Author: kfskadmin

US fishery managers are working on new rules to control the halibut catch by guided anglers in Alaska. A charter fleet catch-sharing plan was approved by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council two years ago but the actual regulations have not yet been published. Charter fleet representatives say the plan will hurt their industry and needs to be reworked. However, the regulations can’t come soon enough for the International Pacific Halibut Commission. If the US doesn’t put its charter plan into action soon, the commission may propose its own set of rules:

Some elected leaders in Petersburg say they want to look into dissolving the joint Petersburg-Wrangell authority that operates the main electrical power source for the two communities. That was one topic of discussion at this week’s meeting of the Petersburg City Council.

There will be two new physicians on the staff at Petersburg’s Medical Center next fall. PMC has hired another doctor finishing up her residency training in Anchorage. She’ll be taking the place of one of the medical center’s current physicians, who plans to leave this summer after more than a decade on the job.

The incoming Regional Forester for Alaska starts work next month. US Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell named Beth Pendleton to the post in late January. Pendleton has 25 years of natural resources experience, including a decade of previous work for the forest service in the Alaska region. Since 2006, Pendleton has served in California as the agency’s Deputy Regional Forester for the Pacific Southwest. She has Masters degrees in fisheries and wildlife as well as in journalism.
Matt Lichtenstein had an opportunity to interview Pendleton shortly after the announcement

Residents of Point Baker, Kupreanof and Petersburg Monday urged the Petersburg City Council to voice its opposition to Sealaska lands legislation currently under consideration in the nation’s capitol. The bill would allow the regional native corporation to select land in Southeast, from outside of the original acreage outlined in the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. However, some area residents are calling the bill a land grab and are worried it could pass though Congress.