Alaska Fisheries Report — Dec. 26, 2019

 

 

• Following last year’s disastrous non-season, fisheries managers plan to double the harvest level for the coming spring Sitka Sac Roe Herring fishery.

Herring were too small and with too little roe which lead to no fishery at all—the first time in decades.

• As we’ve reported before, seaweed and kelp farming is an up and coming industry in Alaska. Federal funds have been allocated to create a kelp farm in Sand Point which would be the first such farm in the Aleutians Island region.

The Army Corps of Engineers postpones its final environmental review of the proposed Pebble Mine. The final review is now due out in late June or early July. With a final permitting decision likely a month or two later.

The Corps says it needs the extra time to address public concerns. Opponents say the time should be spent gathering more data, not making the report sound better.

• And, what makes Bristol Bay so important? A look at how Bristol Bay’s fishery affects the rest of the state.

 

 

 

 

We had help from Elizabeth Jenkins and Hope McKenney both with Alaska’s Energy Desk. Katherine Rose at KCAW in Sitka. Liz Ruskin with Alaska Public Media. And Laine Welch from Alaska Fish Radio.

 

 

As we finish up 2019 we mark more than 30 years of producing the Alaska Fisheries Report.

That’s a lot of fish!

And a lot of help from reporters and radio station all around Alaska.

And it’s a lot of listeners learning about and keeping up with Alaska’s commercial fishing industry.

I am humbled. And I am thankful.

Thank you to everyone who has made it possible for us to continue this program for more than 30 years.