Author: kfskadmin

Gillnetters and trollers may not get a chance to fish for king salmon returning to the Stikine and Taku rivers in Southeast Alaska next May. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game Friday released forecasts for the two transboundary rivers. Fishing opporunity on Stikine and Taku salmon stocks is governed by a joint agreement between the United States and Canada. Fishery managers expect 23,000 kings to return to the mouth of the Stikine River, near Wrangell, and a little over 41,000 kings to reach the mouth of the Taku River, south of Juneau. Gillnetting and trolling near both rivers won’t open in the early part of May. Fishery managers will wait for some actual returns to comeup with an in-season forecast in the middle of that month and then decide whether to hold any openings for the Taku fish. If it holds up, the Taku forecast would allow a harvest of just under 1,800 chinook. Fishing on the Stikine River run could happen if in-season numbers turn out much higher than the forecast. Commercial fisheries on the Stikine and Taku stocks re-opened in 2005 for the first time in decades. Combined sport and commercial harvests in the Stikine fishery have dropped since 2005’s catch of just under 30,000. Last year the Stikine run also did not allow for a directed fishery. In fact, the 2009 run came in at a little under half of the preseason forecast of 32,000 chinook. Bill Davidson, Fish and Game’s regional salmon management coordinator, discussed the preseason forecasts.

Petersburg High School's wrestling team took fourth at last weekend's regional meet, with two local wrestlers winning their weight class, and six Vikings qualifying for this weekend's state meet in Anchorage.

Petersburg has filed its lawsuit against five companies that worked on the expansion of its Mountain View Manor elderly housing complex, which was finished in early 2004. The city is blaming the design and construction firms for several problems, including a shift in the foundation.

Governor Sean Parnell says he’s committed to increasing ferry service in Southeast Alaska. He answered questions and heard concerns about State ferry service during this week’s visit to Petersburg.

Alaska governor Sean Parnell Wednesday sounded a positive note about some of Petersburg’s funding requests for local capital project needs. Parnell, a former state legislator, took over the reigns as Alaska’s governor in July. He made his first visit as governor this week to Ketchikan, Wrangell and Petersburg. Joe Viechnicki spoke with Parnell Wednesday and started off asking about expectations heading into the upcoming legislative session.