Shrimp Fisheries Threatened by Oil Spill in Gulf of Mexico

Here's a story of a Louisiana Shrimp Trawler whose season is set to start in three weeks and all hope is lost due to the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico. This tragedy was not the first for the local commercial fisherman; he has lost his whole lifestyle twice now...the first due to Hurricane Katrina.

I remember the devastation and loss of fisheries that the Exxon Oil Spill caused in Alaska's Prince William Sound. My father too was a shrimper; he used the shrimp season as a buffer to stay ahead of the bills before the pink salmon seine season. Due to the Exxon Spill, the Shrimp Pot fishery was ceased to a halt and all gear had to be removed from the water.

This is the first year that Fish and Game has allowed the Shrimp Pot Fishery to open again after 21 years in the Prince William Sound.

Here's the article was created by Craig Medred reporting in Louisiana for Alaska Dispatch.

Sitka Herring Seine Opener March 29, 2010

Smoke and Roar and Race for the herring! This was a healthy harvest year for the commercial fisherman of the Southeast Alaska. It was a beautiful site to see all of the seiners and packers out there on the water...and so close to shore as well. I am reminded of the time when I used to seine in the waters of the Prince William Sound with my father for pink and silver salmon. I sure miss those days! Every year, about this time, I get fishin' fever and the itchin' to mend nets!

Halibut Heads, An Eagle and Me

Here I am at one of the local fish processing plants, Seafood Producers Cooperative, in Sitka, Alaska. This is one of the few places where I scanned Halibut heads for the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) to find tags for migration tracking data.

Here's some links:
International Pacific Halibut Commission
Seafood Producers Cooperative (beautiful website...makes me hungry)

Fish & Game/Coast Guard Troll Fishing Survey

Coast Guard Troll Survey

I just flew with the Coast Guard yesterday to participate in the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's annual flight survey of the Fairweather Troll fishing grounds. It was the first time that I have ever been in a helicopter and it was simply awesome. I got all suited up and we flew from Sitka to the Fairweather grounds, counted and identified troll vessels then we flew over Haines and Skagway, conducted several cruise ship fly-bys in honor of Independence Day, refueled in Juneau and headed home. During the flight I got to see Lituya Bay (where the huge land slide created the mega tsunami) and we flew through Glacier Bay Pass. I tried to get some good pictures, but the helio shakes a little bit. So here you go! I didn't get a picture of myself in there as the crew was too busy, but wished I had asked! Enjoy

Here's the troll commercial fishing vessel named Kaia. What a beautiful image.

Lituya Bay, Alaska

Flying over the Glaciers...and boy was it cold with the door open in the helicopter.

So this is what the top of the cruise ships look like! I wonder if the pools are heated?

Alaska Marine Highway Ferry...check out the tents camped out on the solarium.