Author: kfskadmin

Most of Southeast Alaska’s humpback whale population is headed south to Hawaii by this time of year. But each year, more than a hundred of the animals gather in northern Southeast’s Seymour canal before they make their long journey to the breeding grounds. Throughout the fall and early winter, the large group of humpbacks can be found in that narrow body of water, feasting on a massive build-up of krill. The late-season interaction between these huge predators and tiny prey is the focus of on-going research.

Petersburg’s City Council decided not to weigh in on the debate over declining halibut quotas this week. Councilors unanimously voted down a resolution calling for catch limits based on historic harvest levels in each fishing area. The idea has drawn a mix of support and opposition from fishermen. During their December 21st meeting, the councilors decided it was not their role to take a side.

Petersburg has finalized its wish-list for project funding from the state of Alaska. The City Council approved the draft list with just a few changes this week. It’s still topped by the fire hall and library. However, public testimony prompted the councilors to raise the priority level for a marine vessel wash-down facility and to add the museum project to the list.

Environmental and tourism groups along with the Organized Village of Kake are suing to extend nationwide roadless area protection to Southeast Alaska’s Tongass National Forest. A lawsuit filed Tuesday in the U.S. district court in Juneau argues that the 2003 exemption of the Tongass was illegal.

Petersburg’s City Council will decide what to do next in their search for a city manager tonight. The councilors are scheduled to discuss their three finalists in executive session during Tonight’s regular meeting. They might end up choosing a manager, or they might continue the process. For the third part of KFSK’s series on the three finalists, Matt Lichtenstein has a profile of interim city manager Bob Prunella: