JUNEAU, Alaska — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Mellon terminated the voyage of the fishing vessel Nushagak Spirit near Dutch Harbor after discovering several safety issues and environmental concerns on board the vessel Monday. The crew of the Mellon conducted the boarding of the Nushagak Spirit three nautical miles east of Umnak Island […]
The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) prohibits “take” of marine mammals unless an exception or exemption applies such as the take exemption for subsistence harvests by Alaska Natives. The MMPA defines “take” as “to harass, hunt, capture, or kill, or attempt to harass, hunt, capture, or kill, any marine mammal.” The MMPA defines “harassment” as “any act of […]
Fatal falls overboard keep commercial fishing in the top ranks of most dangerous jobs in America, and yet many commercial harvesters still resist wearing the personal floatation devices (PFD) that might save their lives in such incidents. A new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that from 2000 through 2016 […]
Juneau – Wednesday, the Alaska Legislature passed a bill sponsored by Representative Dan Ortiz (I-Ketchikan) that will help Alaskans involved in the states vital commercial fishing industry. House Bill 56 passed the Alaska State Senate Wednesday after passing the Alaska House of Representatives last year. “Commercial fishing is hard-work and creating a successful commercial fishing […]