Sorted by date Results 926 - 944 of 944
April 7, 1982 - The Alaska Department of Fish and Game reported that 4,260 tons of herring were harvested from the waters of Sitka Sound adjacent to Halibut Point Road during the March 30 fishery which lasted from noon to 6:10 p.m. Although Petersburg fisheries was not disclosing the poundage of roe herring it is handling from the Sitka fishery, area manager Rick Dutton reports that “we did fine.” A harvest guideline of approximately 3,000 tons of herring was established for the 1982 fis...
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced April 12 that the Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery closed for the remainder of the 2012 season. The total harvest is approximately 13,534 tons or 47% of this season’s guideline harvest level of 28,829 tons. The decision to close the fishery was based on the completion of major spawning in Sitka Sound, and vessel and aerial surveys conducted over the last several days have not identified a biomass of pre-spawning herring in the Sitka Sound area at this time. The preliminary harvest by o...
The Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game Basic Hunter Education (HE) courses provide training in firearms safety, and wildlife conservation as well as respect for natural resources, landowners, and other hunters. Graduates receive lifetime certification recognized by all states, Canadian provinces and Mexico. Conclusive evidence shows that the HE course has dramatically reduced hunting related firearms accidents - up to 75% in some states - and has brought about positive change in hunter skills,...
Hello again from the Legislature. Now that we’re down to the last two weeks of session, the pace is really picking up and the hours getting longer. I was very pleased that my resolution to recreate the state’s dedicated transportation fund received approval of the House on Friday. House Joint Resolution 4 would put a constitutional amendment before the voters in November to amend the Alaska Constitution - reinstating a dedicated Alaska Transportation Infrastructure Fund (ATIF). As the state’s po...
On Monday, April 2, the Sitka Sound herring sac roe fishery was opened in the northwest portion of Sitka Sound and brought in an estimated catch of 5,610 tons. The fishery opened at 11:30 a.m. and closed at 4:40 p.m. The preliminary harvest for the first opening on March 31 is 4,730 tons for a total harvest this season of 10,440 tons. This leaves approximately 18,390 tons remaining of this year’s guideline harvest level of 28,829 tons, according to a release from the Alaska Dept. of Fish and G...
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game sport fishing regulations for king (Chinook) salmon in Southeast Alaska and Yakutat from 12:01 A.M. Friday, March 30, 2012 through 11:59 P.M. Tuesday, April 30, 2013, are: Alaskan Resident: The resident bag and possession limit is three king salmon 28 inches or greater in length. Nonresident: The nonresident bag and possession limit is one king salmon 28 inches or greater in length; except during May 2012 when the bag and possession limit is two king salmon 28 inches or greater in length; The nonresident...
Alaska Department of Fish and Game Biologist Rich Lowell was able to photograph a black bear kill on the Stikine River on Wednesday, March 20 during a moose survey conducted by the department. According to Lowell, “it appeared two wolves had just taken down the black bear right before we arrived overhead.” The photos were taken on the North Arm of the Stikine River. Lowell flew over the site 3-1/2 hours later after the wolves had eaten their fill and left the scene. Eagles had moved in to fin...
Alaska Department of Fish and Game has announced the non-pelagic rockfish bag, possession and the mandatory retention for the sport fishery during 2012 in the Southeast Outside Waters and Southeast Inside Waters. Nonresident angler annual limits of yelloweye rockfish have also been established for the 2012 season. The following regulations are effective on March 16, 2012. Southeast Outside Waters: • All non-pelagic rockfish caught must be retained until the daily bag limit is reached. • The resident daily bag limit is two non-pelagic roc...
Field inventories needed To the Editor: The Tongass Land and Resource Management Plan FEIS of 1-23-2008 provides for the sustainability of the resources of the Tongass National Forest yet the proposed Tonka Timber Sale only provides for viable populations of deer for subsistence. Definition of these 3 key words are (1)Sustainability- to provide for support of and sustenance or nourishment for. (2)Resource- something that lies ready for use or that can be drawn upon for aid to the care of a need. (3) Viable- able to live and likely to survive....
A lack of information about the elk on Etolin Island sparked a collaborative study between the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) last year. With the use of tracking collars, the study attempts to collect more data on the non-native species, such as population numbers, their habitat and their effect on the environment and other animals. Last week, ADFG Aerial Wildlife Biologist Richard Lowell came to Wrangell to discuss the elk study as part of the Chautauqua lecture series at the Nolan Center. Since...
State fishery managers project a lower Alaska salmon harvest this year, due to an expected decrease in those hard to predict pinks. The total catch forecast by the Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game is 132 million salmon, down 25% from the 177 million fish taken in 2011. The statewide breakdown is 120,000 Chinook salmon (in areas outside Southeast, where catches are dictated by treaty with Canada); 38.4 million sockeye salmon, a decline of 4%; 4.3 million coho (similar to last year); 19 million chums, 12% higher; and 70.2 million pinks, a 40%...
It’s a mixed bag in America in terms of bankrolling ‘the best available science’ for our nation’s fisheries. Based on the preliminary federal budget released last week, funds for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration went from $4.7 billion to $5.5 billion, an increase of about $750 million. Within the NOAA budget, funding for the National Marine Fisheries Service comes in at $1 billion - a drop of $15 million from its actual budget for the last fiscal year. Out of NMFS’ FY13 budget, $174 million will fund science and managemen...
Alaskans were surprised to learn (from the Anchorage Daily News’ Alaska Ear, of all places) that there is a new and very different mission statement posted by the Department of Natural Resources on the State of Alaska website. The old ‘statement of policy’: “To develop, conserve and enhance natural resources for present and future generations.” The new mission statement: “To responsibly develop Alaska‘s resources by making them available for maximum use and benefit consistent with the public interest.” Questions about the mission shift d...
February 3, 1982 - Petersburg should have a new shooting range by fall if plans by the city and the Petersburg Rod and Gun Club run on schedule. Using funds supplied by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, a basic range used by the Rod and Gun Club and located at mile 13 of Mitkof Highway will be upgraded and opened to the public. Plans call for the addition of an open shed equipped with benches to shoot from in adverse weather, a warming shed, bathroom facilities and two concrete trap...
KODIAK, Alaska (AP) — Seventy-five percent of Alaska's salmon packers have decided to pull out of the Marine Stewardship Council's fisheries certification program when the current agreement expires at the end of October. Those processors are Trident, Icicle, Ocean Beauty, Peter Pan, Alaska General, E-and-E, Kwikpak and North Pacific. The MSC uses third-party verification of a fishery's sustainability and adherence to best practices. The board of the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation concurred with the move on Monday. That organization has...
Most people don’t know that 40 years ago Alaska pioneered the use of sonar to track salmon runs, or that state fishery managers operate 15 sonar sites on 13 rivers from Southeast to the Yukon. The goal of making Alaskans more aware of one of Alaska’s most important fish counting tools has been accomplished with the launch of new web based project that lets visitors see three types of sonar in action. The site explains that traditional tools such as weirs and counting towers can be used to count salmon in clear, narrow streams, but not in wide,...
Sea otter population in Southeast Alaska is increasing, and consequently, the animals are depleting marine life, causing an adverse economic impact to local fisheries, according to a presentation given by fisheries experts at the Sons of Norway in Petersburg Sunday night. The presentation was a part of the weeklong Alaska Board of Fisheries meetings being held in Petersburg. The Board’s main role is to “conserve and develop the fishery resources of the state,” according to its website. Howev...
Dale Ross Johnston passed away unexpectedly on January 1, 2012 in Anchorage. He was born July 15, 1957 in Eugene, Ore. to Norman and Laura Johnston. The little family moved to Petersburg in 1960, where it was soon joined by Dale’s brothers Glen and Russ. They lived there until Norman’s job with Alaska Fish & Game transferred them to Juneau in 1974. Growing up in Petersburg instilled a great love in Dale for being outdoors, which continued his whole life. He helped fund his college degree by working summers as a stream surveyor for the Sta...
Jan. 6: A solitary case of “whooping cough,” was reported by the Public Health Nurse. Bordetella Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory infection that is easily spread and can be treated with antibiotics. The city council asked Petersburg Municipal Power and Light superintendent to re-evaluate its request for a back-up generator after bids came in at over a million dollars beyond the budgeted $1.8 million cost. Jan. 20: The Petersburg Police Department filed a 19-page petition to forego re...
