Two Fishing Boats Raised from Jackolof Bay

Jay Barrett/KMXT
Two old fishing boats that sunk under the weight of the snow Christmas Day in Jackolof Bay have been refloated and seized by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. The fishing vessel Kupreanof was raised on Sunday and the FV Leading Lady on Tuesday. They were towed to the Homer Boat Harbor and are being observed for any additional fuel leaks.
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation says the sinking spilled about 50 gallons of diesel from the Leading Lady, which was all it carried. After refloating, about 35 gallons of hydraulic fluids and lube oil were removed.
The two boats were sitting at anchor in Jackolof Bay, 12-miles south of Homer in Kachemak Bay, when a storm dumped about four feet of snow over the course of two days. Nobody was aboard at the time of the sinking.
The DEC says in a situation report that the vessels will be lifted into a boat yard when tides allow, and either be auctioned off or otherwise disposed of.
Oysters and mussels from farms in Jakolof Bay will be quality tested by the DEC’s Environmental Health Division before being sold after the spring harvest.