Sorted by date Results 901 - 925 of 944
The Southeast Alaska 2012 season’s pink salmon catch was less than half of last year’s but a little higher than expected. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game predicted an all year harvest of 17 million and came in at around 20 million, 19 million of which were caught by the seine fleet. According to Fish and Game Commercial Fisheries Coordinator Biologist Bill Davidson, the runs have been coming in weak in the even years and strong in the odd since 2006 and this year is no exception to the historical rule. “We are a little above forec...
(Sitka) — The brown bear hunting season in Game Management Unit 4 (GMU 4) opens September 15, 2012. The season is scheduled to run through December 31, 2012. Hunters must obtain a locking big game tag, valid hunting license, and current registration permit (RB077) before hunting. The registration permit is valid for taking one (1) brown bear in GMU 4 which includes Admiralty, Baranof, and Chichagof Islands. In order to minimize the potential for closures by emergency order or a significant reduction in the 2013 spring hunts, the fall hunt w...
The U.S. Forest Service and Alaska Department of Fish & Game remind Southeast Alaskans to use extra caution when recreating outdoors at this time of year. A decrease in natural food sources leads to a greater likelihood of encounters between bears and humans. Rarely, these encounters can be aggressive. When in bear country, always be aware of your surroundings and keep pets under control. Avoid surprising a bear by being bear aware: be observant of bear sign and consider limited sight distances on trails. Remember to make noise while traveling...
Salmon season is winding down and it’s still a guess if the statewide catch will reach the 132 million fish forecast. Achieving that all comes down to those hard to predict pinks, whose catch makes up more than half of the total harvest. “I think it’s going to be close. It all depends on what happens with the pink salmon runs in the three major producing areas: Prince William Sound, Kodiak and Southeast,” said Geron Bruce, assistant director of the Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game’s commercial fisheries division. This summer a catch of 70.2 mill...
A joint resolution calling for the development of new fish hatcheries and releases was passed by Petersburg City Council Monday, July 16. This resolution was drafted by City and Borough of Wrangell Mayor Jeremy Maxand with several members of the fishing fleet. “There is a desire to see the development of a new hatchery in Southeast Alaska to expand the available number of fish for harvest, whether it be for commercial or sport fishing,” Maxand said. “We thought a joint resolution and letter from both Wrangell and Petersburg to the gover...
July 28, 1982 - Max Haube, Rose Haube and John Silva Sr. were given the honorary title of Parade Grand Marshals during the past 4th of July in Petersburg. The honor was fitting, as both men are considered pioneers in the Petersburg fishing industry. Born in 1885, John Silva recently celebrated his 97th birthday, allowing him to lay claim to being the oldest man in Petersburg. John came to Petersburg from Wrangell in 1918, and was employed by Alaska Glacier Seafood and P.F.I. for 38 years. His...
The OceansAlaska Marine Science Center has barely opened its doors and tiny oysters are already growing out at the new floating facility at George Inlet in Ketchikan. The 28-acre site was granted to the non-profit by the state and Ketchikan borough in 2006. The Center houses the first home grown source of oyster ‘seed’ for Alaska growers, and aims to be the go to place for mariculture research and training. There are 29 shellfish farms producing in Alaska so far in Southcentral and Southeast regions. The main crop is oysters, with sales val...
Petersburg is filled with fishermen, who spend much of the year fishing and don’t have the time or opportunity to voice concerns regarding the heavily-regulated industry. This is where organizations such as the Petersburg Vessel Owners Association (PVOA) come in. PVOA acts as the voice for these fishermen, and women, who represent a very diverse, multi-gear, multi-species industry. After six years, PVOA executive director Julianne Curry is leaving her position. Curry’s main responsibility at...
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish announced July 11, a closure to sport fishing in Blind Slough to ensure adequate brood stock collection at the Crystal Lake Hatchery (CLH) necessary for future releases of king salmon in the Petersburg area. The closure includes all waters of Blind Slough upstream of a line between Blind Point and Anchor Point, from Friday July 13 through Sunday August 5th, 2012. The king salmon regulations for the marine waters of the Wrangell Narrows Terminal Harvest Area (THA), will be the same...
WRANGELL — For patrons of Muskeg Meadows golf course, at least three fairways are interfering in their game – courtesy of the ubiquitous ravens seen throughout Wrangell Island. According to course co-manager Shannon Booker, flocks of up to 50 ravens at one time have been digging into the fairway looking for grubs and other insects on which to feed. The result has been a tremendous upheaval of grass leading to No. 3, 4 and 5 holes, as well as minor damage to every other hole except Nos. 1 and...
Senator Lisa Murkowski visited Petersburg Monday, July 2, and discussed issues and concerns in regards to fisheries. “I am here to listen to issues that impact your ability to make a living and raise a family here,” Murkowski said. “Give me your concerns on subjects that we need to work closer with you on.” Many of the members of this fishery centered round-table discussion made mention of a problem with the sea otter population. “Sea otters eat everything,” co-owner of Tonka Seafoods We...
ANCHORAGE (AP) — Poor king salmon returns have state biologists limiting fishing throughout Alaska and biologists have their eyes on the ocean as the problem. “We're in a period of low abundance and low returns, statewide, and whether it's from Southeast, Copper River, Cook Inlet, Kodiak, Nushagak, Yukon, we're just in this period of low productivity in the ocean,” said Ricky Gease, a biologist and director of the Kenai River Sportfishing Association. The widespread failure indicates the problem is not in freshwater, said biologist Tom Vania...
Local fisherman, Ed Wood, spied a bright yellow growth on one of the pilings at the minus tide of the North Harbor Thursday morning. “I went to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and brought Becky Knight to look at the growth,” Wood said. “While she was taking photos, I crawled down and got a sample of it with my knife.” One of the bigger fears of fishermen in these waters is the growth called Didemnum vexillum, also called D. vex, which was found in Sitka a few years ago. D. vex, also known...
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced last week the following information concerning the District 8 and District 11 drift gillnet fisheries: District 8: The second inseason estimate is projecting a terminal run size of 21,000 Stikine River Chinook salmon. This forecast is well below the preseason forecast and results in no U.S. allowable directed harvest. District 8 will remain closed until the start of the sockeye salmon fishing season. The sockeye salmon fishing season will begin in both Districts 6 and 8 on Monday, June 18, 2012....
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish announced that the liberalized king salmon sport fishing regulation that have been in effect in the salt waters of District 8 near Petersburg and Wrangell will be rescinded. As of Monday, June 4, the king salmon sport fishing regulations for the waters of District 8 will be the same as those in effect for the entire Southeast region. These regulations are as follows: Alaska Residents — The resident bag and possession limit is three king salmon; 28 inches or greater in length; N...
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced that the season for the commercial Dungeness crab fishery in Registration Area A (Southeastern Alaska) will open by regulation at 12:00 noon on Friday, June 15, 2012. The following information applies to the 2012/2013 commercial fishing season. Closed Waters: Regulatory closed waters are listed in 5 AAC 32.150. District 16 will be open to commercial fishing for Dungeness crab during the 2012/2013 fishing seasons. Permit holders intending to fish in District 16 are asked to contact Joe Stratman...
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish recently announced regulation changes for king salmon in Wrangell Narrows-Blind Slough Terminal Harvest Area (THA) from June 1 – July 31. The bag and possession limits for all anglers fishing in the THA is two king salmon 28 inches or greater in length and two king salmon less than 28 inches in length. The Wrangell Narrows-Blind Slough terminal harvest are near Petersburg is that portion of Wrangell Narrows north and east of the northern tip of Woewodski Island (56º 36’ N and 132º 5...
The 31st Annual Petersburg Chamber of Commerce King Salmon Derby gets underway this Friday morning at 7 a.m. The derby continues through the Memorial Day Weekend and ends Monday at 5 p.m. No tagged fish will be available for anglers this year however. Derby Committee member Doug Welde reported volunteers in as many as seven participating boats were unable to catch two King Salmon to tag on Wednesday morning near Frederick Point. The tagged fish could normally bring a derby angler a chance at $5,000 from Hammer and Wikan and the other could...
With spring upon us, and the weather slowly improving, more and more people will be heading outdoors to recreate. Undoubtedly, some people will come across baby animals that may appear to have been abandoned. Fish and Game would like to remind people that Alaska law prohibits the taking or holding of live animals (including birds) without a permit from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Late-May and early June is typically when deer give birth to fawns. Female deer do not always stay close to their fawns, particularly when humans approach....
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game recently announced that the lingcod sport fishing seasons, bag and possession limits, annual limits, and size limits have been established for the Northern Southeast Area. In this area the following regulations apply: Northern Southeast Area - Season: May 16 – November 30. Limits: Residents – 1 daily 2 in possession, no size limit. Nonresidents – 1 daily, 1 in possession, size limit: 30 inches or greater in length and less than 35 inches in length, or 55 inches or greater in length. An annual limit of 2...
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game recently announced that the lingcod sport fishing seasons, bag and possession limits, annual limits, and size limits have been established for the Southern Southeast Area. In this area the following regulations apply: Southern Southeast Area - Season: May 16 – November 30. Limits: Residents – 1 daily 2 in possession, no size limit. Nonresidents – 1 daily, 1 in possession, size limit: 30 inches or greater in length and less than 45 inches in length, or 55 inches or greater in length. An annual limit of 2...
KETCHIKAN (AP) — Southeast Alaska commercial fishermen have approved a $13 million plan to buy back 64 state permits for purse seine fishing to boost market conditions. The region's seine permit holders voted 215-54 in favor of the “capacity reduction program” aimed at improving the economic viability of the remaining 315 permit holders. They voted from March 30 to April 30 in a referendum conducted by the National Marine Fisheries Service. The buyback will be financed with a federal loan to be repaid over time by remaining permit holde...
May 5, 1982 - Many of the 61 nurses attending the Alaska Nurses Association convention held in Petersburg April 29-May 1 said it was one of the best conventions they had ever attended. During the three day meeting, Petersburg gained a representative on the association’s board of directors. Maxine Worhatch, a registered nurse at Petersburg General Hospital and a co-organizer of the convention, was appointed secretary of the board. Florence Bell of Petersburg was also honored at the convention for her service as a public health nurse at Kake. She...
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced Tuesday that the commercial golden (brown) king crab fishery in the Southern Area will close at 12:00 noon Friday, May 11, 2012. Based on an analysis of effort levels and harvest projections, the harvest as of the closure date is expected to reach the 20,000-pound GHL for the Southern Area. The department will continue to monitor golden king crab harvest levels in the remaining four open areas. A vessel may leave gear in a stored condition for five days after the closure of a portion of...
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Rocker and gun rights advocate Ted Nugent pleaded guilty to transporting a black bear he illegally killed in Alaska, saying he was sorry for unwittingly violating the law. “I would never knowingly break any game laws,” Nugent told the court on Tuesday. “I'm afraid I was blindsided by this, and I sincerely apologize to everyone for this.” With his plea, the singer and avid hunter followed through with a signed agreement he made with federal prosecutors earlier this month. Magistrate Judge Michael Thompson accepted...
