Commercial salmon fishermen are now barred from using aircraft to spot salmon when the fishery is open. The 4-3 action brought opposition from the seine fleet and, predictably, commercial pilots.
Southeast
CoastAlaska soon to own KSTK to keep radio station alive
The Southeast public radio consortium CoastAlaska will acquire Wrangell station KSTK. The move is an effort by both parties to keep the station healthy in the face of increased funding challenges on both the state and national level.
Southeast salmon seiner forfeits boat for creek robbing
Curtiss Demmert, 32, was sentenced Jan. 10. He must pay a $32,728.79 fine and received 180 days of suspended jail time. He also has to forfeit to the state the Tlingit Lady, skiff, nets, fishing gear and electronics along with the money from that catch.
Decision on Southeast Alaska king salmon looms
Alaska Board of Fisheries has put off a decision on king salmon action plans until Friday at the earliest. The decision making body has been hearing testimony from fishermen and other concerned citizens all week at its meeting in Sitka.
State senators slam additional Medicaid costs
Budget director Pat Pitney notes spending increased health care access, strengthened health care industry.
Among 100-plus proposals, Sitka’s sac roe herring fishery a top issue
With its waters visible outside the window of Harrigan Centennial Hall, Sitka Sound, the site of the Sitka sac roe herring fishery, is one of the biggest battles this cycle.
Alaska Board of Fisheries navigates ‘uncharted territory’ for Southeast’s king salmon
The Alaska Board of Fisheries is tasked with balancing conservation of king salmon with the livelihood of fishermen. Dwindling king salmon runs have triggered it as a “stock of concern” in several major Southeast river systems and major closures are being considered.
Southeast Alaska squid fishery shot down
Declining king salmon stocks are playing a role in the Alaska’s Board of Fisheries decisions for other commercial fisheries. On Sunday, the board voted down a proposal for a new fishery in Southeast Alaska for market squid.
With two Juneau judges retiring, court system seeks change to relieve bottleneck
Juneau District Court Judge Thomas Nave and Juneau Superior Court Judge Louis Menendez are both retiring on June 29.
Haines keeps title of oldest borough in Alaska
If the old adage with “age comes wisdom” is true, then on average, Haines is the wisest of Alaska’s boroughs. The state released 2017 data on population this week. Haines retained its superlative status as the oldest borough.