Science & Environment

Golden king crab season opens Wednesday in the Aleutian Islands.

And for the first time in its 22-year history, the commercial fishery isn't capped by a rigid quota.

"It's really exciting this year," said biologist Miranda Westphal of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. "It was great to have some freedom in setting limits in this fishery."

Brown crab prefer the deep, current-heavy waters of island passes, so it's basically impossible to count them. In fact, Westphal said this is the region's only large rationalized crab fishery without a survey.

City Councilors and community members expressed overwhelming support Tuesday night for an ordinance that would ban single-use plastic bags in Unalaska.

As it stands, the proposed ordinance would put the burden on retailers.

Unalaska fishermen cannot take salmon at McLees Lake within 500 yards of the river mouth.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game issued that reminder Sunday as the restriction went into effect.

Biologist Lisa Fox said it'll last through next Monday, July 9.

"It's around the average peak time of that run," she said. "So if the run comes in normally, that should protect the peak."

Dead and dying sea otters are being found along the Aleutian Islands and the Alaska Peninsula.

During an aerial survey in March, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service counted 56 dead otters from Cold Bay to Pilot Point.

Otters in Port Moller and Nelson Lagoon tested positive for streptococcus infection -- a common cause of sea otter mortality.