Disappointment for Kodiak crabbers

The Kodiak District will remain closed for the 2026 commercial Tanner crab season.

Last season, managers set a 560,000-pound catch quota for the district.

Congrats

National Fisherman has named its 2025 Highliners including:

• Homer commercial fisherman Erik Velsko

• Bob Alverson, longtime manager of the Seattle-based Fishing Vessel Owners' Association, which represents halibut and sablefish harvesters.

From Coast Guard headquarters

The U.S. Coast Guard today confirmed its military service members will receive their mid-month paychecks for Oct. 15.

More in this press release.

High court backs state in Yukon, Kusko salmon case

Here's the 18-page opinion from the Alaska Supreme Court.

Hefty quota increases for Bering Sea crab

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game today announced Bering Sea crab harvest quotes for the 2025-26 season.

The Bristol Bay red king crab quota is 2.68 million pounds, a 16 percent increase from last season.

The Bering Sea snow crab quota is 9.3 million pounds, up 97 percent.

The Bering Sea bairdi Tanner crab quota is 11.25 million pounds, a 79 percent increase.

The season opens at noon Oct. 15, with the fleet expected to first go after Bristol Bay red king crab.

Deckboss is advised the federal government shutdown is not expected to delay issuance of individual fishing quotas for crabbers.

Washington watch

Two senators are questioning the Trump administration's withholding of $246 million in NOAA funding.

Trident among winners in huge USDA pollock buy

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the purchase of 34.7 million pounds of Alaska pollock products — frozen fish sticks, nuggets and fillets — for $84.2 million.

USDA awarded contracts to three companies including Seattle-based Trident Seafoods Corp., which sold 5.6 million pounds for $14.7 million.

The pollock purchase is "in support of child nutrition and other related domestic food distribution programs," the USDA said.