Salmon advocates are expressing grave concerns after a recent cyanide spill at Victoria Gold’s Eagle Mine, fearing that the pollution, which has not been fully contained, could harm the Yukon River’s already struggling salmon populations. Following a major equipment failure at Victoria Gold’s Eagle Mine, the Government of Yukon has…
Maritime Injury Law Blog
The Supreme Court Trawl Bycatch Decision
On July 24, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that could reshape fisheries management in Alaska. The decision, centered on trawl bycatch practices, underscores the ongoing tension between environmental conservation and commercial interests. By invoking the legal principle of Chevron deference, the Court has mandated stricter regulations on…
Bristol Bay Sockeye Season Sees Citation Spike
Commercial fishing citations are on the rise this Bristol Bay sockeye season. As the sockeye run begins, Alaska State Troopers from all over gather to patrol and ensure that commercial fishers are following all rules and regulations. With so many regulations in place, some waters are closed at certain times…
Disaster Relief Applications Due August 24th
Federal disaster relief is coming to help many commercial fishing permit-holders. The Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) will be administering the payments of three federal awards. For more information, you can visit their current disasters page. Permit-holders and processors need to submit their applications to the PSMFC in Portland,…
Ken Stetz Wins 2024 Coast Guard Art Competition
We are delighted to report that Ken Stetz has been named the winner of the 2024 George Gray Award for Artistic Excellence at the Coast Guard Art Program (COGAP). The annual art acceptance ceremony was held on Thursday, July 11th, 2024. The award-winning piece, titled “Absorbing the Roll,” is a…
21-Year-Old Fisherman Dies After Becoming Entangled in Fishing Gear
It is with great sadness that we report the death of a 21-year-old commercial fisherman. On Friday July 5th, 2024, Corwin Wheeler died after becoming entangled in fishing gear and being pulled overboard and underwater in the Bristol Bay area. According to Alaska State Trooper spokesman Austin McDaniel, The Department…
Did OceanGate exaggerate partnerships with Boeing, the University of Washington and NASA?
OceanGate, the company responsible for the lost Titanic tourist submersible likely overstated the details of its partnerships in the development and engineering of the TITAN submersible. This was likely an effort to legitimize the unclassified submersible, which was built with a carbon fiber hull and titanium end caps. The fatal…
Washington Department of Ecology Fines Pacific Seafood $222,000
Pacific Seafood’s Westport facility has been fined $222,000 for “repeatedly discharging polluted wastewater into Half Moon Bay in Westport.” The Washington Department of Ecology also reported that in the past two years, the facility has violated its water quality permits 58 times. “It’s unacceptable that this facility is continuing to…
One Rescued, One Deceased after Fishing Vessel and Skiff Collide
It is with great sadness that we report the tragic incident that unfolded after a collision between the 58-foot F/V VIS and a 20-foot skiff in Wrangell Narrows, Alaska. The collision claimed the life of a 73-year-old woman from California, as confirmed by the U.S. Coast Guard, and resulted in…
Silver Bay Seafoods will acquire Trident Seafoods False Pass Facilities
On Friday, June 7th, 2024, Trident Seafoods and Silver Bay Seafoods announced that Silver Bay is set to acquire Trident Seafoods False Pass processing facility and fuel business on the Alaska Peninsula. This is Silver Bay’s second big move in a region where they already have a presence processing salmon.…