Commerical Fishing

Vessel's fishing trip interrupted for violations

A fishing vessel found to be in violation of safety procedures and illegally in possession of a shark fin on Monday was sent to port from its location about 30 miles northeast of Kodiak, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Commercial season opens today in Southeast for sea cucumbers

Divers are getting ready for the beginning of the commercial sea cucumber season in southeast Alaska with the lowest quota in several years.

Plan to split halibut catch approved

Federal regulators late Saturday approved a controversial plan to settle a long-running fish feud between commercial halibut fishermen and their charter boat rivals.

Blog: The Highliner

Two fleets battle over allocation of halibut catch

Federal fishery regulators meeting this week in Anchorage are trying again to end a 15-year battle between two competing fleets that hook halibut for a living.

LAINE WELCH

Two more regions will vote to join RSDA

More Alaska fishermen are proving that it pays to work together to enhance and promote their own seafood harvests. In 2005, the Legislature approved a unique concept that allows fishermen in 12 areas to form Regional Seafood Development Associations, and vote to fund them through a self-tax on their catches.

Alaska fishermen worry about industry's future

Alaska residents who attended a conference in Prince Rupert say they're concerned about the future of the fishing industry in their state.

Kodiak seeks more US funds for fishery observers

Kodiak officials are looking for additional federal funding to help pay for a costly fisheries observer program.

LAINE WELCH

Classes aim to aid fishing operators

Business savvy for fishermen. Alaska's fishing industry is made up primarily of thousands of small operators who could benefit from some business basics. Now they can get it for free, without leaving home.

DAVID M. REAUME

Seafood industry takes big hits from fuel costs

Now what do we do with the notion of sustainable economic development? With crude oil prices at about $100 per barrel and no analyst looking for a return to much below $70 to $80 per barrel, the once much-touted notion that Alaska should put the highest priority on "sustainable" economic development is taking it in the chops, or, should I say, in the gills.

Cold water rings dinner bell for West Coast salmon, other sea life

A federal oceanographer says a flip-flop in atmospheric conditions is generating a feast for salmon and other sea life off the West Coast, reversing a trend that contributed to a virtual shutdown of West Coast salmon fishing this summer.

LAINE WELCH

Fishermen close in on predicted catch numbers

It's been a nail-biter all summer, but latest counts indicate that Alaska's salmon catch will indeed come in on target. By Fridaythe statewide harvest topped 134 million fish, just shy of the preseason projection of 137 million salmon. And there is still lot of fishing left to go.

Kenai seafood plant agrees to pollution fine

A small Kenai seafood processor has agreed to pay a $38,000 penalty to settle allegations that it violated the federal Clean Water Act by polluting the Kenai River.

Long criticized, bottom trawling off-limits in parts of Bering Sea

Large portions of the Bering Sea off Alaska's coast will soon be off-limits to bottom trawling, in which fishing vessels drag huge, weighted nets across the ocean floor.

Fishing continues to be the deadliest livelihood in the US

KODIAK -- Commercial fishing is still America's most dangerous occupation, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's new annual report. In 2007, fishermen had the highest on-the-job death rate at nearly 112 per 100,000 workers -- 36 times greater than the rate for all other occupations. One-third (327) of all work-related deaths that took place in Alaska during 1990-2007 were fishermen.

LAINE WELCH

Alaska statehood is pinned to salmon industry

Next year marks Alaska's 50th anniversary as a state. Amidst all the hoopla, people are surprised to learn that it was salmon that spawned the push to statehood.

Salmon harvest figures down

Early harvest figures from wild salmon runs show an overall Alaska catch of 72.8 million fish, well below the overall forecast harvest of 132.5 million. Fishermen have had a good year for Bristol Bay sockeyes, a harvest in excess of 27 million, but preliminary figures show the statewide harvest of pink salmon at just under 23 million fish.

LAINE WELCH

Fishermen show little interest in dockside sales

Buying locally produced foods is becoming a national trend, but it hasn't made a dent at the local docks. In Kodiak, for example, fishermen seldom sell their catch directly to customers. Based on an informal survey, fishermen in other Alaska ports appear to have a similar disinterest in dockside fish sales.

Governor declares disaster from Interior flood waters

Damage assessments of hundreds of homes will move forward after Gov. Sarah Palin declared flooding across much of northern and Interior Alaska a disaster.

Previous flooding stories

Reader-submitted photos: Flooded Interior

LANIE WELCH

Seafood consumption takes a slight dip in US

Americans ate slightly less seafood last year, and their favorites have remained largely the same for nearly a decade.

Anti-Exxon shirts gain following

A store in Kasilof has started hawking T-shirts in response to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling favoring Exxon Mobil Corp. in the Valdez oil spill case.

LANIE WELCH

Colder water, weather may have cut salmon runs

Lackluster best describes Alaska's salmon season so far, and catches are likely to come up short when it's all over. Fishery managers projected a 132 million salmon harvest for 2007, but catches totaled just 66 million fish in late July, past the midpoint of the season.