The Alaska Enforcement Division opened a total of 1,102 cases last year, including numerous subsistence violations.

Eight investigations were opened on individuals for violating the new subsistence halibut regulations, including taking subsistence halibut on a charter vessel, submitting fraudulent information on a subsistence halibut permit application, taking subsistence halibut in a nonrural area, and taking subsistence halibut with unlawful gear (too many hooks, improper buoy markings).

There were four reports of individuals taking subsistence halibut for commercial purposes. One of these reports brought about an investigation of four individuals from one of the larger subsistence communities in Southeast Alaska. Information and evidence uncovered in this investigation led to the serving of a search warrant on a fish wholesaler in Seattle.

Preliminary evidence gathered during the course of that search indicates that the four individuals may have unlawfully sold up to 12,000 pounds of fish in interstate commerce.

Investigation is ongoing.

In 2003, NMFS did not consider subsistence halibut regulations a priority since they only became effective last May, although enforcement was prepared to respond to complaints. As a result of the numerous violations, subsistence halibut regulations were placed on the priority list at an Alaska Region Enforcement Priorities meeting held March 23.

State Representative Carl Moses, D-Unalaska, has introduced HB 458 that would allow tourists and Alaska residents alike to purchase a one-day commercial fishing crew license.

The idea is to give commercial fishermen the opportunity to take interested parties out and give them a taste of the Alaskan fishing life; let them pick a sockeye from a gillnet, gaff a halibut, pull a cod pot, or get a face full of jellyfish from a seine full of pink salmon. Dubbed "dude fishing," the idea took root in Bristol Bay when the salmon runs and markets crashed and local fishermen started looking to tourism to fill part of the void.

HB 458 would allow anyone, resident or otherwise, to purchase a one-day crewmember license for $30 in order to get hands-on experience on a fishing boat, which is a substantial savings from the current cost for a seasonal license of $60 for residents and $180 for nonresidents.

However, Charlie Medlicott, Fishing Vessel Safety Officer for the Coast Guard, warns that fishermen who want to participate must follow the same rules as charter boats, including the operator being licensed by the Coast Guard.

"Technically they're carrying passengers for hire," Medlicott said. "If they have fewer than six passengers, they can get an un-inspected vessel license, a six-pack. I don't know if any of the sponsors of the bill have considered that."

Medlicott noted that it has been tried before without concern for the rules.

"Someone in Haines was doing this a few years ago (unlicensed)," he said, "and the Coast Guard found out about it, and he had to quit."

Adam Berg, spokesman for Moses' office, said that they have considered the prerequisites, and decided to leave it up to the vessel operator to comply with any regulations.

"It doesn't have any effect on our interest in pursuing the bill," Berg said. "We did know it would be a requirement, and it doesn't change anything on wanting the bill to go through. If the skipper wanted to do this, it allows him to do it.

"Any liability issues, licensing from the Coast Guard, they would have to look into this. If it's a reasonable option for a skipper they can do this if they want to."

Berg said that the bill is currently in the Labor and Commerce Committee, and Moses is hoping to get it waived into the Fisheries Committee for passage this legislative season.

The Alaska Marine Safety Education Association would like to hear about any injuries or "close calls" that occur during safety training.

The purpose of this effort is to look for patterns of near misses, reassess safety procedures used during training and generally learn from mistakes.

AMSEA instructors are encouraged to submit information about incidents that have occurred. Names of those involved in the incidents need not be revealed. Send information about injuries and close calls during training to AMSEA Director Jerry Dzugan at director@amsea.org.

The bottom line is that AMSEA does not want people injured during safety training. Collecting this data will help AMSEA learn more about the risks associated with training and develop strategies to avoid them in the future.

Correction: Seawatch reported last week that the Board of Fisheries had issued a moratorium on boats entering the state-waters cod fishery. Rather, BOF supports Senate Bill 347, which would implement the moratorium, according to BOF Chairman Ed Dersham. SB 347 is currently in the House Fisheries Committee. Seawatch regrets the error.