Tag Archives: Laine Welch
The Fish Wife Life – What’s the fishing life like for the wives left behind?
A fisherman’s life is a wonderful life, but what about for the fisherman’s wives? Fish Radio asked some of Kodiak’s wive’s what their likes and dislikes are being married to a fisherman. I guess my likes would be you know it’s always nice when the leave and its always nice when the come home. It’s the best of both worlds. It’s hard being a single parent all the time. When you never know when they are coming home and when they come home they still have boat work, it’s not like they come home and don’t have work to do or they are done working. Audio, Read the rest here 16:43
Seattle-based trawlers facing prospect of 50% halibut bycatch cut – Whopping salmon harvest, and A new, safer Vicky
Many Alaskans are speaking out against the more than 6 million pounds of halibut dumped overboard each year as bycatch in trawl fisheries targeting flounder, rockfish, perch, mackerel and other groundfish — not pollock., Whopping salmon harvest – In all, Alaskans are bracing for a huge season — state managers project a harvest of 221 million salmon, a whopping 39 percent higher than last year., A new, safer Vicky – Few fishermen go to sea without their Vickies — the small, sharp Victorinox Swiss Army knife used for everything that needs a quick cut. Read the rest here 16:15
Alaska’s salmon season officially starts tomorrow, May 14!
Alaska’s 2015 salmon season officially gets underway tomorrow, May 14th. Trollers in Southeast Alaska fish for king salmon nearly all year long, but the official start is 
near Cordova. The 500-plus fleet is set for the first 12 hour opener on Thursday amid the usual media hoopla. The harvest at Copper River this year is set at 2.2 million sockeye salmon and a conservative six thousand kings. In following weeks, various salmon openers will kick off all over Alaska,,, Read the rest here 17:51
PInks are out competing sockeye salmon for food at sea, report says
Growing numbers of pink salmon are out competing sockeyes for food in the ocean, causing the reds to grow slower and smaller. That’s the claim of a new study by Seattle and British Columbia researchers, who say the race for food ultimately affects sockeye abundance and survival. Greg Ruggerone is a senior scientist at Natural Resources Consultants in Seattle and study co-author. He says it was aimed originally at finding causes for declining sockeye runs at British Columbia’s Fraser River in 2009. Audio, Read the rest here 18:34
AK fishing updates, ADFG budget cuts
As always in Alaska, lots of fishing is going on from Ketchikan to the Bering Sea. Salmon trollers are back out on the water at Neets Bay near Ketchikan , and it’s hard to believe that the 2015 salmon season will officially kick off in just a few weeks at Copper River. More than 50 boats are dropping pots for nearly 70,000 pounds of shrimp at Prince William Sound after a three year closure. Read the rest here 20:25
Who are Alaska’s biggest fishing whiners?
Alaska’s fisheries are targeted by many different gear types, from dip nets to big Bering Sea catcher processors. Fish Radio went down to the docks to hear what Kodiak fishermen believe are the whiniest group, Probably those who are less fortunate in catching the most fish. Definitely the trawl fleet. The state wide fishing fleet. I do believe it’s the Listen, and read the rest here 20:57
Alaska – New opportunities for scallops, seine pollock fall flat
Alaska is trying to provide new fishing opportunities inside state waters but the two latest have fallen flat as a flounder. A scallop fishery that reverted to open access this year drew no takers by the April 1 deadline. There were no takers again in the Westward Region for a new seine pollock fishery that opened this month and will continue into June. It’s the second year for the trial fishery permitted by the state Board of Fish. For seiners, Stichert says there have been lots of tire kickers, Audio, Read the rest here 17:45
Herring starts today at Kodiak, Togiak’s next; Sitka price info
Kodiak’s roe herring season starts today and unlike other regions, where the fishery is very concentrated and can last less than a week, Kodiak herring can show up in roughly 80 districts around the island well into June. About 3,200 tons will come out of the fishery, taken by 15 to 20 boats. While test fisheries to gauge roe counts are underway at Kodiak, boats and five buyers are also showing up early at Alaska’s largest roe herring fishery at Togiak in Bristol Bay. Read the rest here 17:44
What’s Alaska’s biggest fishing town? UFA Fishing Fact Sheets has all the answers
What Alaska town ranks as #1 for total commercial fishing participation? Based on the number of fishing permits, crew licenses and skippers, Anchorage comes out on top. That’s just one of the facts available in seafood industry fact sheets complied by . The facts include well-documented statewide data; added new this year are breakdowns for the Nome and Wade Hampton Census Areas, as well as for Washington, Oregon and California, which rank as the top three states for nonresident fishermen in Alaska. Read the rest here 16:49
Almost $12 Million Cut for ADFG
According to Juneau Resources Weekly, the ADF&G budget reductions budget reductions cut across all divisions with sport fishing facing the most personnel losses at 12 seasonal jobs. The Division of Habitat could lose $400,000; commercial fishing programs are set to lose five positions and an additional $2 million in general fund support. Read the rest here 07:40
Climate change, acid oceans: NOAA research priorities
The changing climate and chemistry of our oceans is definitely on radar screens of federal planet watchers. That’s the assurance of Kathryn Sullivan, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. I don’t need to tell Alaskans – you are living it, you see it all around you. And the consequences that have societally, economically, ecologically you all are living it every day. Sullivan calls NOAA the nation’s environmental intelligence agency. (Really?) Audio, and read the rest here 17:47
Water rights for wild salmon or coal mine? DNR to decide. Comments extended to April 9
The state is getting ready to choose between giving water rights to sustain wild salmon or to 
proposed at Upper Cook Inlet. If it opts for the mine, the decision will set a troubling legal precedent – it means the same could soon be coming to a river near you. It would be the first time in Alaska’s state history that we would allow an Outside corporation to mine completely through a salmon stream. And the purpose is to ship coal to China. Read the rest here 23:06
Fishermen happy with their jobs; Don’t like privatized fisheries
Alaska fishermen are happy with their career choice, but not so pleased with programs that carve up the catch. That pretty much sums up the findings in a multi-year study that aimed to gauge how Kodiak fishermen feel about privatizing the resource through things like catch shares and IFQs. Courtney Carothers, “I was trying to understand also how people thought about privatization compared to other kinds changes in the community and then also looking at how people thought about privatization in terms of its affects on individual and community well being.” Read the rest here 16:31
Brokers say “slow going” for Halibut IFQs, catch shares; lots of buyers/few sellers
Right after the yearly catch limits are announced for halibut, brokers are busy with buying and selling shares of the catch. But it’s been slow going so far this year. Less of a rush this year, but there is less available. So I think the increases in 3A and 2C and the higher prices might bring out some more sellers, and of course the buyers are sitting there waiting. Listen, Read the rest here 16:50
AK salmon permit values slump on forecast of lower fish prices
2014 was one of the busiest years ever for brokers who help Alaskans buy, sell and trade fishing permits and quota shares. Olivia Olsen runs Alaskan Quota and Permits in Petersburg. Early March through May is when sales pick up for salmon permits. Early indicators point to lower salmon prices this year in a plentiful market, and that’s having a downward press on permit prices – notably, at Alaska’s bellwether sockeye fishery at Bristol Bay. Read the rest here 20:02
Friday the 13th~ Salty Sea Superstitions
A life of danger and uncertainty has seafarers observing a strict set of rules steeped in myth and superstition. Many sea going beliefs are based on the Bible, for example, Friday is the worst day to set out to sea. Most sources credit that to the belief that Christ was crucified on a Friday. Similarly, Sunday is the best day to begin a voyage, because Christ’s resurrection on that day is seen as a good omen. Thus the old adage, ‘Sunday sail, never fail.’ Listen, and read the rest here 07:36
Updates for upcoming halibut commission meeting – tension mounts
The stage is set for some tension when halibut managers and stakeholders gather later this month in Vancouver. Only one catch limit comment was submitted by the December 31 deadline. To reduce handling and wastage in the fishery, the Seattle-based Fishing Vessel Owners’ Association is asking the IPHC to reduce the minimum size requirement for commercially caught halibut from 32 to 30 inches. Read the rest here 18:51
Alaska – 2014 Retrospective, Fishing Notables, Fish Picks and Pans
Alaska still has its share of naysayers who will quibble about the seafood industry’s importance to our great state. They dismiss the fact that fishing was Alaska’s first industry and was fish that spawned the push to statehood. Shrimp remained as America’s top seafood favorite, but salmon bumped canned tuna to take over the second spot. A first lawsuit challenged a new law designed to clamp down on hired skippers fishing the halibut and sablefish quota shares owned by others. Read the rest here 10:00
Kodiak fishermen share thoughts on the biggest fishing challenges
“I think finding crew from the younger generation. I was the only person in my highschool that was or wanted to be a fisherman.” “Well the coastal communities are not the vibrant, economically prosperous communities there were prior to limited entries, IFQ’s and rationalization . Whatever the solution is we need to provide a way for the young people in these communities to integrate into the fisheries and make a living.” Read the rest here 20:29
Permit buyback at Bristol Bay: Good idea, but how/who to pay for it …
At a packed Expo gathering last month in Seattle, a majority of permit holders said that favored reducing the fleet. When the question was raised generally of do you support a fleet reduction, probably 2/3 of the folks raised their hands. Then when the question was focused down to how many of you prefer a buyback, that dropped to about a third. Audio, Read the rest here 17:46
This is Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch – How old is that crab? Audio
Knowing the age compositions of marine stocks is crucial to sound management. Fish can be aged easily by examining their earbones or scales. Not so with crabs, because they molt. For years it’s been assumed that crab that don’t retain their hard parts throughout their lifetime due to growth by molting at which they lose their lose their exoskeleton and it was always assumed everything went with that. Read the rest here
Discharge exemption ok’d; USCG Act reauthorized
Fishermen can safely hose down their decks without fear of violating the Clean Water Act. Congress yesterday voted unanimously to extend a moratorium for three years that exempts commercial fishing vessels from needing incidental discharge permits. Senator Lisa Murkowski spearheaded the bipartisan push –Read the rest here 18:35
This is Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch! Big hauls expected in 2015 for AK pollock, pinks, reds
Some big fish predictions are coming in for next year from state and federal managers. For the state’s largest fishery – Alaska pollock – stocks have more than doubled their ten year average to more than 9 million tons, or 20 billion pounds! Read the rest here 16:24
Hired skipper ban heads to court; Silver Bay goes global; Snazzy AK salmon updates
Since the IFQ plan was put in place in 1995, the number of hired skippers has topped 50% and the quota owners have been charging high rents for the fish which has inflated the cost for IFQs. The goal is to get back to a predominantly owner operated fleet that provides entry level opportunities for coastal Alaskans. Read the rest here 20:21
Juneau wants more AK researchers to be based in AK
Researchers at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center are tops at the work they do – the Center is the research arm of NOAA Fisheries. Their science forms the basis for setting Alaska fish quotas, running observer programs, tightening bycatch limits, to name a few. But … the Alaska Fisheries Science Center is located in Seattle. wants bring those science jobs closer to the resources they study. Listen and read the rest here 21:21
Dock prices by AK region/species, 2011-2013
Fishermen talk prices more than just about any other topic, but prices can often be tough to come by. Most of Alaska’s seafood catches are sold long after a fishery closes and final settlements aren’t known for several months. There is one place to find out how fish prices are tracking. Read the rest here 16:25
Data show stocks on the rise in Bering Sea
Alaska’s pollock numbers may be at the highest level since 1982. Alaska’s conservative management combined with the grace of Mother Nature are swelling the abundance of two of the state’s largest and most important fisheries. Bering Sea crab scientists and stakeholders met last week to discuss the outlook,,, Read more here 14:46
This is Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch – Support for Frankenfish surfaces in DC.
A group of 90 scientists and biotechnology execs from around the world are pushing President Obama to expedite approval of genetically modified salmon for US markets. They urged in a letter last week that the Food and Drug Administration put an end to the long wait for final approval of laboratory produced salmon made by Aqua Bounty Technologies. Listen, and read the rest 17:54
This is Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch – AK fishing updates; high halibut $
Alaska’s total salmon catch looks like it will come in at just over 150 million fish – that’s about 20 million more than expected. That’s due in part to a healthy run of reds in many regions, notably Bristol Bay. With sockeye salmon shortfalls in Russia and a lower run than expected at B.C.’s Fraser River, market reports are putting Alaska sockeyes at a premium. Speaking of premiums – halibut prices are,,, Read the rest here 18:18
AK retaliates against Russian seafood boycott; Mariculture RFPs wanted
This is Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch – Alaska retaliates against Russia’s seafood boycott reactions and help wanted to get Alaska mariculture moving. If Russia won’t buy US salmon roe, pollock, whiting and other seafoods, we won’t buy theirs. Read more here 16:53
