 2020, but wonder if they will have buyers for so much roe. Yes, Alaska has plenty of reasons to be proud of its fishing industry. More than 9,000 fishing vessels, home to six of the nation’s 10 top fishing port, the largest manufacturing sector in the state. Coming up, a …

  Good news for Kodiak Tanner crab fishermen. There will be a January fishery. It’ll be small but the pots can go in the water. Fisheries at Chignik and South Peninsula will remain closed, though the outlook for those areas appears promising. A bear messing with a pipe appears to be the cause of an oil spill at the Kitoi …

Low cod numbers could force a close of the federal Gulf of Alaska cod fishery. We look at how climate change threatens Kodiak fishermen. The Pacific halibut fishery ended Nov. 14. Prices for the season held at about $14-15 per pound. A new study which was scheduled to be presented this week in Juneau reveals previously unaccounted for economic and …

    Southeast Alaska’s winter troll king salmon season is underway. Landings are up from last year, but last year was nothing to brag about. One sign of encouragement, though, is the price which opened at $12 a pound. Also out of Southeast—they’re cute, but they are becoming a nuisance, especially since they are a protected species. We have a …