The waiver of the Jones Act which allows Finland to construct four Arctic Security Cutters for the U.S. Coast Guard represents a significant point at which Arctic geopolitics, fishing rights, and maritime policy intersect. This crucial decision highlights the challenges arising from longstanding protective laws and the conditions presented by…
Articles Posted in Maritime News
Dozens Rescued from Flooded Alaska Villages
The U.S. Coast Guard is leading extensive search and rescue operations in two rural Alaska communities that have been devastated by severe flooding, with dozens already rescued and efforts continuing to locate three missing residents. U.S. Coast Guard crews from Air Station Kodiak have successfully rescued 34 people from the…
Alaska Crab Fisheries Show Signs of Recovery
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) delivered good news to the commercial fishing industry on Monday, October 6, 2025, when it was announced that it is nearly doubling the allowable harvest for the upcoming Bering Sea snow crab commercial fishing season. The increase marks a turning point for…
Tugboat Dominion Sinks in Bremerton Marina Prompting Major Environmental Response
The 130-foot TB DOMINION sank in Bremerton Marina on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, prompting an environmental response that has continued all week as crews work to contain diesel fuel contamination and assess ecological effects. The Washington State Department of Ecology was notified of the sinking on Wednesday afternoon, and the…
Alaska Opens Pacific Tuna Harvesting as Warm Waters Bring Opportunity
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) has launched a new commercial fishing opportunity in Southeast Alaska waters, issuing commissioner’s permits for Pacific tuna harvesting in response to unusual conditions that have drawn these warm-water species into the eastern Gulf of Alaska. Commercial harvesters can now obtain the specialized…
Coast Guard Suspends Search for Two Missing Individuals After Vessel Capsizes Near Gold Beach
The U.S. Coast Guard has ended its search for two individuals who were reported missing after a motorized catamaran capsized on Sunday night near Gold Beach, Oregon. A third individual present on the catamaran was rescued and taken to Gold Beach for medical assessment by local emergency services. Reports indicated…
Coast Guard Suspends Search for Missing Fisherman
The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search Wednesday afternoon for prominent West Coast fisherman Joel William Kawahara, recipient of the 2009 National Fishermen’s Highliner of the Year Award. Mr. Kawahara disappeared while fishing alone off the coasts of Oregon and Washington. The extensive search covered more than 2,100 square miles…
Coast Guard Announces Suspension of Search for Missing Crew Member Near Newport, Oregon
The U.S. Coast Guard has officially suspended its search efforts for the missing fisherman off the coast of Newport, Oregon. At 4 p.m. Sunday, August 10th, 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard was notified that the 40-foot F/V DAS BUG had capsized in Yaquina Bay Jetty with four people aboard. A…
Joint Medevac 180 Miles West of Astoria, Oregon
On Thursday, July 24, 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard medevaced a Canadian fisherman from his vessel approximately 180 miles off the coast of Astoria, Oregon. The rescue operation began shortly after 1 a.m. when the Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Victoria, British Columbia, received an emergency call about a crew…
New State Funding Boosts Alaska Seafood Workforce Development
Alaska’s seafood industry is getting a significant boost in workforce development thanks to new state funding through the Technical and Vocational Education Program (TVEP). This initiative supports five key programs for both seafood harvesters and processors. For processors, the Alaska Seafood School will offer three programs focusing on crucial areas:…