Tag: Southeast

Ferry In Southeast Struggles Financially

The Inter-Island Ferry Authority was barely staying afloat when it made a decision to dramatically cut back its service. That’s according to IFA General Manager Bruce Jones, who discussed the IFA’s financial difficulties during Tuesday’s session of the Southeast Conference annual meeting.

Metlakatla Fisheries Certified as Sustainable

Metlakatla’s fisheries have been certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council. That should help the southern Southeast community maintain salmon sales overseas. Officials say it’s the first tribal fishery to earn the certification.

Ferry Engine Problems Continue

Time could be running out for the fast ferry Fairweather. It’s been plagued with engine problems, which are the subject of a lawsuit against the ship’s builder.

UPDATE: Grounded Vessel Refloated and All Safe, No Damage

A charter tour boat with 11 aboard is reported grounded in Deep Cove, on the southeast side of Baranof Island. The 77-foot vessel "Northern Song" belongs to Alaska Sea Adventures, of Petersburg.

AK: Despite Recent Troubles, Daycare Remains Strong

It can be hard to find child care in small town Alaska. The Petersburg Children’s Center is a lifeline for working families in the small southeast town. But the nonprofit facility has struggled financially recently after a former executive director stole thousands of dollars.

Tannery Means Business, Culture for Sitka Tribe

The Sitka Tribe of Alaska’s tannery is up and running in its own building, at the far end of Halibut Point Road. And now that the business has bought a new home, tribal officials are hoping for its long-term success.

Southeast Cruise Line Plans 2012 Expansion

Sitka’s home-grown cruise company has wrapped up its first season. And it’s already planning to expand, with sailings to southern Southeast starting next year. Several other small lines also plan to increase capacity in 2012.

Bokan Part 1: UCore Eyes Mine on Prince of Wales

With rare earth prices skyrocketing, a Canadian company has rolled out an aggressive schedule to begin mining the coveted minerals on Prince of Wales Island within four years.

Groups Celebrate Stream Restoration

Government and nonprofit groups gathered on Prince of Wales Island recently to celebrate a pair of restoration projects. The Nature Conservancy, Trout Unlimited and the U.S. Forest Service worked together on the Harris River and Fubar Creek. Both were damaged by logging in past decades.

Southeast Borough Plan Draws Ire

Petersburg is on Mitkof Island, where the Wrangell Narrows meet Frederick Sound. Its proposed borough would be about 4-thousand 347 square miles – both land and water.

The Alaska Fisheries Report with Jay Barrett

Coming up this week: As Alaska’s salmon season winds down, it’s apparent the statewide catch won’t equal projections – except, in Southeast where they’re breaking records. KSKA: Friday 9/2 at 2:30 pm

Southeast’s Pink Salmon Fleet Logs Record Year

The Southeast commercial salmon harvest is one for the record books this year and it’s not done yet. While the seine fleet’s Pink Salmon catches in Southern Southeast have remained below expectations, the huge volume from the northern districts and high prices have made this season more valuable than ever.

Alaska News Nightly: August 31, 2011

Pollock Fleet Asks, "Where Are The Fish?" Bethel Murder Trial Proceedings Off to a Rocky Start. Fire Claims Dot Lake Utility Building. Secretary Sebelius Visits the Alaska Native Health Center. Ester Residents Raise Money for a Library. Chum Run is Strong on the Yukon. Southeast's Pink Salmon Fleet Logs Record Year. Federal Government offers Help for Alaskan's Facing Foreclosure. NANA Opens New Hotel in Kotzebue

SEACAD Receives Federal Honors

A Southeast regional law enforcement coalition spearheaded by Sitka’s police chief received honors from the federal government on Tuesday night.

USDA Under Secretary Promotes Tribal Conservation Districts

Besides visiting the Tongass in Southeast, the head of the U.S. Forest Service and National Resource Conservation Service – Harris Sherman – also spent three days in Western Alaska.

Small Cruise Lines Send More Ships to Alaska

A pair of small, high-end cruise lines are expanding their Alaska fleets. The Seattle-based companies are filling some of the void left when Cruise West went out of business about a year ago.

Fast Ferry Fairweather Out Until September

The fast ferry Fairweather will be out of service until early September. The ship has been tied up in Juneau since a small oil leak was discovered Thursday evening in one of its four water jets, which power the ship.

Agriculture Official Visits Sitka, Southeast

U.S. Department of Agriculture Undersecretary for Natural Resources and the Environment Harris Sherman is traveling around Southeast Alaska this week.

Alaska News Nightly: August 22, 2011

Legislators Attend Council of State Governments – West Conference, Request Yields No Independent Audit Proposals for Goose Creek Correctional Center, Agriculture Official Visits Sitka, Southeast , Land Slides Into Petersburg’s Hammer Slough, Nome Police Department Investigating Shooting, Attempted Suicide , Bristol Bay Times, Arctic Sounder and Dutch Harbor Fisherman to Stop Publishing During Transition to New Owners, Money Sent to Help Rural Alaska Farmers, Life Sciences Building Transforms Look of UAF’s West Ridge, Little Fish Keeping Big Fish on Consumers’ Tables, Alaska Salmon May Be Added to Astronauts Menu

Mine Drilling OK’d in Two Roadless Areas

Tuesday, the Forest Service OK’d exploratory drilling at two Southeast Alaska mine sites. The work will be done in roadless areas of the Tongass National Forest. That means they needed approval from agency Chief Tom Tidwell.