In all Alaskan fisheries, good data is a critical part of management. But the collection of that data doesn't have to be left to just scientists. Within Bristol Bay’s sport fishery, there’s a new way for guides to report their catches and observations, helping build a robust record of Bristol Bay catches. KDLG’s Jessie Sheldon reports.
A Manokotak man faces murder charges after allegedly hitting another man in the head with a boat anchor, according to Alaska State Troopers.
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For over 70 years, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game has used counting towers in Bristol Bay to track salmon escapement. That means techs hand count each fish that swims by. But new technology is on its way to the Bay. KDLG’s Jessie Sheldon visited a research site on the Wood River to learn what AI and drones could mean for the fishery.
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On June 29 at 4:20pm, the US Coast Guard received a report of a man overboard from the F/V Sandman in the vicinity of Egegik Bay, about 40 miles southwest of Naknek. The Coast Guard searched the area with Alaska State Troopers for several hours by boat and helicopter. They say that the search was suspended at 11:36pm, pending the development of new information.
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Hundreds of fishermen across Bristol Bay offload their catch at local processors in Dillingham—the main hub for the busy Nushagak district. But of all the ports across the bay, Dillingham’s holds something unique: for the past 12 years, the city has not enforced any raw fish sales tax whatsoever, missing out on millions of dollars. KDLG’s Ryan Berkoski sat down with Alice Ruby, the mayor of Dillingham, and Chris Maines, the city planner, to talk about what caused this tax hiatus and why it’s back now.
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Anticipation is building in the Dillingham harbor as crews get their boats ready. Despite some concerns over processor consolidation and declining king runs, crews seem optimistic about the season’s high base prices and strong sockeye forecasts.
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This winter, the Alaska Board of Fisheries passed several new regulations for Bristol Bay’s salmon fishery, including measures in response to declining king salmon populations. That species was first designated as a stock of concern in the Nushagak district in 2022, but the regulations won’t go into effect until mid-July, when the king season is mostly over.
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High school senior Ari O’Domin and her coach Riel Anderson each discuss the wrestling season in Bristol Bay, with interviews by senior Liv Harvilla.
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The Bristol Bay fisherman and retired educator is mounting an independent bid that emphasizes cost of living, subsistence, and opposition to Pebble mine.
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At the 2025 First National Bank Alaska Wrestling State Championships, 13 wrestlers from Bristol Bay’s Sockeye Conference finished in the top six.
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UAF presented to the community its intention to sell the secondary campus building at a town hall meeting last month.
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The Bristol Bay Fisheries Report, produced by the KDLG news crew, is dedicated to the one-of-a-kind commercial fishery in Bristol Bay. Join us for the latest news, numbers and information from the fishery, plus analysis, stories and conversations.
Public Safety
Education
- Levelock's school closes due to low student enrollment
- Alaska cities and school districts scramble to close budget gaps after state cuts bond debt payments
- Dillingham School Board hires interim superintendent for next school year
- Dillingham City Council stalemate results in the requested $1.7 million for school district
Politics
- Alaska lawmakers introduce bill to ban metals mining in Bristol Bay watershed
- House Speaker Bryce Edgmon reflects on Alaska's 34th legislative session
- Bristol Bay Representative Bryce Edgmon re-elected Alaska’s Speaker of the House, focusing on rural and statewide challenges
- The Dillingham City Council appoints Daniel Decker as acting city manager
Bristol Bay Obituaries is a place for people to remember family members and loved ones who have died. This is a community page; KDLG staff don’t edit submissions. Email submissions and photos to obituary@kdlg.org
Bristol Bay Field Notes is your source for an eclectic blend of topics relating to the great outdoors of southwest Alaska. Its goal is to educate, inform, and entertain.
A place for timely updates and lively conversation about the goings-on in Bristol Bay. If you have something you'd like to share, let us know! Call 907-842-2200 or email news@kdlg.org.
Fisheries Headlines
- Despite a safe fishing season in Bristol Bay, mass layoffs at federal agencies spark concerns for the future
- Trump's EPA reaffirms Biden-era Pebble Mine veto
- Green, brown and spiky: Researchers work to better understand sockeye’s relationship to the three-spined stickleback
- Fishermen rescued in multiple close calls across Bristol Bay
- Fishing gear recycling program asks for cleaner nets
- This season’s average sockeye should be bigger than last year’s record low, experts say