A well-known Petersburg fisherman and businessman involved in fishery politics has passed away.

John Winther was 67and died Sunday after a battle with lung cancer. Winther was a third generation fisherman from Petersburg. He served on the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council from 1983-1989 and from 2003-2011 on the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority board.

He was the managing partner of a commercial fishing company that operates freezer-longliners in the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands and the Gulf of Alaska. He also was a founder of two independent oil companies with leases on Alaska’s North Slope.

A memorial services is tentatively planned in Seattle October 27th.

(Editors note: edited Oct. 18 to correct length of service on AIDEA board)