The maritime industry in Washington state, particularly within the Puget Sound region, is a thriving sector that offers diverse career opportunities both on shore and at sea. This part of the state’s economy contributed more than $45.9 billion in 2022 and provided more than 174,300 jobs. These maritime professions are…
House Bill 116 is currently under consideration by the Alaska State Senate, representing a potential turning point for the state’s commercial fishing industry. This legislation would authorize Alaskan fishermen to form their own insurance cooperatives, which would lower operating costs and ensure the financial stability of smaller operators facing increasingly…
The sinking of the 68-foot fishing vessel F/V CAPTAIN RALEIGH near Grays Harbor, Washington, has sent a wave of grief through Pacific Northwest fishing communities. The tragic incident has left Newport captain Jon Stevenson, a seasoned mariner, missing. In the wake of this devastating event, an outpouring of support for…
After nearly a decade, commercial fishermen in northern California are once again permitted to harvest rock crab. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has announced the reopening of the commercial fishery along the coast from the California Oregon border south to the north jetty of Humboldt Bay. This…
Commercial fishing is undeniably tough work that demands resilience through long hours, hard physical labor, and often isolating periods in some of nature’s most challenging environments. It’s understandable that the combination of these physical and mental demands can create pressure for people who work at sea. This post highlights the…
Every April 6th marks “406 Day,” a nationwide effort led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to educate mariners about Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs). EPIRBs are critical life-saving devices that send out distress signals to rescue teams when someone is in danger on the water. EPIRBs…
On March 26, 2025, an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sitka successfully conducted a medevac of a 37-year-old woman experiencing a medical emergency in Sitka Sound, Alaska. The woman, who was aboard the fishing vessel NEKTON, required immediate medical attention. The aircrew responded swiftly to…
In a ceremony celebrating nearly four decades of service, the U.S. Coast Guard officially decommissioned the Cutter NAUSHON on Friday March 21st, 2025, in Homer, Alaska. Presiding over the event was Rear Adm. Megan Dean, Commander of U.S. Coast Guard District 17, who honored the vessel’s long standing commitment and…
In a highly unusual maritime theft, an imposter successfully took control of an 80-foot commercial fishing vessel in Westport, Washington while the crew was still aboard. According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Police, the imposter hijacked the F/V JAMIE MARIE, an $8 million groundfish vessel, and…
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy has introduced a bill that could mark a significant shift in the state’s approach to aquaculture by legalizing finfish farming in controlled environments. The proposed legislation, House Bill 111 (HB 111), would authorize closed-system finfish farms, ending Alaska’s longstanding ban on the practice. Currently, Alaska prohibits…
