Unalaska, AK – The National Marine Fisheries service has finalized Amendment 91, which sets new rules for the Bering Sea's pollock fishing fleet in an attempt to reduce Chinook salmon bycatch. The comprehensive plan is the product of a joint effort from NMFS and the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council. While Amendment 91 contains some enforcement measures, it also hinges upon incentive plans proposed by the pollock fleet itself.

Unalaska, AK – Tonight, City Council will gather for a third meeting this month to discuss city contracts, utilities billing, and council travel.

The meeting will start with a public hearing over an ordinance that would change the definition of an out of town sale. Practically speaking, the ordinance is meant to close potential tax loopholes. In an earlier meeting this month, discussion focused the point in the process that natural resources -- like rock -- should be taxed. This ordinance might push the tax to the beginning of the process. City attorney Brooks Chandler described it as a "raw rock tax." The ordinance will be voted on later in the meeting.

Unalaska, AK – Unalaska's tenth annual women's conference took place this weekend. On Saturday, nearly 50 registrants met at the Grand Aleutian Hotel to learn more about issues related to "Surviving and Thriving" -- this year's theme Attendees bounced in and out of panels that addressed topics like aging, privacy, and behavior.

Sonia Handforth-Kome is the director of Iliuliuk Clinic, which hosts the conference. She's pleased with how the conference turned out, and says she was especially happy that women from many different age groups turned out.

Unalaska, AK – Today, Alaska's Coast Guard bids farewell to the LORAN navigation system -- and the United States shrinks a little, too. KUCB's Alexandra Gutierrez has more.

Twenty Coast Guardsmen are right now the only inhabitants of Attu, America's westernmost island. After today, they'll be gone. It will be the first time the island will be uninhabited in recorded history.

The LORAN station -- which stands for long range navigation -- has been running for almost 70 years. It was built during World War II, soon after the Japanese attack on the island in 1942, and it replaced the Aleut village that had long existed there.

Unalaska, AK – Last night city council met for a brief meeting, and moved forward on one item of business.

The council voted on the hiring of Catherine Hazen as deputy city clerk. The measure was approved 4 to 1. The council first took up the issue in June, but there were concerns regarding the consistency with current salary standards. If an employee has worked for the city for an extended period of time, his or her starting salary could be greater than the recommended salary for a management position. Zac Shasteen raised points about the fairness of the current system, while Dennis Robinson brought up the professional and financial advantages of hiring within the community. Yesterday, the measure ultimately passed 4-1.

Unalaska, AK – Today, three representatives from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration hosted a public input session that will serve as a starting point for Unalaska's community profile. About two dozen residents too part in the all-day discussion. Some were city officials, some worked at the local NMFS office, and others were just interested residents.

The profiles are primarily used to inform economic and social impact assessments for the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. Those are then used to help the Council come up with management plans. But that's not the only use the profiles have. Dr. Amber Himes was one of the NOAA representatives at the meeting, and she says the agency is trying to turn the profiles into good resources for people in the fishing industry and people who live in coastal towns.

Unalaska, AK – The National Marine Fisheries service has extended its public comment period for the draft Steller Sea Lion biological opinion that it issued earlier this month.

Where NMFS had previously planned to close the comment period by Friday of this week, it's now taking input through September 3rd.

The draft BiOp would have significant impact on the groundfish fisheries of the Western Aleutians. NMFS is currently recommending a closure of the Atka Mackerel and Pacific Cod fisheries in the region in order to help boost the sea lion population -- an idea which has received much criticism from groups with stakes in the fishing industry such as the Marine Conservation Alliance. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council hosted a special meeting last week in Anchorage to discuss the BiOp, and one of the biggest concerns was that NMFS was moving too quickly with the draft.

Unalaska, AK – Today is primary day in Alaska. With no state legislators from the district running in uncontested races, Unalaska residents will only be voting on state-wide and national offices -- along with two ballot initiatives.

While most of the races for offices are mostly uncompetitive according to polls, the Lieutenant Governor spot on the Republican side has turned into a heated three-way race between Jay Ramras, Mead Treadwell, and Eddie Burke.

Unalaska, AK – On Saturday, members of the community gathered at Kelty field to take part in the Heart of the Aleutians festival. The annual fest featured food and games and even a dunk tank. Local musicians also performed throughout the day. KUCB's Alexandra Gutierrez has more.