VOCAL EXERCISES - Artist in the Schools instructor Sarah Branton of Cherry Creek, Colorado, leads an exercise in the Sitka High School band room this morning as she teaches students how to improve their volume. Branton will be here all week working with choirs at Blatchley Middle School and Sitka High. Her instruction is part of the effort to rebuild school choir programs and numbers following the pandemic. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
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Daily Sitka Sentinel
Justice Dept. Joins SE Salmon Lawsuit
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The National Marine Fisheries Service filed a notice of appeal this week of a court decision aimed at protecting the Southern Resident killer whale, but threatening to close the Southeast king salmon troll fishery.
The notice of appeal of U.S. District Court Judge Richard A. Jones’s decision was filed Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of the Department of Commerce and the National Marine Fisheries Service.
The appeal is related to Jones’ decision on May 2 to uphold a December 13, 2022, recommendation by a federal magistrate judge to require NMFS to vacate and redo the biological opinion (BiOp) and the incidental take statement (ITS) that allows for the take of king salmon by the Southeast Alaska troll fleet.
The Wild Fish Conservancy filed its lawsuit in 2019 claiming NMFS’ incidental take statement unduly restricts the number of Chinook allowed to return to their native waters as prey for the endangered Southern Resident killer whales that spend part of the year in Puget Sound.
The State of Alaska and Alaska Trollers Association are defendant- joiners of the lawsuit against the National Marine Fisheries Service.
ATA Board President Matt Donohoe said in Sitka today he’s pleased to see the federal government weigh in on the issue.
“I think it’s a good thing,” Donohoe said. “The federal government is joining with the state of Alaska and ATA to appeal some part of the Jones decision. We certainly hope the court grants a stay of the order that would allow us to fish king salmon July 1.”
Fellow ATA board member Jeff Farvour commented today that he was pleased with the news as well.
“We thank our congressional delegation so much as well as the state of Alaska, the Alaska Legislature and all the communities, fishing organizations, tribes and conservation organizations, for the resolutions and letters of support that have asked for this,” he said, speaking from Washington, D.C. “At the moment a group of trollers from Alaska, Washington and Oregon, and a representative from Seafood Producers Cooperative, are meeting with congressional delegations and NOAA to advocate on behalf of trollers and communities.”
Donohoe has been communicating with the 450 members of ATA about what the Jones ruling will mean, both for fishing for Chinook as well as coho.
The state on May 8 filed a motion in Western District Court, with ATA signing on as well May 9, to stay the order that shuts down troll king fishing. ATA said getting a stay would allow trollers to fish Chinook for the season. ATA on its website said the judge has until May 26 to grant the stay or not.
Donohoe said if the judge doesn’t grant the stay, the state, federal government and ATA will appeal to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
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AK COVID-19
At a Glance
(updated 9-12-2023)
By Sentinel Staff
The state Department of Health and Social Services has posted the following update on the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Alaska as of 8:57 a.m. Tuesday, September 12.
New cases as of Tuesday: 278
Total cases (cumulative) statewide – 301,513
Total (cumulative) deaths – 1,485
Case Rate per 100,000 – 38.14
To visit the Alaska DHSS Corona Response dashboard website click here.
COVID in Sitka
The Sitka community level is now "Low.'' Case statistics are as of Tuesday.
Case Rate/100,000 – 152.50
Cases in last 7 days – 13
Cumulative Sitka cases – 3,575
Deceased (cumulative) – 10
The local case data are from Alaska DHSS.
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20 YEARS AGO
September 2003
Sitka Tribe of Alaska is “upset and disturbed” about the Senate appropriations bill that cuts spending for Alaska tribal courts, STA Vice Chairman Gil Truitt said today. He was referring to Sen. Ted Stevens’ move to divert Department of Justice grants from tribal courts and tribal police officers to fund the Village Public Safety Officer program.
50 YEARS AGO
September 1973
Photo caption: Receiving service pins at a Carpenters Union Local 466 dinner meeting at the Kiksadi Club were, from left, Arthur Littlefield, Alvin Helm, Harley Finch, Dave Gibson, Gerald Hughes, Fred Nelson, Walter Moy, Edward Nelson, William Sutton and Don Stromme.