Alaska Fisheries Report

    The Food and Drug Administration drops the last hurtle to genetically modified salmon being produced in the United States. And at least one company is poised to ship engineered salmon eggs to a fish farm in Indiana.             Researchers believe winds from the south could lead to the disappearance of a ‘cold pool’ in the Bering Sea. That …

              The Coast Guard releases its report on the sinking of the F/V Destination, the Bering Sea crabber that went down with all hands two years ago. Among the causes cited, stability issues, overloading, fishing in icy conditions and crew fatigue. We’ll have details on this week’s program.              Alaska seafood exports to China dropped substantially last year because …

                A whole lot of fishin’ going on. Hundreds of boats were out fishing during February. We’ll have a rundown on who’s fishing where.             A new study gives Alaska regulators a better look at what happens when hatchery salmon produce in the wild.             Trident Seafoods will pay up to $23 million in a settlement with the …

    Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy released his proposed state budget for the year which begins July 1. And it’s not pretty. Things are still settling out but one item that is causing concern for fishing communities is the plan to send all of the raw fish tax taken at the dock to Juneau instead of sharing half with the …

                                     Halibut is in the news this week as American and Canadian policy makers come to agreement on how to manage halibut. We have two reports on how the International Pacific Halibut Commission divvied up the harvest for commercial fishermen.             The commission also set limits on charter operators. The halibut regs for …

    The partial federal shutdown continues to cause problems for Alaska’s fishermen. With NMFS offices closed, and the folks at the National Register out as well, fishermen are wondering how NMFS will open the March halibut and sablefish seasons. Coast Guard families wonder how they will pay their bills without a paycheck, while Coast Guard towns wonder how they’ll …

Think winter is a slow time for Alaska fisheries? Well, think again. Cod, pollock, snow crab, Tanner crab, rockfish and a wide assortment of white fish are among the fisheries either currently open, or set to open soon. The partial government shutdown is causing problems that could extend for some time. Coast Guard documentation has ground to a halt, so …

The federal shutdown is didn’t halt the start of several federal fisheries this month, but it has caused other problems, especially for fishermen wanting mandatory permits or inspections. Just one person applied for the position of Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Spoiler Alert. It’s the person currently at the top of ADF&G as acting commissioner. Speaking …

    The federal shutdown is closed federal offices, but it won’t stop the federal fisheries set to open in January. The Sitka 2019 Herring Sac Roe forecast is up, but it is uncertain how a new lawsuit to protect subsistence harvest of the roe may affect the commercial fishery. The lawsuit doesn’t want the fishery halted, rather it asks …

              It’s not unusual for long-line Cod fishermen pull up a whole line of partially eaten fish. The reason? Cod yummies for killer whales. Now fishermen have a new tool that looks promising in the fight to keep whales off their fish.             We have more on the changes at the top of the …