Fish Factor: Where have all the crab gone? By LAINE WELCH - The popular January Tanner crab fishery has been called off for the third year running throughout the Westward Region (Kodiak, Chignik and the South Peninsula), leaving fishermen and managers wondering where all the crab has gone.

Tanner Crab
Photo Courtesy ADF&G

State managers for several years have been tracking a huge plug of crab that appeared poised to enter the 2016 Tanner fishery, but based on this summer’s surveys, the crab have failed to materialize.

“In 2013 saw a very large cohort of juveniles in the survey estimated at over 200 million crab, which was one of the largest we’ve had going back to the early 1980s,” said Mark Stichert, area manager at the Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game in Kodiak. “We saw those crab again in 2014 and they were a year older and a year larger, however, there was a fairly significant decline to about 113 million crab. And then in 2015, unfortunately, that number dropped again significantly to just over 40 million total crab in the survey around the Kodiak area.”

Stichert speculate the Tanner drop off is due to increased predation by growing numbers of cod, pollock and flatfish throughout the Gulf regions,
along with other environmental factors.

“We’re seeing continued recruitment into the fishery, meaning juvenile and small crab generations are being spun off every year,” he said. “We don’t completely understand why those crab aren’t maturing through the population to get to the legal size.”

It takes about six years for the Gulf Tanner crab to grow to their mature, two pound size.

A fleet of 50 or more Kodiak boats and about 30 at the Alaska Peninsula target Tanners. The mid-January fishery, which in past years has dwindled to around one million pounds, is usually worth several million dollars to fishermen.

“It’s a bummer because the money is good and it’s just down right fun to catch local crab,” said Tyler O’Brien, a Kodiak fisherman. “I understand why we need to stand down another year, but I just hope they are able to do good surveys with the tight budget situation.”

By the way -- Tanner crab is spelled with a capitol T because it is named after discoverer Zera Luther Tanner, commander of the research vessel Albatross, which explored Alaska waters in the late 1800s. - More...
Wednesday PM - November 11, 2015

Alaska: Travel grant renewed for rural Alaska veterans accessing health care - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs renewed a transportation grant in the amount of $250,000 to the State of Alaska Office of Veterans Affairs to provide transportation options to veterans residing in five rural areas who need to travel to health care services.

“Last fiscal year, this grant reached out to more than 5,900 veterans in rural areas,” said Verdie Bowen Sr., director of the State of Alaska Office of Veterans Affairs. “Our transportation partners transported Alaska’s veterans across more than 220,000 miles and more than 67,000 nautical miles round trip at no cost to veterans. We provided the first step in ensuring our veterans in some of our rural communities have access to quality care.”

The following five boroughs will continue to receive grant money for transportation under this program: Denali, Matanuska-Susitna, Kodiak Island, Kenai Peninsula and Prince of Wales-Hyder. Veterans living in those communities qualify to use an array of transportation options so that they may seek the health care they need. - More...
Wednesday PM - November 11, 2015

Alaska: Walmart Hires More Than 580 U.S. Veterans in Alaska - Walmart announced that it has hired more than 580 veterans across Alaska since the launch of its Veterans Welcome Home Commitment in May of 2013, which guarantees a job offer to any eligible U.S. veteran honorably discharged from active duty since that time.

Walmart has hired veterans into every aspect of its 13 facilities in Alaska, including Supercenters, Discount Stores, and Sam’s Club locations. The flexibility and scheduling opportunities the retailer offers makes it possible for transitioning service members to make their own path, whether that is pursuing educational goals, finding a meaningful new career path or finding a place to land after leaving the armed service, while deciding what’s next.

“We’ve experienced a tremendous response in Alaska to Walmart’s support of veterans.” said retired Brigadier General Gary Profit, Walmart’s senior director of military programs. “We believe veterans represent the largest, diverse, talent-rich pool in the world and are an essential segment of the next generation at Walmart.” - More...
Wednesday PM - November 11, 2015

Ketchikan: McGuire Named to Local TSS Management Team - Renee Schofield, CEO of TSS, Inc. has announced the addition of Jo McGuire, to the staff. McGuire has joined TSS as the Senior Projects Manager. She will cover all aspects of management, with special emphasis on project and leadership development. McGuire hails from Colorado Springs, Colorado and has been in the drug and alcohol industry for a number of years.

“We’re excited to have Jo join our team. Her leadership style fits very well with the way I like to run my company, giving us extra hands to carry our growth forward. She has hit the ground running and will be an asset to each of our offices, as well as our clients, with her extensive background in the drug screening industry. We could not have made a better selection for this very broad position.” says Renee Schofield, TSS CEO.

McGuire is an international speaker on drug screening, particularly with regard to the marijuana legalization in several states. She has keynoted several conferences in regards to marijuana and the workplace, advises policy makers on employer’s rights to a safe and drug-free workplace, and provides certified training for the drug screening industry. She served on the Governor’s Task Force in Colorado during the recent constitutional amendment in her home state and chairs the Marijuana Education and Outreach committee of the Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association (DATIA). - More....
Wednesday PM - November 11, 2015

Southeast Alaska: Sealaska Announces December Distribution - Sealaska directors approved a December distribution to shareholders totaling $17.5 million. According to Sealaska, the total distributions in 2015 to Sealaska shareholders will total $30.4 million.

“Sealaska is in a strong position to utilize investment capital to make new operational investments,” said Sealaska President and CEO Anthony Mallott. “This will add to our net income and help us reach our goal of profitability before ANCSA Section 7(i) and investment income. The executive team and board have taken deliberate steps during the last two years to focus on financial stability and show operational improvement.”

According to a news release, Sealaska management continues to follow priorities outlined in the strategic plan including growing operations in relevant industries and creating a disciplined investment process. - More...
Wednesday PM - November 11, 2015