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The red salmon catch at Bristol Bay is on its way to 20 million fish and will very likely go higher, due to a strong run of more than 30 million fish. The reds were still surging into the region’s five big rivers and should serve to boost the harvest beyond the forecast of nearly 22 million fish. With all the salmon fisheries going on every summer all across Alaska, you might wonder why so much attention is focused on Bristol Bay? The answer can be summed up in two words: sockeye salmon. Bristol Bay’s rivers are home to the largest red sal...
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish announced July 11, a closure to sport fishing in Blind Slough to ensure adequate brood stock collection at the Crystal Lake Hatchery (CLH) necessary for future releases of king salmon in the Petersburg area. The closure includes all waters of Blind Slough upstream of a line between Blind Point and Anchor Point, from Friday July 13 through Sunday August 5th, 2012. The king salmon regulations for the marine waters of the Wrangell Narrows Terminal Harvest Area (THA), will be the same...
Marine debris trackers are taking to the air any day to get a better idea of where and what is washing ashore from last year’s devastating tsunami in Japan. Best ‘guesstimates’ claim at least 1.5 million tons of debris are afloat on and under the current driven waters that routinely cover Alaska coastlines. The State has funded a $200,000 systematic aerial survey by Airborne Technologies, Inc. of Virginia that will span waters and beaches from Cold Bay to Ketchikan to get a more complete view of the debris problem. “That should give a good pi...
Senator Lisa Murkowski visited Petersburg Monday, July 2, and discussed issues and concerns in regards to fisheries. “I am here to listen to issues that impact your ability to make a living and raise a family here,” Murkowski said. “Give me your concerns on subjects that we need to work closer with you on.” Many of the members of this fishery centered round-table discussion made mention of a problem with the sea otter population. “Sea otters eat everything,” co-owner of Tonka Seafoods We...
A first ever accounting of bycatch in US fisheries has been achieved by federal scientists in a user friendly report that aims to set a baseline for the accidental takes of fish, marine mammals, seabirds, and other creatures by fishing gear. The National Bycatch Report, based primarily on 2005 data, shows fish landings and estimated bycatch ratios of nearly 400 types of sea creatures by gear type and region. It is part of an effort to track changes in bycatch over time, according to NOAA Fisheries, and to help managers meet mandates to...
Petersburg seiners heading through Chatham Straits at sunrise last Sunday....
If you had your life to live over again, would you choose a career in commercial fishing? That is one question in a survey circulating around Kodiak that aims to reveal a more social view of the fishing life, and how the occupation and lifestyle have changed over two decades. The survey, being sent to a random sample of 700 permit holders and 400 crewmen in all fisheries, is part of a two year project by Dr. Courtney Carothers, an assistant professor at UAF’s School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. Carothers said the project came about d...
ANCHORAGE (AP) — Poor king salmon returns have state biologists limiting fishing throughout Alaska and biologists have their eyes on the ocean as the problem. “We're in a period of low abundance and low returns, statewide, and whether it's from Southeast, Copper River, Cook Inlet, Kodiak, Nushagak, Yukon, we're just in this period of low productivity in the ocean,” said Ricky Gease, a biologist and director of the Kenai River Sportfishing Association. The widespread failure indicates the problem is not in freshwater, said biologist Tom Vania...
Thanks to a nearly $3 million show of support from the state, high tech buoys will soon be measuring ocean acidity levels year ‘round, and Alaska fishermen will play an important role in the research. Basic chemistry proves that ocean waters are becoming more corrosive and it is happening faster in colder waters. The acidity, caused by increasing carbon dioxide emissions, can prevent shells from forming on crabs or oysters and tiny shrimplike organisms essential to fish diets. Alaska’s monitoring project will allow scientists to develop a “se...
Local fisherman, Ed Wood, spied a bright yellow growth on one of the pilings at the minus tide of the North Harbor Thursday morning. “I went to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and brought Becky Knight to look at the growth,” Wood said. “While she was taking photos, I crawled down and got a sample of it with my knife.” One of the bigger fears of fishermen in these waters is the growth called Didemnum vexillum, also called D. vex, which was found in Sitka a few years ago. D. vex, also known...
Sea otters are expanding throughout Southeast Alaska and dining on crab, sea cucumbers, geoduck clams and more as they go. An ongoing study aims to track the otters, what they’re eating and where they are going – and researchers hope to get ‘grounds truth’ from Southeast residents. For the past two years, Sea Grant marine advisory agents have spearheaded a project to learn more about the region’s sea otter diets and behaviors. The US Fish & Wildlife Service has provided aerial surveys and otter tagging to track their movements around Kupreono...
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced last week the following information concerning the District 8 and District 11 drift gillnet fisheries: District 8: The second inseason estimate is projecting a terminal run size of 21,000 Stikine River Chinook salmon. This forecast is well below the preseason forecast and results in no U.S. allowable directed harvest. District 8 will remain closed until the start of the sockeye salmon fishing season. The sockeye salmon fishing season will begin in both Districts 6 and 8 on Monday, June 18, 2012....
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish announced that the liberalized king salmon sport fishing regulation that have been in effect in the salt waters of District 8 near Petersburg and Wrangell will be rescinded. As of Monday, June 4, the king salmon sport fishing regulations for the waters of District 8 will be the same as those in effect for the entire Southeast region. These regulations are as follows: Alaska Residents — The resident bag and possession limit is three king salmon; 28 inches or greater in length; N...
The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) said that its Port Efficiency Policy will go in effect June 1. The new policy states that an AMHS ferry will bypass a port call if there is no scheduled traffic destined into or out of that particular port. Scheduled traffic is defined as a reservation in place 24 hours in advance of the scheduled departure time from the port in question. Travelers are encouraged to make reservations in advance....
Nobody wants to waste fish – least of all those who make their living from the sea. Fish harvesters want and need to be able to catch as much as they can to sustain their families and livelihoods. And as upstanding citizens, they obey the law when they discard “prohibited species” taken while they’re fishing for their “target catch.” When fishing seasons open, it’s impossible to not catch a mix of fish when they blanket the sea bottom, and fish of all kinds and sizes will go after a baited hook...
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced that the season for the commercial Dungeness crab fishery in Registration Area A (Southeastern Alaska) will open by regulation at 12:00 noon on Friday, June 15, 2012. The following information applies to the 2012/2013 commercial fishing season. Closed Waters: Regulatory closed waters are listed in 5 AAC 32.150. District 16 will be open to commercial fishing for Dungeness crab during the 2012/2013 fishing seasons. Permit holders intending to fish in District 16 are asked to contact Joe Stratman...
Dozens of sport fishermen participating in the Salmon Derby boat into Frederick Sound Friday morning, at the opening of the derby....
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish recently announced regulation changes for king salmon in Wrangell Narrows-Blind Slough Terminal Harvest Area (THA) from June 1 – July 31. The bag and possession limits for all anglers fishing in the THA is two king salmon 28 inches or greater in length and two king salmon less than 28 inches in length. The Wrangell Narrows-Blind Slough terminal harvest are near Petersburg is that portion of Wrangell Narrows north and east of the northern tip of Woewodski Island (56º 36’ N and 132º 5...
The value of Alaska fishing permits has see-sawed over the past year with Cook Inlet prices heading upwards and Bristol Bay on the down side. “Cook Inlet had a really good year last year, and they’re expecting another strong fishery this summer. Salmon drift permits have taken off with sales made at $80,000 compared to around $50,000 last year,” said Doug Bowen of Alaska Boats and Permits in Homer Prices have headed the other way in Bristol Bay. The Bay permits, are not so hot. They ran way up last year on expectations of good fish numbe...
With spring upon us, and the weather slowly improving, more and more people will be heading outdoors to recreate. Undoubtedly, some people will come across baby animals that may appear to have been abandoned. Fish and Game would like to remind people that Alaska law prohibits the taking or holding of live animals (including birds) without a permit from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Late-May and early June is typically when deer give birth to fawns. Female deer do not always stay close to their fawns, particularly when humans approach....
Soccer balls…motorcycles… reminders of the massive tsunami in Japan a year ago are now appearing along Alaska’s coastlines. “It’s safe to say that tsunami debris is here,” said Merrick Burden, director of the Juneau-based Marine Conservation Alliance Foundation. Since January the MCA has been tracking where and the kinds of debris that is coming ashore, and whether it is radioactive (none so far), at Kodiak, Yakutat, Sitka and Craig where the wreckage was first likely to hit. “What we’re finding are wind driven objects like buoys, Styrofoa...
Coast Guard Commercial Fishing Vessel Examiners will be conducting voluntary dockside examinations for Commercial Fishing Vessels from May 17 through May 20. Anyone interested in a Voluntary Dockside Examination sign-up at the Petersburg Harbormasters Office. Voluntary dockside examinations are free, take about an hour and help foster public awareness of fishing vessel safety, regulations and safety carriage requirements. Commercial Fishermen interested in this service contact Scott Wilwert at (907) 957-0152....
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game recently announced that the lingcod sport fishing seasons, bag and possession limits, annual limits, and size limits have been established for the Northern Southeast Area. In this area the following regulations apply: Northern Southeast Area - Season: May 16 – November 30. Limits: Residents – 1 daily 2 in possession, no size limit. Nonresidents – 1 daily, 1 in possession, size limit: 30 inches or greater in length and less than 35 inches in length, or 55 inches or greater in length. An annual limit of 2...
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game recently announced that the lingcod sport fishing seasons, bag and possession limits, annual limits, and size limits have been established for the Southern Southeast Area. In this area the following regulations apply: Southern Southeast Area - Season: May 16 – November 30. Limits: Residents – 1 daily 2 in possession, no size limit. Nonresidents – 1 daily, 1 in possession, size limit: 30 inches or greater in length and less than 45 inches in length, or 55 inches or greater in length. An annual limit of 2...
KETCHIKAN (AP) — Southeast Alaska commercial fishermen have approved a $13 million plan to buy back 64 state permits for purse seine fishing to boost market conditions. The region's seine permit holders voted 215-54 in favor of the “capacity reduction program” aimed at improving the economic viability of the remaining 315 permit holders. They voted from March 30 to April 30 in a referendum conducted by the National Marine Fisheries Service. The buyback will be financed with a federal loan to be repaid over time by remaining permit holde...
