Articles Posted in Alaska

Published on:

NomeAlaskaUSCG-300x186A single-engine turboprop Cessna Caravan, operated by Bering Air, was en route from Unalakleet to Nome on Thursday February 6th, 2025, when it vanished from radar. It was a regularly scheduled commuter flight. The aircraft went missing about 30 miles southeast of Nome, with contact lost less than an hour after departure.

The aircraft “experienced some kind of event which caused them to experience a rapid loss in elevation and a rapid loss in speed” said U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Commander Benjamin McIntyre-Coble in a statement.

Search efforts intensified on Friday, with rescuers locating the wreckage after an extensive operation involving local, state, and federal agencies. The plane was found by helicopter, and crews began racing to recover the wreckage and the remains of the victims on Saturday, braving anticipated snow and high winds.

Published on:

Alaska_fishermen_working_with_net-300x225In response to mounting economic challenges within Alaska’s seafood sector, the Joint Legislative Task Force Evaluating Alaska’s Seafood Industry has released a preliminary report. The report identifies critical issues affecting the industry and proposes policy recommendations to address them.

Key Challenges Identified

The task force report highlights several pressing challenges:

Published on:

UnalaskaAlaska-300x202On Thursday, January 23, 2025, the 78-foot F/V NORTHERN ENDURANCE ran aground near Little Priest Rock, approximately three miles from Unalaska.

The City of Unalaska Fire Department initially arrived on the scene, then relinquished control of the situation to U.S. Coast Guard’s Marine Safety Unit. A representative from the Fire Department confirmed that the vessel’s captain had assured authorities that all crew members were unharmed, and there were no immediate environmental hazards to report.

The following morning, Resolve Marine, a local salvage operation, was successful in freeing the F/V NORTHERN ENDURANCE, according to Lt. Lawrence Schalles, who heads the U.S. Coast Guard’s Marine Safety Unit in Unalaska. The vessel has been secured near Unalaska’s spit for a thorough inspection.

Published on:

Coast-Guard-Hoisting3-300x212Watchstanders at the 17th Coast Guard District Command Center received a distress alert from the fishing vessel emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) at 9:48 a.m. on Wednesday, January 15th from the F/V TANUSHA near Kodiak.

A helicopter aircrew was launched from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak and requested assistance from the Alaska State Troopers. The watchstanders also made attempts to contact vessels near the location of the distress signal via radio, but the two crewmembers abandoned ship after the F/V TANUSHA began taking on water approximately 23 miles southeast of Kodiak.

Crewmembers aboard the F/V VICTORY received the request for assistance and navigated toward the last known location of the distressed vessel and found the two fishermen in a life raft. The F/V TANUSHA had capsized.

Published on:

Alaska_Trawler-300x200Alaska’s trawl fisheries report they are facing critiques from groups that some industry leaders call “radical organizations funded by out-of-state interests.” Often focused on environmental concerns and fishing methods, these groups have sparked a heated debate about the future of Alaska’s most productive fisheries.

Trawling, a method used by most fishery landings in Alaska and across the United States, plays a critical role in Alaska’s coastal communities and the seafood industry. Yet, some activist groups are seeking to ban trawling, threatening not only the livelihoods of thousands but also the availability of wild, healthful, sustainable seafood enjoyed across the country.

A recent article published in the Alaska Beacon offers a defense of the trawl industry. The editorial was written by four seasoned Alaskan fishermen with decades of experience. Sam Wright, a 30-year veteran of Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska fisheries; Dan Carney, a farmer, homesteader, and 43-year Bering Sea survivor; Jason Chandler, a lifelong Kodiak resident; and Kiley Thomson, a 32-year resident of Sand Point, united to address misconceptions and misinformation surrounding Alaska’s fisheries.

Published on:

King-Cove-AK-300x187The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that PSF, Inc., formerly known as Peter Pan Seafood, has paid a $750,000 penalty for violating state and federal Clean Water Act permit requirements. These violations relate to seafood processing waste discharge limits designed to protect the marine environment.

The violations occurred at two seafood processing facilities located in Valdez and King Cove, Alaska. At the Valdez facility, PSF and Peter Pan Seafood discharged seafood waste beyond the permitted one-acre “zone of deposit”—an area where seafood processors are allowed to accumulate waste under specific conditions. Instead, a significantly larger seafood waste pile formed on the seafloor, impacting the local marine ecosystem. The Valdez facility is now owned and operated by Silver Bay Seafoods.

At the King Cove facility, PSF and Peter Pan Seafood discharged waste from a broken outfall system and at an incorrect depth, among other permit violations. These issues highlight the importance of maintaining infrastructure and adhering to established environmental regulations.

Published on:

Alaska1200x630-300x158Alaska’s commercial salmon fishery experienced significant setbacks in 2024, with double-digit declines in both catch numbers and market value. According to preliminary figures released by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), just over 101 million salmon were harvested across the state. This represents a 56% decrease compared to the more than 232 million salmon caught in 2023, marking one of the most dramatic year-over-year declines in recent history.

The decline in harvest volumes has been accompanied by a sharp drop in the fishery’s overall value. Fishermen collectively earned $304 million in 2024, down nearly 24% from the $398 million recorded in 2023. These figures underscore the economic challenges faced by Alaska’s fishing communities, many of which are heavily reliant on the health of the state’s salmon industry.

“Market conditions significantly impacted the pricing of salmon statewide and, consequently, the value of the harvest,” ADF&G noted in its summary.

Published on:

Ocean_Waves-300x173The icy waters off Alaska proved unforgiving early Monday morning as a tragic chapter unfolded. The F/V WIND WALKER, a 50-foot commercial vessel, capsized near Point Couverden, southwest of Juneau, leaving five crew members unaccounted for and a community dealing with grief and unanswered questions.

The U.S. Coast Guard first received a distress call at 12:10 a.m. on Sunday, December 1st, 2024. The urgent Mayday message conveyed a grim situation, as the vessel was overturning amid heavy snow, 60 mph winds, and six-foot seas. Attempts to gather more details were met with silence. Shortly after the call, an emergency beacon confirmed the distress signal from the waters of the Icy Strait.

The U.S. Coast Guard launched a large-scale search and rescue operation involving an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, a 45-foot response boat, and additional resources. Crews braved harsh conditions and searched over 108 square nautical miles. Despite their efforts, no sign of the crew was found. The search was suspended Monday morning, pending new information.

Published on:

King-Cove-AK-300x187The Pacific Marine Expo has been held in Seattle for more than 50 years, and the 2024 Expo (which ran from November 20th to the 22nd at Lumen Field Event Center) did not disappoint. One of the featured sessions focused on King Cove, Alaska, and the history surrounding this beautiful place.

The story of King Cove, one of southwest Alaska’s oldest and most vital fishing hubs, is as compelling as the waters the fleet has sailed for over a century. Through vivid photographs, detailed charts, and insightful graphs, the presentation celebrated this community while addressing the challenges threatening its future.

But this isn’t just about honoring the past—it’s about tackling a harsh new reality. King Cove finds itself at a crossroads, facing a series of economic and industry shifts that have left the town anxious. The presentation explored key factors disrupting the community, including:

Published on:

Halibut-processing-plant-Alaska-300x200A recent legal battle between the Groundfish Forum, representing the interests of Alaska’s flatfish fishing sector, and the U.S. government over new halibut bycatch regulations ended in favor of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). In a ruling delivered by U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason, the court upheld Amendment 123, a decision that reinforces the government’s approach to managing halibut bycatch in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) fisheries. This case is an example of the tension between regulatory bodies, conservationists, and the fishing industry regarding sustainable practices in one of the world’s most economically valuable fishing zones.

The Alaska flatfish fishing industry, especially its bottom trawling sector, plays a substantial role in the BSAI region. However, the industry has long faced scrutiny over halibut bycatch. Limits have traditionally been a source of contention due to their direct effect on fishery profits and the need to protect halibut stocks, a critical species for commercial, recreational, and subsistence fishers.

“CBSFA has worked for nearly a decade to have the management of halibut bycatch changed to be more responsive to changes in the health of the halibut resource – to be abundance-based – and now we finally have closure,” said CBSFA President Ray Melovidov in response to the ruling.

Contact Information