The Highliner

Commercial fishing is a bedrock industry in Alaska, and has been for more than a century. Every year scores of fishermen net millions of migrating salmon, challenge the icy Bering Sea to trap king crabs, lay miles and miles of baited hooks for halibut, and scoop up enough pollock for a zillion fish sticks. And when fishermen aren't out fishing, they're usually talking about fishing. That's what this blog is all about. Cast your net here for commercial fishing news and notes. And if you've got a bone to pick, post a comment.

About me:
I've pounded the commercial fishing beat for the Anchorage Daily News since 1999. I hail originally from Tennessee. I've never fished commercially, but I've spent much time as a journalist aboard boats and inside fish-processing plants. Of course, I'm a big consumer of Alaska seafood. One of my favorites: canned sockeye.

Contact Wesley Loy at wloy@adn.com.


Archive

UFA names its political picks - 10/15/2008 5:34 pm

Let’s get it on - 10/15/2008 11:29 am

Un-Sound herring stocks - 10/13/2008 7:39 pm

Iceland, Alaska and the crash - 10/10/2008 12:52 pm

‘Catch must be cut in half’ - 10/9/2008 10:07 am

Proof the Cold War really is over - 10/8/2008 11:21 am

APICDA, Snopac work big St. George crab deal - 10/8/2008 10:35 am

Buyout for Cook Inlet salmon permits? - 10/8/2008 9:59 am

‘We are very disappointed’ - 10/7/2008 3:17 pm

The nitty-gritty - 10/7/2008 10:57 am

Halibut bumps crab - 10/6/2008 2:15 am

Council passes halibut split - 10/4/2008 10:34 pm

Council advisers see success in crab ratz - 10/4/2008 12:36 am

State pulls ‘triggers’ on charter halibut - 10/3/2008 11:22 pm

In case you missed it - 10/3/2008 9:48 am

Charter operator pleads guilty in halibut sting - 10/1/2008 12:43 pm

Here we go again - 10/1/2008 12:40 pm

Crab quotas dip a bit - 9/29/2008 8:52 pm

Want to be a fish scientist? Anyone? - 9/26/2008 11:57 am

UFA political endorsements coming? - 9/25/2008 4:17 pm

Tax breaks for Exxon Valdez plaintiffs? - 9/23/2008 11:16 pm

Stevens trial begins - 9/22/2008 10:15 am

full archive »

Is this a problem?

Posted by The Highliner

Posted: July 2, 2008 - 2:13 pm

Just got this press release from the state Department of Labor clarifying the law on child labor and commercial fishing boats:

Click Bishop
Commissioner
Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 2, 2008

For more information: Chris Daugherty, Regional Supervising Investigator
(907)465-4842, Chris.Daugherty@Alaska.Gov

Commercial Fishing Prohibited for Minors Under 16

JUNEAU, Alaska – School is out, summer has arrived and the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development is reminding employers that child labor laws exist to protect young workers in the fishing industry. Under state and federal law, minors under the age of 16 are not allowed to work on a fishing boat, unless a minor is employed by a parent who also owns and operates the boat.

“We want to get young people out working, but their safety on the job comes first,” Labor Commissioner Click Bishop said.

According to Grey Mitchell, director of the Labor Standards and Safety Division, “the last Alaska workplace fatality involving a worker under 16 years old involved commercial fishing. This tragedy could have been avoided by simply following the law.”

Additional information is available at the Alaska Wage and Hour Administration Web site or by contacting a regional Wage and Hour office.

Regional Wage and Hour Administration Offices

Juneau, 907-465-4842
Anchorage, 907-269-4900
Fairbanks, 907-451-2886


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  2     July 7, 2008 - 10:47am | akwapsc

a bit much

i began going on the boat at age 6 but not steady nor for pay until age 13, with my grandfather.

then my brother began at age 14 with me at age 19 as a lease skipper.

many many youngsters begin with their uncles, older brothers, grandfathers, etc. and at times fathers who don't own the boat.

if you want safety classes for under 16ers fine, but to stifle the fishing communities with 'only a father who owns the boat' is ridiculous and there must be at least 1000 kids out there this week who violate that rule.

the 'guardian' or parental permission was the way it used to be and the way it should be today.

of course, we could replace those 1000 Alaskan boys with 1000 college students from Massachussets.

bob thorstenson jr.
juneau

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  July 9, 2008 - 5:14pm | dkshoreline

Spell Checker Please?

MassachuseTTs - at least those college students would know how to spell it.

Don't criticize comments posted by others for spelling errors if you are going to commit the same error.

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  July 13, 2008 - 12:41am | akwapsc

thanks

for paying such close attention.

ya charterrrrr boy.

bobbyt

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  July 13, 2008 - 9:55am | dkshoreline

What goes around comes around

keep on believing whatever you will about charters, John Enge hiding behind multiple nyms to spy on you, etc.

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  1     July 7, 2008 - 12:20am | educated

Problem??

No. This is not a problem. Also totally legal. In the CFR's there is a section on minors on vessels. I do recall that it stated that it was permitted as long as there was an accompanying parent or family member over age 18. I also believe it stated a number of other conditions that had to be observed as well. This is traditionally when young fishermen have always been trained, as kids. There has never been a school for this. This is also often financially critical for fishing families to employ minor family members. Besides whats better than seeing the look on your dads face when he fills the boat, priceless.

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