Washington State

Published on: March 3, 2025

Imposter Hijacks $8 Million Fishing Vessel with Crew Aboard

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 steered it into the Grays Harbor bar before the crew realized something was very wrong.

WDFW Sergeant Alexander, who was on patrol at the time, overheard a radio call about a “vehicle theft” in progress. However, the stolen vehicle in question wasn’t a car or motorcycle, but a full-scale fishing vessel.

Published on: November 12, 2024

Invasive European Green Crab Threatens West Coast Ecosystems

by Joseph Stacey

The European green crab, a small but vicious predator, has been making its presence known on the West Coast of North America and wreaking havoc on native ecosystems. Native to the coastlines of Europe and northern Africa, the green crab has spread to coastlines around the world, from Australia to South Africa, and now to the western United States. With alarming impact, these predators have been nicknamed “cockroaches of the sea”. Having reached Alaska, they may pose a new threat to salmon populations.

“I worry about the salmonids,” says Tammy Davis, Invasive Species Program coordinator at the Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game (ADF&G). “I don’t have any evidence that they are competing for food at certain life stages, but the green crabs tear up the eelgrass that provides vital habitat for juvenile salmon and their prey, and in an already stressed ecosystem, having another stressor can affect the whole food web.”

“In Southeast Alaska, we have an estimated 19,000 miles of coastline and much of it is suitable habitat for green crabs.” She adds that many of the islands and passages of the Southeast archipelago have estuaries with eelgrass meadows protected from heavy surf, providing food and protection for green crabs.

Published on: October 22, 2024

Coast Guard Rescues 5 from Tug Luther After Loss of Steering

by Joseph Stacey

A dramatic maritime rescue took place off the coast of La Push, Washington, on Friday, October 18^th, 2024, as U.S. Coast Guard and commercial tug crews worked urgently to prevent the 130-foot tug LUTHER from running aground after it lost steering in stormy seas.

At approximately 4:10 p.m. the tug LUTHER was towing a loaded cement barge when the vessel suffered a steering malfunction 10 miles offshore. The crew immediately sent a distress call to the U.S. Coast Guard.

“We’re getting our butts kicked,” the LUTHER captain can be heard saying over the radio as crews fought to save the vessel amid the harsh conditions. Readers can listen to the distress call at U.S. Coast Guard.

Published on: October 1, 2024

Bycatch of Nearly 20,000 Chinook Salmon Shuts Down Alaska Pollock Fishery

by Joseph Stacey

Nearly 20,000 Chinook salmon were accidentally caught as bycatch in the Gulf of Alaska’s pollock fishery, forcing an early closure and igniting outrage among scientists studying endangered southern resident orcas and advocates for wild salmon. Chinook salmon, highly prized for their size and nutritional value, are a critical food source for the southern resident orcas that frequent the Salish Sea.

Although genetic testing of the caught Chinook has not yet been completed, it is highly likely that fish from Washington’s rivers were among those captured. Pollock, a white fish commonly used in products like fish sticks and fast-food sandwiches, was the intended target of the fishing operation.

The shutdown came after just two fishing vessels surpassed the allowable bycatch limit during the weekend of September 21-22. According to Julie Fair, a spokesperson for the Alaska region of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the boats were monitored by either onboard human observers or cameras. Starting next year, the entire fleet will be subjected to this level of monitoring.

Published on: January 10, 2023

Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo Approves Disaster Declarations for Alaska and Washington

by Joseph Stacey

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced on December 16^th, 2022, the approval of multiple Alaska and Washington fishery disaster requests. This approval is based on data submitted by states and/or local tribes.

“America’s fisheries are a critical part of our national economy and directly impact our local communities when disasters occur,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “These determinations are a way to assist those fishing communities with financial relief to mitigate impacts, restore fisheries and help prevent future disasters.”

Under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) and the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act (IFA) (learn more here), the following fisheries meet the criteria for a fishery disaster determination:

Published on: January 8, 2019

Westport Washington Marina Ranked 11th in the Nation

by Joseph Stacey

Westport_Marina In a recent report published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Westport Marina in Washington State was ranked 11th for national seafood landings in 2017. More than 250 commercial fishing vessels make use of the marina each year, landing over $64 million in seafood. This equates to roughly 150 million pounds of salmon, crab, hake, and other species each year.

“We are incredibly proud of the hundreds of commercial fishermen that utilize and depend on the Marina’s facilities and services for their livelihood,” said Westport Marina Business Manager Molly Bold. “Projects planned for 2019 will continue to improve the infrastructure our fishing industry needs to thrive.”

In first place for volume was Dutch Harbor Alaska, which for the 21st year in a row maintained their first-place status with approximately 769 million pounds of seafood landed. The total U.S. harvest for 2017 is estimated at 9.9 billion pounds of fish and shellfish.

Published on: March 6, 2018

Atlantic Salmon Farming Banned in Washington State

by Joseph Stacey

The Washington State Senate has voted 31-16 to ban all new Atlantic salmon farming in the state and phase out net pen farming by 2025. The phasing out plan will happen gradually as existing aquatic leases expire. This is an update to a post dated August 29, 2017, when we reported that a net pen breach was discovered after Lummi fishers began catching rouge Atlantic salmon along with indigenous Chinook salmon. It was estimated that over 250,000 Atlantic salmon escaped into the Salish Sea.

Initially, Cooke Aquaculture, the owner of the pens, reported that the net pen breach was due to the solar eclipse and high tides. However, after a four-month investigation by three state agencies, it was found that the escape was due to poor maintenance and negligence. At the time of the breach, Hilary Franz, Commissioner of Public Lands, had already terminated two leases with Cooke at Cypress Island and Port Angeles due to violations of their lease agreement.

“The state ban is a strong stance to ensure the protection of our marine environment and native salmon populations in the Salish Sea,” said Senator Kevin Ranker. “We have invested far too much in the restoration of our Salish Sea. The economic, cultural, and recreational resources of these incredible waters will no longer be jeopardized by the negligent actions of this industry.”

Published on: February 3, 2018

Five Fishermen Rescued in Washington State

by Joseph Stacey

Five fishermen were rescued by the US Coast Guard after their vessel began taking on water west of Cape Alava, Washington.

Watchstanders were alerted to the situation on Wednesday, January 31^st at 1:15 p.m. The 87-foot F/V Sunnfjord was taking on water, however, dewatering pumps were unable to keep up with the rising water. Good Samaritan vessels Island Voyager and Equinox responded to the distress call in addition to Coast Guard cutters Cuttyhunk and Swordfish. An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station/Sector Field Office Port Angeles, a Motor Life Boat from Station Quillayute River, and a Motor Life Boat from Station Neah Bay were also part of the response team. Watch the video of this heroic rescue.

As the water rose in the engine room, fishermen donned survival suits and life jackets. The helicopter crew initially planned to pick up and deliverer another dewatering pump, but as the situation grew dire, they refueled at Neah Bay then traveled directly to the F/V Sunnfjord.

Published on: August 28, 2017

Teen Involved with Sailing Class in Critical Condition After Boating Mishap off Magnuson Park

by Joseph Stacey

The Seattle Fire Department was called to Magnuson Park this morning after receiving word that a 17-year-old boy had gone underwater. Spokeswoman Kristin Tinsley reported that a water rescue team arrived at the 7800 block of 62^nd Avenue Northeast around 9:33 am.

Tinsley said that the teen had been taking a class at Sail Sand Point when some sort of mishap caused him to go underwater. Several people involved with the class as well as a responding police officer worked to pull the teen from the water just before the fire department arrived.

He was taken to Seattle Children’s Hospital in critical condition after spending six minutes underwater.

Published on: July 27, 2017

Scuba Diver Who Died in Hood Canal Identified

by Joseph Stacey

The Mason County Coroner’s office have released the name of a scuba diver who died this past Saturday in Washington state’s Hood Canal.

Joshua Michael Parke of The Balles, Oregon, was on a training dive in the Sund Rock Conservation area near Hoodsport, Washington.

Officials say that Parke, age 36, went unconscious shortly after surfacing with his dive partner.