Theo Greenly

Alaska’s congressional delegation announced more than $104 million in port and maritime infrastructure investments across six coastal communities, with $11 million allocated to renovate St. Paul’s city dock.

The National Marine Fisheries Service developed the regulations after a 2021 recommendation by the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council to limit bycatch from the groundfish fleet. Proponents say the limits protect halibut populations from the trawl group, which accounts for more than half of the halibut bycatch in the area. Groundfish Forum, which represents a group of large trawl catcher-processors, said this puts an unfair burden on their sector, while other fisheries in the region aren’t facing the same constraints. They also said the proposed cap is unrealistic because it’s too strict to implement, which they claim violates conservation laws.

For decades, King Cove’s roughly 800 residents have called for a road they say could save lives in emergencies. Neither city has a hospital, so residents rely on medical evacuations to reach Anchorage for urgent medical care. The Biden administration last week endorsed the proposal, recommending a land exchange with King Cove’s Native corporation so the road can be built. But that road would go through a federally protected wilderness area. While residents argue it’s a matter of life and death, environmental advocates say the road could threaten vital wildlife habitat — and set a dangerous precedent.

The At-Sea Processors Association, representing Alaska's pollock industry, has announced that its long-time leader, Stephanie Madsen, will retire at the end of the year. Madsen has been with the association since 2007, following a career in fisheries that spanned nearly five decades. She was also the first woman to chair the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.

A 738-foot cargo ship, the Pan Viva, is currently anchored off Constantine Bay in an emergency situation, carrying 300,000 gallons of fuel and 21 crew members. The vessel has some power but is struggling in the rough sea conditions, officials said Saturday.

The international advocacy organization Oceana is pushing for the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to take action on trawling. The nonprofit released a statement Monday calling on the council to limit trawling in the Bering Sea and Alaska fisheries, saying it is a threat to sensitive seafloor habitats.

The MV Tustumena turned 60 years old this year. She’s the oldest ferry in the Alaska Marine Highway System and she just completed her final Aleutian Chain run of the year. In August, Unalaskans met her at the port to celebrate the "Trusty Tusty’s" birthday. KUCB’s Theo Greenly was there — he rode the ferry down the chain to Homer, and he sends this audio postcard from the trip.

It’s unclear how the sale will affect King Cove, which relied on the processing facility as its main economic driver until it closed in January.

Bishop Nestor of Alaska and the Aleutians commissioned the two-story Victorian home in 1882. On an ill-fated Alaska voyage, however, before he was ever able to sleep in the house, Nestor fell overboard and drowned. No bishop has ever stayed in the house...until now.

The board promoted Dawn Johnson, the former clinical services director, to chief operating officer and interim CEO.