Category: Uncategorized

In 2018 SB92 Derelect Vessel Act was voted into law as an effort to address the delinquent and abandoned vessels throughout the State of Alaska. Documented and Undocumented vessels must now registered with the Alaska Department of Motor Vehicles. This registration is in addition to USCG documentation. The fee is $24 for 3 years and meant to create a paper trail for enforcement and removal of abandoned vessels and a funding source for the efforts. Seaplanes and lifeboats are not required to be registered. Here is the DMV form for title/registration, you can bring your USCG Documentation in for proof of ownership. Do not Title your boat if it is USCG documented, only undocumented vessels over 24 feet need to be Titled. You will need to place the square registration decal on your vessel. Here Read more…

Due to the government shutdown, SEAK Purse Seine Buyback Ballots have not been mailed. They were meant to be received by permit holders and returned to NMFS between January 15-February 15th.

The Draft Spending Plan for funds appropriated to address the 2016 Gulf of Alaska pink salmon disaster is available for comment until September 7th at 5pm. The full draft plan is here, below is a summary.   Guiding Principles for fund Distribution: disbursement of funds will be prioritized based on the following criteria: 1) funds will be allocated to improve fishery information to better assess and forecast future fishery performance; 2) fishery participants directly involved and harmed by the 2016 pink salmon disaster; 3) funds will be disbursed to positively affect the broadest number of people possible; and 4) address losses to primary business and infrastructure that directly support pink salmon fisheries and that incurred the greatest losses as a result of the disaster.  Categories Read more…

The Trump Administration released a draft plan for oil and gas lease sales across Alaska’s coast, including Southeast waters in 2023. Nineteen lease sales are proposed under the plan and Bristol Bay is the only area without a planned lease sale. This is a draft plan that will go through a public comment process. Oil companies would bid on the right to drill if their plans pass federal regulations. Here is the National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Draft Proposed Program: Comments on the draft plan can be submitted beginning today until March 9, 2018 at this website

As you know, The Alaska Marine Highway Reform Steering Committee, led by Southeast Conference, is pursuing legislative changes to transform the ferry system to a public corporation and pursue forward funding. Check out www.amhsreform.com to find project reports and information, provide feedback, and support reform efforts.

Please find the flier for Sitka’s Fish Expo from October 30-November 9 here.