Economy

Commercial salmon trollers in Southeast Alaska are tied up to the dock this month after a shortened winter season, closed early because of conservation concerns for king salmon stocks. They’ll be getting only a limited shot at fishing around hatchery king runs this spring and are feeling the impact of fishing restrictions.

The Senate Finance Committee draft budget would cut $98 million to fund the operations of state government from the House’s version of the budget.

Alyeska Pipeline Service Company is bringing on Edison Chouest as a new contractor responsible for oil spill prevention and response. The switch has drawn scrutiny and criticism. So Alyeska is trying hard to reassure Alaskans that Prince William Sound — the site of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill — will be safer than ever before.

Alaska officials have no plans to convert state ferries to electrical power. But they’re installing engines that could use natural gas as well as diesel.

The Sitka sac roe herring fishery has shut down early this year, falling 8,330 tons short of this year’s guideline harvest level. This is the fourth time in six years the herring fishery has shut down before meeting the quota. 

It’s the third time in seven years that the hatchery application has failed in the bay, all submitted by the same Juneau man.

Hydro One makes 39 binding commitments covering corporate independence for AEL&P and assurances over its assets and transparency on how it operates in a 22-page joint-agreement.

The Kodiak Electric Association is expanding hydropower capacity, and offering an incentive to the borough to make the shift to electric heat.

For years Alaskans have been among the few reliable customers for Blockbuster. Now, even here, the once ubiquitous video store brand is fading.