In an unprecedented response to historically low numbers of Pacific cod, the federal cod fishery in the Gulf of Alaska is closing for the 2020 season.
Fisheries
Salmon returns are down in Metlakatla. These junior scientists are discovering possible reasons why.
With warmer conditions, there’s less dissolved oxygen in the water. Salmon can have a tougher chance at survival.
Southeast Alaska fisherman pleads guilty to illegally harvesting $35,000 worth of sea cucumbers
In 2018, Jonathan McGraw Jr. and two others were charged with illegally fishing in a scientific preserve near Whale Pass.
Push to grow Alaska’s mariculture includes new how-to training for budding seaweed farmers
The training is geared toward those in commercial fishing, tribal organizations or other coastal residents.
Federal Gulf cod fishery likely to close as warming waters push cod numbers to lowest on record
It’s difficult to find Kodiak fishermen still planning to fish the upcoming season — most have moved on to other fish, new waters, and even different lines of work.
The forecast for Bristol Bay reds is stronger than ever, but some worry about when the bubble bursts
At 62.3 million fish, 2018 broke the record for Bristol Bay’s largest run ever recorded. Biologists say that abundance won’t last.
Solutions sought to ease conflicts over Southeast Alaska’s rising sea otter populations
Sea otters are rapidly recolonizing Southeast Alaska. But that wildlife success story breeds challenges as they compete with commercial fishermen.
Increase in observer fees has people in the fishing industry questioning how their dollars are being spent
Observer fees are going up for Alaska fishermen and processors. In Kodiak, fishermen aren’t too worried about the modest increase, but some would like to see improvements made to the decades-old program.
Alaska mariners raise concerns about Coast Guard’s emergency radio outages
The VHF radio outages are affecting Prince William Sound all the way down to Sitka and other Southeast Alaska communities.
Coast Guard weighs dropping radio-based NAVTEX system to communicate with mariners
But mariners are urging Coast Guard officials to keep the free, low-tech service rather than switch over to subscription-based satellites.