There’s been a lot of big cuts to Alaska state government, but the Department of Fish & Game fared better than most. A new boat registration law went into effect in January. Unfortunately, the state didn’t do a good job of letting fishermen and boat owners know. If you’ve got a motorized vessel that’s 24-feet or longer, you …
Read More »Rains bring slugs out of hiding, here’s how to get rid of those buggers
Slugs. The bane of Kodiak gardeners. There are those who think the only thing worse than finding a slug in their garden or flower bed is to find one in a salmonberry they just bit into. Yuck! You may have thought they dried up and died during that recent stretch of dry, sunny weather. Wrong. Kodiak master gardener Marion Owen …
Read More »Alaska Fisheries Report — July 11, 2019
First a look at sockeye salmon in Bristol Bay. But not just the numbers of fish caught or forecasted. We talk with biologists about how they get those numbers and why different forecasters get different numbers. The salmon dock in Whittier got walloped by an explosion and fire. One man is missing and the mayor says the dock is …
Read More »Alaska Fisheries Report — July 4, 2019
The deadline for comments on the Pebble Mine Draft Environmental Impact Statement has closed. More than 91,000 comments were received, including that of the EPA, which found fault with the EIS. The agency says the draft report likely underestimates the risks the mine poses. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy did some serious red-inking to the state’s budget, including cuts to …
Read More »Alaska Fisheries Report — June 27, 2019
Early pink salmon harvests are breaking records in parts of the state, while Yukon chum are way off, and sockeye catches in southcentral Alaska still lag below the five-year average. What happened to the Sitka Sac Roe herring? Managers shut the fishery down before it even got started. The herring were too young and too small. With no season …
Read More »Talk of the Rock — Fort Abercrombie State Park Naturalist
Today our guest is Nora Weisz who is this summer’s naturalist at Fort Abercrombie State Park. Weisz shares what she’s learned as a local naturalists and provides information on special programs at Ft. Abercrombie, including speakers every Saturday evening in July.
Read More »Alaska Fisheries Report — June 20, 2019
The US House approved a federal spending bill that would sideline permitting for the Pebble Mine. It passed, but don’t hold your breath. That amendment isn’t likely to even come up in the Republican-controlled Senate. A delegation from the EPA visited Dillingham to talk to fishermen and the community. Petersburg fishermen head out to fish Bristol Bay—900 miles from home. …
Read More »Talk of the Rock — Kodiak Public Library Summer Programs
We talk with Library Director Laurie Madsen and Library Youth Specialist (or children’s librarian), Roy Thomas. The library has tons of great programs for people of all ages this summer. A special emphasis is on space to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Land on the Moon. Also STEM kits to check out to make it fun for kids (and …
Read More »Alaska Fisheries Report — June 13, 2019
First a roundup of fisheries around the state. Last year was the worst commercial sockeye season in Chignik since statehood. And a slow start this year is making people concerned about this summer’s return. Meanwhile, in Southeast, Haines gillnetters are prepping for the June 16th king salmon opener. A big change this year are stricter regulations and a smaller …
Read More »Alaska Fisheries Report — June 6, 2019
The governor nominates a former aide to serve on the Board of Fish. He’s little known among commercial fishing folks, but his support of sport fishing over commercial interests in Cook Inlet has some fishermen nervous. We take a look at shrimp fishing in Southeast Alaska. A lack of data on smelt in the Kuskokwim River has many in Southwest …
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