NPFMC wrestles with halibut bycatch in Bering Sea
Federal fisheries managers aiming to limit incidental halibut bycatch in the Bering Sea are moving forward with alternative options to resolve allowable bycatch based on abundance of the species.
Coast Guard aids disabled fishing vessel
A Coast Guard helicopter crew from Sitka came to the rescue of a disabled fishing vessel taking on water six miles south of Icy Bay, within the Wrangell-Saint Elias Wilderness.
Fish Factor: Collapsible pots keep whales off of black cod catch
Light-weight collapsible pots prevent whales from pirating pricey black cod from longline hooks and give a break to small boats.
Fall Virtual Fishermen’s Expo set for Nov. 11-12
Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association and Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust are hosting a Fall Virtual Fishermen’s Expo Nov. 11-12, complete with free educational workshops for local commercial and subsistence fishermen of all gear types.
Fish Factor: Young fishermen get financial help to buy into longline fisheries
More young Alaskans are officially among the next generation of professional fishermen and ocean stewards to hail from Cordova, Haines, Homer, Ketchikan and Sitka.
2020 proved well below average for PWS salmon
Commercial salmon harvesters had a challenging year in Prince William Sound, with the abundance of fish and the estimated value well below average, state fisheries officials confirmed in their season summary.
Fish Factor: Lower supply pushed up price of wild Pacific salmon
Now that the 2020 pack of Alaska salmon has been caught and put up, stakeholders will get a better picture of how global prices may rise or fall.
Public comment sought on fisheries assistance plan
Public comment is welcome through Oct. 19 on the CARES Act fisheries assistance draft spend plan, through which Alaska is to receive $50 million of the $300 million allocated for all coastal states and territories.
World’s deadliest catch crab fisheries open on Oct. 15
Commercial fishing for an abundance of Bering Sea snow crab, and much smaller quotas of Bristol Bay red king crab and Bering Sea Tanner crab gets under way Oct. 15. Harvesters will be mindful of the usual dangers at sea, plus costly pandemic health mandates.
Fish Factor: 2020 seafood harvest in line with previous years
Some surprising results are revealed in the first of a series of briefing papers showing how Alaska’s seafood industry has been affected by the pandemic from dock to dinner plates.
