The Coast Guard says a 50-foot fishing vessel capsized and sank while pulling in loaded salmon nets but another nearby boat rescued all five of the stricken vessel’s crew members.
Lt. Ryan Erickson says the Evening Star sank early Thursday about 40 miles northwest of Sitka, Alaska.
The boat went down in Slocum Arm in 300 feet of water with about 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel aboard. The fishing vessel Chickamene came to the rescue and took the Evening Star’s crew to Sitka.
Erickson says the Coast Guard is working with the vessel owner to deal with pollution and salvage the boat if possible.
Inspectors saw a sheen in the area Thursday afternoon, prompting the Alaska Fish and Game Department to announce an emergency closure of an active salmon fishery.
