A Clam Gulch youth has been selected as United Fishermen of Alaska's Fisherman of the Year. Thirteen year old Jess Russell was given the honor for "his outstanding actions and the sound basis of preparedness that enabled him to make the vital difference in a life and death fishing mishap on the family boat in Cook Inlet this summer." The Peninsula Clarion reported that Jess was able to calmly and effectively apply his knowledge of first aid, radio and instrument use, and the workings of his family fishing boat to save the life of his father, Ron Russell. While gillnet fishing in Cook Inlet, the net got caught in the outdrive. Ron Russell opened the hatch and began working on the tangled line and lost consciousness due to carbon monoxide, also suffering a bloody cut on the head. Jess radioed for help, was able to use the boat's instruments and calmly relay their position to Coast Guard and nearby fishermen. Jess then pulled his father from the hold and performed first aid. Nearby fishermen arrived to help, but Jess was the only one on the boat that knew first aid. With his dad coming back to consciousness and removed from the boat to the hospital, Jess continued to work with the help of other fishermen to untangle and pick the fish from the net, return to the Kasilof dock, and unload the catch, and then learned that his father would be OK. Ron Russell is justifiably proud of his son Jess, and credits his ability and performance under pressure to the excellent preparation that Jess learned through gaining his Boy Scouts first aid merit badge with Dr. Nels Anderson. Jess also thanks all the nearby fishermen who came to their aid. "In honoring Jess Russell, UFA looks to highlight not only the heroic effort that took place on that critical day, but the preparation and skills Jess had acquired beforehand. The fact that Jess was prepared for what he needed to do to save his fathers life is a noteworthy foundation of this achievement," said UFA Executive Director Mark Vinsel. Russell joins UFA 2004 honorees Governor Frank Murkowski, UFA Man of the Year in Alaska Politics, and Departing commissioner Kevin Duffy, UFA Executive Man of the Year. United Fishermen of Alaska is a statewide organization representing 32 Alaska commercial fishing groups as well as individual fishermen and fishing related businesses.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council tightened subsistence halibut fishing regulations at their December meeting, placing new statewide rules on numbers of fish in possession, use of charter boats and exchange of cash known as customary trade. In addition, the Council established new limits on fishing in the Sitka Sound area and Kodiak road zone and Chiniak Bay, added the Prince of Wales Island community of Naukati to communities eligible for subsistence halibut fishing and allowed fishing in non-subsistence use areas by holders of special permits. The Council voted to eliminate a $400 limit on "customary trade," and instead adopted language limiting exchange of cash to compensation for "actual trip expenses for ice, bait, food and fuel directly related to the harvest of subsistence halibut." The Council also limited customary trade to between members of the same rural community and between members of Alaska tribes. The Council also defined charter vessels as ones licensed or registered as such by Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and restricted use of such vessels for subsistence halibut fishing to the owner of record and the owner's immediate family. It also prohibited subsistence fishing while clients are on board and transfer of subsistence halibut to clients. The Council allowed fishing in non-subsistence use areas by holders of ceremonial and educational permits. Coastal tribes qualify for the permits. Non-subsistence use areas include Valdez Arm, around Ketchikan and Juneau, and most of Cook Inlet. In the Kodiak road zone and Chiniak Bay, fishermen will be limited to 60 hooks per vessel, provided two eligible fishermen are on board. A community harvest program will be established to allow eligible tribal members to fish with additional gear. The changes, the second set of revisions on the original subsistence halibut regulations that became effective in May 2003, are expected to become law by January 2006.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has announced it will not open Makushin Bay for tanner crab in 2005 due to oil in the area from the grounded freighter M/V Selendang Ayu. Test pots in the area have come up with oil residue, prompting the closure under the state's zero tolerance policy for oiled seafood. Fifty-five vessels were registered to fish the area for the season scheduled to open January 15. In 2004, the harvest in Makushin Bay was approximately 87,891 pounds of crab.

Cristy Fry has commercial fished in Homer since 1978, and has also designed and built gear for the industry. She currently longlines for halibut and sablefish, and gillnets salmon in Upper Cook Inlet aboard the F/V Realist.