Some 927 whale sightings were reported by Alaska cruise lines this year.
Tourism
In new lawsuit, Alaska attempts to claim portions of Mendenhall Lake and River
The lake is currently under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service, and a successful lawsuit could bring significant changes. For example, motorboats and (in winter) snowmachines are barred from the lake.
Study looks at the return of tourism’s impact on whale stress levels
In 2022, tourism was almost back to pre-pandemic levels, so samples taken this year will show the difference in the whale’s stress levels when there are and aren’t boats in the water all summer.
Skagway’s plans for large cruise ships at Ore Dock may be scrapped
Skagway’s hopes of berthing up to four cruise ships a day in 2023 took a full step backward this week as results from a simulation project steered at least one major cruise line company away from agreeing to use a reconfigured dock.
Cruise season ends in Juneau, with an estimated 1.15 million passengers
That would represent about 74% of the capacity for all the ships that sailed to Juneau this year.
Skagway Assembly adopts short-term fix for dangerous rockslides above cruise ship dock
Seattle-based geotechnical engineering firm Shannon and Wilson have developed two different mitigation proposals for Skagway’s large rockslide chute