Fish Radio: Chinook salmon research funding is in AK capital budget

I’m Laine Welch … There is funding for Alaska Chinook salmon research after all.

Tongass official explains importance of wild salmon

The Tongass National Forest is a globally significant source of wild salmon and efforts should be made to preserve that resource, the forest’s fish program manager said at a “Lunch and Learn” presentation at the Alaska State Capitol Thursday.

Ron Medel said that while non-wild salmon may outsell wild salmon, salmon that hatch in and return to the wild as part of their natural life cycle carry significant commercial, cultural and ecological value.

Sitka herring closes as co-op yields 250 tons

The Sitka Sound sac roe herring season is over.

The Alaska Department of Fish & Game announced the closure Thursday morning. After three competitive openings, the seine fleet captured just under half the 11,549 tons it was hoping for.

Spawning happened quickly in Sitka Sound. As of Thursday morning, about 44 nautical miles of spawn were visible in Sitka Sound.

Homer News updates on Sitka herring, crab research and the BOF

The Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery got underway last week with two openings March 27 and 28 that scooped up nearly half of the 11,549-ton quota.

The two openings combined produced a catch of 5,700 tons of very ripe, “excellent quality” herring, with roe counts averaging between 12.3 and 15.9 percent.

The fleet of 48 seine boats took some time off to allow processors to catch up, but then were given another opportunity March 30. 

Senator Begich outlines fishery issues in Congress

“Catch shares will always come up, observers still a big concern, and I think some of Alaskans are bringing to the forefront...the new technology and the lack of use of technology by NOAA. We’ll talk about warming of the waters, acidification, and then of course ocean policy you know, the whole idea that the White House wants to zone the ocean.”

Laine: Not much excitement as halibut opens

Most of the first fish landed goes to Homer, Kodiak and Petersburg and processors there said there wasn’t “the usual chatter” and none said they had a feel for what’s going to happen yet with prices. Lots of halibut remains in the freezers and some major processors had reportedly unloaded the high priced fish at a loss.

Southeast fishermen lobby for stricter salmon habitat

The Tongass National Forest, the nation’s largest, stretches 500 miles along the southeast panhandle. And it’s part of one of the world’s most productive salmon fisheries.

Company explores wave energy power at Yakutat

The community of Yakutat is trying to turn ocean waves into a source of renewable energy.

Frankenfish resolution introduced in Juneau

The preliminary decision last month to allow a genetically modified salmon to be sold as food has prompted widespread opposition in Alaska. Now the Alaska Legislature is being asked to weigh in on the issue. KDLG's Mike Mason explains.

Coast Guard terminates fishing vessel voyage near Sitka, Alaska

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Naushon terminated the voyage of the fishing vessel Snark near Sitka after discovering several safety issues aboard the vessel Friday.