Former state Sen. Albert Kookesh and three friends are contesting the Alaska Department of Fish & Game’s authority to unilaterally set subsistence bag limits.
Fisheries
Bill to eliminate Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission clears first hurdle
Anchorage Rep. Charisse Millett says she’s not out to destroy the agency.
Fish and Game says it could absorb CFEC
“The department believes that we could make this work without service degradation to commercial fishermen,” says ADF&G’s Kevin Brooks.
Young introduces bill to reauthorize Magnuson-Stevens Act
Alaska Congressman Don Young has introduced a bill to reauthorize the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the nation’s primary law governing fishing in federal waters.
Feds OK to process visas for roe technicians
The federal government can once again continue processing H-2b visas, the program that traditionally allows foreign roe technicians to work in Alaska seafood plants.
New Tongass chief from Southwest U.S.
Earl Stewart will take over as Tongass forest supervisor in May. He’s moving up from Arizona, where he’s in charge of the Coconino National Forest.
Petersburg processor tries to break into foreign shrimp markets
The state’s first shrimp plant started there in 1916, but the market ceased being profitable and the last plant closed down ten years ago.
Drones don’t fly at Alaska’s Board of Fish
The Board also rejected the proposed ban on spotter planes.
Lowly no more, chum salmon center stage in allocation dispute
Southeast trollers want to see an increase in their share of hatchery-produced chum salmon.
State considers B.C. mines as promoters plan visit
A new Walker-Mallott administration working group is addressing British Columbia’s mining boom near its border with Alaska. But the group is not ready to take the stands mine critics hope for.