Commerical Fishing

Coast Guard helps keep sinking boat afloat off Kodiak

The Coast Guard lowered dewatering pumps to crew members aboard a 50-foot fishing vessel that hit a rock and started sinking on the northwest side of Kodiak Island.

Poor salmon run on Yukon imperils treaty with Canada

The number of king salmon that reach the Canadian border might not satisfy a treaty agreement between Alaska and Canada despite massive cuts in subsistence fishing up and down the Yukon River in Alaska.

LAINE WELCH

Glut of reds overwhelms Bristol Bay processors

Salmon fishermen at Bristol Bay were bracing for another surge of reds over the July 4 weekend -- and likely more catch limits.

With help from Sealaska, oyster grower looks to expand

Tom Henderson has a lot more babies to take care of this year, what with the 4 million oyster spat he's raising. But at least he now has a couple of people to help with the child care.

Exxon agrees to pay interest on oil spill penalty

Exxon Mobil Corp. said Monday it won't appeal nearly $500 million in interest that a court recently ordered it to pay to Alaska fishermen, business owners and others harmed by the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill.

Southeast salmon fishery could be in the pink

The state is forecasting a catch of approximately 41 million pink salmon -- substantially larger than last year's all-species commercial harvest of 28.03 million salmon.

Commercial fisheries coverage

D.C. judge defends decision limiting halibut charter take

A federal judge who denied a request by Southeast charter operators for relief from a one-halibut daily bag limit says they are unlikely to succeed in their lawsuit to revoke the rule permanently.

Alaska has ready supply of feed for farmed fish

The United States is about to spend $50 million in stimulus money on fish food to help fish farmers hit by a 50 percent increase in feed prices last year.

Judge refuses to block new crab fishery in Southeast

A controversial new commercial fishery for Dungeness crab in Southeast Alaska is set to start today after a judge denied a request to block it.

First king salmon expected in Yukon, but limits imposed

State Fish and Game Department officials say the first pulse of king salmon heading up the Yukon River is expected anytime.

LAINE WELCH

Snow crab survey will decide limits

The summer survey of Bering Sea crab stocks just got under way, and a lot rides on the results. Notably, the data collected over the next two months will dictate if Alaska's snow crab catch will be slashed this winter.

Feds consider cuts in snow crab harvest to rebuild stock

A rebuilding plan for Bering Sea snow crab, valued at about $100 million in 2008, proposes to greatly reduce the recommended harvest for 2009-2010.

Platinum to get fish processing plant

A community development quota group representing 20 Southwest Alaska communities will open a new $35 million salmon processing facility in June in Platinum. The facility will be financed by the group's lucrative profits in Bering Sea pollock fisheries.

Villagers denounce Yukon king closures

In villages along the Lower Yukon River, people are waiting for chinook salmon to start returning in the coming weeks. The fish have long provided food and money in one of Alaska's most cash-poor regions.

Rural blog: The Village

LAINE WELCH

Ports find new lives for old nets

Recycling old fishing nets begins this summer at several Alaska fishing ports. Naknek, Dillingham, Petersburg and Cordova received funding via the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission for two years to jump-start net recycling projects.

'Deadliest Catch' skipper slams Pebble project

Perhaps the most famous crab boat captain in America -- in the spotlight because of his recurring role in the "Deadliest Catch" cable TV reality show -- has taken a public stand against the proposed Pebble mine.

'Deadliest Catch' crew says fishing isn't that glamorous

Complacency is deadly when crab fishing in the Bering Sea, said Russell Newberry, a deckhand on the fishing vessel Time Bandit.

Coast Guard delivers pumps to fishing boat in peril

A fishing vessel that began taking on water this morning was headed to port in Kodiak after the Coast Guard delivered it de-watering pumps.

LAINE WELCH

Fishing is fatal less frequently

On-the-job fatalities in the United States last year dipped 6 percent to 5,488 people. That rate of 3.7 per 100,000 workers was the lowest since the government started tracking those statistics in 1992. Improved safety standards and job losses nationwide get much of the credit.

Trident agrees to $112,000 fine

One of Alaska's biggest seafood processors has agreed to pay more than $112,000 for failing to properly report its storage of a toxic gas at three of its Alaska plants as well as at a Seattle plant.

Toxic gas storage nets seafood processor fine

One of Alaska's biggest seafood processors has agreed to pay more than $112,000 for failing to properly report its storage of a toxic gas at three of its Alaska plants as well as at a Seattle plant.