News

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT Tonight (Friday) the Colorado-based band Salem will take to the stage at the Rendezvous. It’s the first time the band has been to Kodiak, but as singer-songwriter Todd Anders Johnson said, it’s been on the wish list for many years. The band, which formed in 2004, boats an eclectic sound. Johnson said the group’s music is definitely a …

Jay Barrett/KMXT There was a very slight hiccup in the legislative process to name Kodiak State Airport for Alaska Flag designer Benny Benson. Yesterday on the State House floor, the bill passed unanimously and was transmitted to the Senate for its concurrence, however the House Rules Committee inadvertently deleted the word “Kodiak” from the name, proposing simply “Benny Benson State …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT Last night the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly and City Council gathered for a joint work session to discuss a variety of topics pertaining to both governing bodies. One item on the agenda was a fisheries update from Kodiak fishery advisor and a former member of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, Denby Lloyd. He spoke about a number …

Jay Barrett/KMXT You know those energy audits you can get for your home, where heat loss and fuel efficiency are all measured and charted to see where you might save money on utilities? Well soon, you might be able to get one for your fishing boat. The Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation is gearing up a pilot study of fishing vessel …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT A boater was rescued from the 31-foot sailing vessel Etak Tuesday. A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter successfully hoisted the man from the vessel in the Gulf of Alaska, about 200 miles northwest of Sitka. The boater, who was not named by the Coast Guard, was transported to Sitka where he was met by medical …

Jay Barrett/KMXT Yesterday, by the slimmest of margins, two-term Alaska Board of Fisheries member Vince Webster’s reappointment was rejected by a joint session of the Alaska House and Senate. After attacks on him by the Kenai River Sportfishing Association stretching into last week, Webster was voted down 30-to-29. A commercial fisherman from King Salmon, Webster got the support of legislators …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT A bill passed during the 27th Legislature could mean more land opening up for Coast Guard housing in Kodiak. The bill provides low interest state money for development on land adjacent to military facilities, which can be rezoned as Military Facility Zones. Borough Manager Bud Cassidy said the Coast Guard is concerned about not having enough residential structures …

Jay Barrett/KMXT A brand new fishing vessel headed for Alaska to join the Kodiak fleet in 1972 never reached its destination, and its fate has been a mystery for over 40 years. That is, until it was discovered sitting on the sea floor under 9,000 feet of water in the Gulf of Mexico. The fishing vessel Katmai was found by …

Jay Barrett/KMXT On Friday the Senate Resources Committee heard testimony on reducing Chinook salmon bycatch in Alaska’s trawl fisheries. The testimony across user groups was almost universally in favor of reducing the bycatch, with the only doubt being brought up by representatives of the trawl industry. Senator Peter Micciche from Soldotna introduced Senate Resolution 5, which would request the North …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT The fish processing vessel that ran aground almost two weeks ago has been refloated. On March 15 the M/V Pacific Producer ran aground near the village of Ouzinkie. At the time of the grounding it had an estimated 8,000 gallons of diesel fuel on board, as well as various lubes and oils. According to a situation report from …