KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska

Coming up this week, China surprises Alaska and the West Coast with a shellfish ban, Bering Sea, Aleutians and Gulf groundfish TACs have been set, and the glory that is nine-tons of vac-packed salmon steaks, all coming up on the Alaska Fisheries Report. We had help from KUOW’s Ashley Ahern in Seattle, Seafood.com’s John Sackton in Lexington, Mass., CoastAlaska’s Ed …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT Last weekend a group of about four dozen bird enthusiasts took to the outdoors for the Kodiak Christmas bird count. The annual event, which has been going on for more than 40 years, is actually part of a nationwide bird count that is sponsored by the National Audubon Society. Rich Macintosh is an avid birder and compiler for …

Annie Ropeik/KUCB A Coast Guard petty officer has died in a Seattle hospital, more than a month after being injured during a rescue in the Eastern Aleutians. In a statement, the Coast Guard says Petty Officer Third Class Travis Obendorf died yesterday (Wednesday) at Swedish Hospital following surgery. He was a crew member aboard the Cutter Waesche. On November 11th, …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT Things have been a little busier at the Kodiak Animal Shelter these days. Last month the borough assembly voted to reinstate animal control along the borough road system, which means areas like Bells Flats and Monashka Bay are now being serviced. Jean Lilly is the shelter manager and said there were a lot more dogs brought in, in …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT A new grant program will help the Baranov Museum care for some of its aging baskets this year. Museums Alaska is the statewide museum association and recently received funds from the Rasmuson Foundation to create a new program for Alaska’s museums and cultural centers. The program is the called the collections management fund and provides money for conservation …

John Hilsinger. (UAF photo) Jay Barrett/KMXT A long time Alaska fisheries biologist has signed on to be the new science advisor for a group of crabbers who ply their trade in one of the state’s more far-flung fisheries. The Aleutian King Crab Research Foundation recently announced the hire of John Hilsinger, who will take over as consultant from Denby Lloyd. …

Lauren Rosenthal/KUCB Fishermen will be able to harvest a little more pollock from the Bering Sea next year. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council voted to bump up the catch limit to 1.267 million metric tons at a meeting in Anchorage last week. That limit is about 1 percent higher than this year’s. Representatives from the fishing industry lobbied for …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT Even though temperatures are predicted to increase later this week, the past few days in the low teens have definitely announced winter’s arrival to Kodiak. This time of year typically entails thicker-than-usual jackets, but sometimes the proper cold weather attire isn’t within the financial means of some families. That’s why the Kodiak Morning Rotary sponsors “Coats for Kids,” …