major ports for Japanese fishing fleets and an impor-tant reprocessing area for Alaska seafood. Tokyo and Osaka are also major destinations for Alaska seafood imports, he said.An undetermined amount seafood in cold storage in northeast Japan was destroyed during the earthquake or tsunami and will have to be replaced, possibly boosting Alaska seafood sales, said John Sackton, the editor and pub owners of Alaska seafood plants are for their own employees, Sack ton I don't think they are thinking muc about the busi ness side of things,'he said. Though he thinks some Alaska fisheries may benefit from increased Sackton believes that the market for Alaska pol-lock roe and herring roe may be in trouble this year due to the disaster. These are Ando expects more can-cellations when Japan's communication networks are restored. Many Japanese travelers high-end products that may not get much interest during hard times. On the other hand, the roe can be stored frozen for as long as a year, industry officials said this week.Seattle-based Ocean Beauty seafood executives said they are worried about the well-being of their Japa-nese customers and employees. The company has a seven-person sales office in Tokyo. So far, these work-ers are OK, according to the company, which processes seafood in Cordova, Naknek, Kodiak and Southeast Alaska. Ocean Beauty said it is also trying to figure out how to plan for Alaska s upcoming harvests, such as the Sitka herring fishery, which could begin in less than 10 days. The company has a seven-person.

It would be foolish not to be worried, said Chip Treinen, an Anchorage commercial fisher man who participates in the Sitka fishery. I think the long-term issue involving fisheries is (Japan s ability) to get this nuclear situation under control, Sackton said. Fear of radioactive contamination could cause some to stop buying fish, he said. The last seasonally-chartered Japan Airlines jet carrying Japanese tourists from Fairbanks departed a couple days before the massive earthquake last Friday week. Sackton, the editor and publisher of Seafood.

1960s, Japan was the first foreign na-tion to open a trade office in Alaska, he said.Japan's Alaska consul, Hideo Fujita, said it is impossible to guess at the trade consequences for his country and Alaska until all the damage is calcu-lated. 'It's the largest natural disaster we've ever experienced," he said.overseas. Japanesemuch as 75 percentits seafood comes from overseas. Japanese have been importing Alaska seafood since 1970s and are a major player in Alaska's seatry, according to Bob Nickinovich, who has worked in Alaska seafood for more than 30 years, including under Japa-nese owners. He said Japan's hard-hit Sendai area is one of the major ports for Japanese fishing fleets and an important repro-cessing area is one of the Alaska is a major destination for Japa-nese tourists in the summer and winter months. Some Japanese tourists have canceled their trips to Alaska in recent days, Alaska tour operators said.Alaska firms have struggled to contact their customers in Japan since the massive earthquake and tsunamis last Friday, said Greg Wolf, executive direc-tor of the World

laska fishermen are poised to dip their nets into the yet biggest harvest of Sitka herring since statehood, but not their only customer -- Japan -- has any appetite for this the high-end product. The multimillion-dollar herring fishery is just one

economic and nuclear crisis is likely to affect trade relations between Japan and the U.S. in the coming year. Japan is Alaska's biggest trade partner, receiving $1.2 billion-worth of Alaska products -- mostly seafood, liquefied natural gas and minerals -- last year. Also, Alaska is a major destination for Japanese tourists in the summer and winter months. Some Japanese tourists have canceled their trips to Alaska in recent days, Alaska tour operators.

A“It’s the largest disaster we’ve ever experienced,”

I'm not going anywhere'says Alaskan native, Kurt Treinen, (right) 'I aint scared of no rolley-coaster' Treinen lost $4,000 in stolen seafood off one of his employ-ee's fishing boats. Many Alaskan fisherman remain hope-ful of finding he pirate boats responsible for the May 2010 atttacks. (left)

economic and nuclear crisis is likely to affect trade relations between Japan and the U.S. in the coming year. Japan is Alaskas biggest trade partner, receiving $1.2 billion-worth of Alaska products -- mostly seafood, liquefied natural gas and minerals -- last year. Also, Alaska is a major destination for Japanese tour-ists in the summer and winter months. Some Japanese tourists have canceled their trips to Alaska in recent days, Alaska tour operators said.Alaska firms have struggled to contact their customers in Japan since the massive earthquake and tsunamis last Friday, said Greg Wolf, executive direc-tor of the World Trade Council Alaska.

Right now, our biggest concern is humanitarian, Wolf said, noting that Alaska's ties to Japan go back de-cades. After World War II, Japan's first overseas investment was in Southeast Alaska's former pulp mills. In theAlaska is a major destination for Japa-nese tourists in the summer and winter months. Some Japanese tourists have canceled their trips to Alaska in recent days, Alaska tour operators said.Alaska firms have struggled to contact their customers in Japan since the massive earthquake and tsunamis last Friday, said Greg Wolf, executive direc-tor of the World Trade Council Alaska.

Right now, our biggest concern is humanitarian, Wolf said, noting that Alaska's ties to Japan go back decades. After World War II,

major ports for Japanese fishing fleets and an impor-tant reprocessing area for Alaska seafood. Tokyo and Osaka are also major destinations for Alaska seafood imports, he said.An undetermined amount seafood in cold storage in northeast Japan was destroyed during the earthquake or tsunami and will have to be replaced, possibly boosting Alaska seafood sales, said John Sackton, the editor and pub owners of Alaska seafood plants are for their own employees, Sack ton I don't think they are thinking muc about the busi ness side of things,'he said. Though he thinks some Alaska fisheries may benefit from increased Sackton believes that the market for Alaska pol-lock roe and herring roe may be in trouble this year due to the disaster. These are Ando expects more can-cellations when Japan's communication networks are restored. Many Japanese travelers high-end products that may not get much interest during hard times. On the other hand, the roe can be stored frozen for as long as a year, industry officials said this week.Seattle-based Ocean Beauty seafood executives said they are worried about the well-being of their Japa-nese customers and employees. The company has a seven-person sales office in Tokyo. So far, these work-ers are OK, according to the company, which processes seafood in Cordova, Naknek, Kodiak and Southeast Alaska. Ocean Beauty said it is also trying to figure out how to plan for Alaska s upcoming harvests, such as the Sitka herring fishery, which could begin in less than 10 days. The company has a seven-person.

It would be foolish not to be worried, said Chip Treinen, an Anchorage commercial fisher man who participates in the Sitka fishery. I think the long-term issue involving fisheries is (Japan s ability) to get this nuclear situation under control, Sackton said. Fear of radioactive contamination could cause some to stop buying fish, he said. The last seasonally-chartered Japan Airlines jet carrying Japanese tourists from Fairbanks departed a couple days before the massive earthquake last Friday week. Sackton, the editor and publisher of Seafood.

1960s, Japan was the first foreign na-tion to open a trade office in Alaska, he said.Japan's Alaska consul, Hideo Fujita, said it is impossible to guess at the trade consequences for his country and Alaska until all the damage is calcu-lated. 'It's the largest natural disaster we've ever experienced," he said.overseas. Japanesemuch as 75 percentits seafood comes from overseas. Japanese have been importing Alaska seafood since 1970s and are a major player in Alaska's seatry, according to Bob Nickinovich, who has worked in Alaska seafood for more than 30 years, including under Japa-nese owners. He said Japan's hard-hit Sendai area is one of the major ports for Japanese fishing fleets and an important repro-cessing area is one of the Alaska is a major destination for Japa-nese tourists in the summer and winter months. Some Japanese tourists have canceled their trips to Alaska in recent days, Alaska tour operators said.Alaska firms have struggled to contact their customers in Japan since the massive earthquake and tsunamis last Friday, said Greg Wolf, executive direc-tor of the World

laska fishermen are poised to dip their nets into the yet biggest harvest of Sitka herring since statehood, but not their only customer -- Japan -- has any appetite for this the high-end product. The multimillion-dollar herring fishery is just one

economic and nuclear crisis is likely to affect trade relations between Japan and the U.S. in the coming year. Japan is Alaska's biggest trade partner, receiving $1.2 billion-worth of Alaska products -- mostly seafood, liquefied natural gas and minerals -- last year. Also, Alaska is a major destination for Japanese tourists in the summer and winter months. Some Japanese tourists have canceled their trips to Alaska in recent days, Alaska tour operators.

A“It’s the largest disaster we’ve ever experienced,”

I'm not going anywhere'says Alaskan native, Kurt Treinen, (right) 'I aint scared of no rolley-coaster' Treinen lost $4,000 in stolen seafood off one of his employ-ee's fishing boats. Many Alaskan fisherman remain hope-ful of finding he pirate boats responsible for the May 2010 atttacks. (left)

economic and nuclear crisis is likely to affect trade relations between Japan and the U.S. in the coming year. Japan is Alaskas biggest trade partner, receiving $1.2 billion-worth of Alaska products -- mostly seafood, liquefied natural gas and minerals -- last year. Also, Alaska is a major destination for Japanese tour-ists in the summer and winter months. Some Japanese tourists have canceled their trips to Alaska in recent days, Alaska tour operators said.Alaska firms have struggled to contact their customers in Japan since the massive earthquake and tsunamis last Friday, said Greg Wolf, executive direc-tor of the World Trade Council Alaska.

Right now, our biggest concern is humanitarian, Wolf said, noting that Alaska's ties to Japan go back de-cades. After World War II, Japan's first overseas investment was in Southeast Alaska's former pulp mills. In theAlaska is a major destination for Japa-nese tourists in the summer and winter months. Some Japanese tourists have canceled their trips to Alaska in recent days, Alaska tour operators said.Alaska firms have struggled to contact their customers in Japan since the massive earthquake and tsunamis last Friday, said Greg Wolf, executive direc-tor of the World Trade Council Alaska.

Right now, our biggest concern is humanitarian, Wolf said, noting that Alaska's ties to Japan go back decades. After World War II,

This week, Masa Ando, an Anchorage tourism operator who grew up in cen-tral Japan, is coping with cancellations for his business, Hai Shirokuma Tours, which organizes trips around Alaska for Japanese residents. But worse than that is the toll of not knowing if all of his friends in Japan are OK. Broyle said,

Just thinking about that makes me emotional, he said. Though the winter travel season is mostly over, some Japa-nese tourists were still either in Alaska at the time of the earthquake or were booked to come soon, he said. In recent days, cancellations have been trickling into Ando s Anchorage office. One group shortened its trip, he said. We had several people here from Japan during the earthquake. Some of them went back. None of them were from the affected areas, he said.Ando expects more cancellations when Japan s communication networks are restored. Many Japanese travelerwill not be mentally prepared to go on vaca-tion anytime soon, he said. His com-pany usually works with about 1,000 Japanese travelers per year. We might suffer but we ll be OK, Ando said.Conoco Phillips plans to mothball its liquefied natural gas export plant in Nikiski at the end of the month. The plant s only customers are Japanese utilities, which are struggling to secure LNG supplies in the wake of the devas-tation. Conoco said it doesn t plan to delay the closure.

Conoco Phillips plans to mothball its liquefied natural gas export plant in Nikiski at the end of the month. The plant s only customers are Japanese utilities, which are struggling to secure LNG supplies in the wake of the devas-tation. Conoco said it doesn t plan to further delay the imminent plan of

However, the company s Alaska spokeswoman, Natalie Lowman, said Conoco is closely monitoring conditions in Japan to see if it can assist the coun-try s utilities with their short-term needs. The last LNG shipment from Nikiski is expected to go out sometime later this month, she said. Earlier this year, Conoco decided to close the plant after it failed to secure new supply contracts. The plant was the largest consumer of Cook Inlet natural gas and it is the only LNG export terminal in the United States terminal allowed to ship overseas. Other major Alaska exports to Japan include metals such as zinc and lead produced at the Red Dog Mine near Kotzebue and the Greens Creek MineA Red Dog official noted this week that no shipments from the mine occur at time of year and couldn t say if future shipments will be affected. A Greens Creek manager could not be reached for comment on Wednesday this she said. Earlier this year, Conoco decided to close the plant after it failed to secure new supply contracts. Thewas the largest consumer of Cook Inlet

However, the company s Alaska spokeswoman, Natalie Lowman, said Conoco is closely monitoring conditions in Japan to see if it can assist the country s utilities with their short-term needs. The last LNG shipment from Nikiski is expected to go out sometime later this month, she said. Earlier this year, Conoco decided to close the plant after it failed to secure new supply contracts. The plant was the largest consumer of Cook Inlet natural gas and it is the only LNG export terminal in the United States terminal allowed to ship overseas. Other major Alaska exports to Japan include metals such as zinc and lead produced at the Red Dog Mine near Kotzebue and the Greens Creek Mine nearA Red Dog official noted this week that no shipments from the mine occur at this time of year and couldn t say if future shipments will be affected. A Greens Creek manager could not be reached for comment onConoco Phillips plans to mothball its liquefied natural gas export plant in Nikiski at the end of the month. The plant s only customers are Japanese utilities, which are struggling to secure LNG supplies in the wake of the devastation. Conoco said it doesn t plan to delay the closure. However, the company s Alaska spokeswoman, Natalie Lowman, said Conoco is closely monitoring conditions in Japan to see if it can assist the country s utilities with their short-term needs. The last LNG shipment from Nikiski is expected to go out sometime later this month, she said. Earlier this year, Conoco decided to close the plant after it failed to secure new supply contracts. The plant was the largest consumer of Cook Inlet natural gas and it is the only LNG export terminal in the United States terminal allowed to ship overseas. Other major Alaska exports to Japan include metals such as zinc and lead produced at the Red Dog Mine near Kotzebue and the Greens Creek Mine near Conoco Phillips plans to mothball its liquefied natural gas export plant in Nikiski at the end of the month. The plant s only customers are Japanese utilities, which are struggling to secure LNG supplies in the wake of the devastation. Conoco said it doesn t plan to delay the closure. from the mine occur at this time of year and couldn t say if future shipments will be affected. A Greens Creek manager could not be reached for comment onConoco Phillips plans to mothball its liquefied natural gas export plant in Nikiski at the end of the month. The plant s only customers are Japanese utilities, which are struggling to secure LNG supplies in the wake of the devastation. Conoco said it doesn t plan to delay the closure. However, the company s Alaska spokeswoman, Natalie Lowman, said Conoco is closely monitoring conditions in Japan to see if it can assist the country s utilities with their short-term needs. The last LNG shipment from Nikiski is expected to go out sometime later this month, she said. Earlier this year, Conoco decided to close the plant after it failed to secure new supply contracts. The plant was the largest consumer of Cook Inlet natural gas and it is the only LNG export terminal in the United States terminal allowed to ship overseas. Other major Alaska exports to Japan include metals such as zinc and lead produced at the Red Dog Mine near Kotzebue and the Greens Creek Mine near Juneau.

“The long-term solution will be organizing fisheries to get this situation under control.”

AnchorageAwayTrouble areas in Alaska’s frigid waters: Who is stealing what, and where.

Alaskan Crab Meat

Foreign FlavoursWhile Alaskan King Crab tops the list of most desired, Sushi is a popular and pricey item among nautical bandits. The sea-weed alone sells high in japanese markets.

Pirates’ primary target is this worldwide favourite. Other items found on the boat are a bonus, but the Crab’s expensive meat is the first thought of most ravaging raiders.

As head of Alaska’s CFEC, Walter Mead is one of the most avid fighters of maritime crime and working hard to find a solution.

What has been the biggest dificulty with the fishing robberies?The entire situation is a disaster that we are all hoping we can resolve and bring those responsible to justice. The biggest problem is that we don’t know who these pirates are. Or where they are...Is there any hope on catching them soon?I’d like to think so. We’ve set up a moniter and communication system for all the fisheries in Alaska. If any more ships are attacked, they won’t be alone.

The Alaskan fish market is becoming increasingly popular with Canadian businesses who are finding a new love for the cold water trout and bass.

A local favourite among Alaskans, the tender lobster is an easy sell for pirates but a risky move with authorities finding the culprits with the help of vendors and butchers.

Red Lobster Fish

Area of repeated attacks

35%

30%

14% 21%

Selawik LakePoachers and pirates roam freely in the empty northern waters by Selawik. 24% of attacks last year occured near this treachorous lake.

The vast amount of fishing and crabbing businesses attracts pirates to these waters. This year fisheried are organizing to prevent even more loss.

The closer to Anchorage and to civilization, the fewer reports of attacks, yet many fearless pirates have ventured here to cause a substantial amount of theft.

NORTON BAY

THE BERING SEA

Walter Mead

Delve April 2011

Many Alaskan fisherman remain hope-ful of finding he pirate boats responsible

for the May 2010 atttacks. (left)

This week, Masa Ando, an Anchorage tourism operator who grew up in cen-tral Japan, is coping with cancellations for his business, Hai Shirokuma Tours, which organizes trips around Alaska for Japanese residents. But worse than that is the toll of not knowing if all of his friends in Japan are OK. Broyle said,

Just thinking about that makes me emotional, he said. Though the winter travel season is mostly over, some Japa-nese tourists were still either in Alaska at the time of the earthquake or were booked to come soon, he said. In recent days, cancellations have been trickling into Ando s Anchorage office. One group shortened its trip, he said. We had several people here from Japan during the earthquake. Some of them went back. None of them were from the affected areas, he said.Ando expects more cancellations when Japan s communication networks are restored. Many Japanese travelerwill not be mentally prepared to go on vaca-tion anytime soon, he said. His com-pany usually works with about 1,000 Japanese travelers per year. We might suffer but we ll be OK, Ando said.Conoco Phillips plans to mothball its liquefied natural gas export plant in Nikiski at the end of the month. The plant s only customers are Japanese utilities, which are struggling to secure LNG supplies in the wake of the devas-tation. Conoco said it doesn t plan to delay the closure.

Conoco Phillips plans to mothball its liquefied natural gas export plant in Nikiski at the end of the month. The plant s only customers are Japanese utilities, which are struggling to secure LNG supplies in the wake of the devas-tation. Conoco said it doesn t plan to further delay the imminent plan of

However, the company s Alaska spokeswoman, Natalie Lowman, said Conoco is closely monitoring conditions in Japan to see if it can assist the coun-try s utilities with their short-term needs. The last LNG shipment from Nikiski is expected to go out sometime later this month, she said. Earlier this year, Conoco decided to close the plant after it failed to secure new supply contracts. The plant was the largest consumer of Cook Inlet natural gas and it is the only LNG export terminal in the United States terminal allowed to ship overseas. Other major Alaska exports to Japan include metals such as zinc and lead produced at the Red Dog Mine near Kotzebue and the Greens Creek MineA Red Dog official noted this week that no shipments from the mine occur at time of year and couldn t say if future shipments will be affected. A Greens Creek manager could not be reached for comment on Wednesday this she said. Earlier this year, Conoco decided to close the plant after it failed to secure new supply contracts. Thewas the largest consumer of Cook Inlet

However, the company s Alaska spokeswoman, Natalie Lowman, said Conoco is closely monitoring conditions in Japan to see if it can assist the country s utilities with their short-term needs. The last LNG shipment from Nikiski is expected to go out sometime later this month, she said. Earlier this year, Conoco decided to close the plant after it failed to secure new supply contracts. The plant was the largest consumer of Cook Inlet natural gas and it is the only LNG export terminal in the United States terminal allowed to ship overseas. Other major Alaska exports to Japan include metals such as zinc and lead produced at the Red Dog Mine near Kotzebue and the Greens Creek Mine nearA Red Dog official noted this week that no shipments from the mine occur at this time of year and couldn t say if future shipments will be affected. A Greens Creek manager could not be reached for comment onConoco Phillips plans to mothball its liquefied natural gas export plant in Nikiski at the end of the month. The plant s only customers are Japanese utilities, which are struggling to secure LNG supplies in the wake of the devastation. Conoco said it doesn t plan to delay the closure. However, the company s Alaska spokeswoman, Natalie Lowman, said Conoco is closely monitoring conditions in Japan to see if it can assist the country s utilities with their short-term needs. The last LNG shipment from Nikiski is expected to go out sometime later this month, she said. Earlier this year, Conoco decided to close the plant after it failed to secure new supply contracts. The plant was the largest consumer of Cook Inlet natural gas and it is the only LNG export terminal in the United States terminal allowed to ship overseas. Other major Alaska exports to Japan include metals such as zinc and lead produced at the Red Dog Mine near Kotzebue and the Greens Creek Mine near Conoco Phillips plans to mothball its liquefied natural gas export plant in Nikiski at the end of the month. The plant s only customers are Japanese utilities, which are struggling to secure LNG supplies in the wake of the devastation. Conoco said it doesn t plan to delay the closure. from the mine occur at this time of year and couldn t say if future shipments will be affected. A Greens Creek manager could not be reached for comment onConoco Phillips plans to mothball its liquefied natural gas export plant in Nikiski at the end of the month. The plant s only customers are Japanese utilities, which are struggling to secure LNG supplies in the wake of the devastation. Conoco said it doesn t plan to delay the closure. However, the company s Alaska spokeswoman, Natalie Lowman, said Conoco is closely monitoring conditions in Japan to see if it can assist the country s utilities with their short-term needs. The last LNG shipment from Nikiski is expected to go out sometime later this month, she said. Earlier this year, Conoco decided to close the plant after it failed to secure new supply contracts. The plant was the largest consumer of Cook Inlet natural gas and it is the only LNG export terminal in the United States terminal allowed to ship overseas. Other major Alaska exports to Japan include metals such as zinc and lead produced at the Red Dog Mine near Kotzebue and the Greens Creek Mine near Juneau.

“The long-term solution will be organizing fisheries to get this situation under control.”

AnchorageAwayTrouble areas in Alaska’s frigid waters: Who is stealing what, and where.

Alaskan Crab Meat

Foreign FlavoursWhile Alaskan King Crab tops the list of most desired, Sushi is a popular and pricey item among nautical bandits. The sea-weed alone sells high in japanese markets.

Pirates’ primary target is this worldwide favourite. Other items found on the boat are a bonus, but the Crab’s expensive meat is the first thought of most ravaging raiders.

As head of Alaska’s CFEC, Walter Mead is one of the most avid fighters of maritime crime and working hard to find a solution.

What has been the biggest dificulty with the fishing robberies?The entire situation is a disaster that we are all hoping we can resolve and bring those responsible to justice. The biggest problem is that we don’t know who these pirates are. Or where they are...Is there any hope on catching them soon?I’d like to think so. We’ve set up a moniter and communication system for all the fisheries in Alaska. If any more ships are attacked, they won’t be alone.

The Alaskan fish market is becoming increasingly popular with Canadian businesses who are finding a new love for the cold water trout and bass.

A local favourite among Alaskans, the tender lobster is an easy sell for pirates but a risky move with authorities finding the culprits with the help of vendors and butchers.

Red Lobster Fish

Area of repeated attacks

35%

30%

14% 21%

Selawik LakePoachers and pirates roam freely in the empty northern waters by Selawik. 24% of attacks last year occured near this treachorous lake.

The vast amount of fishing and crabbing businesses attracts pirates to these waters. This year fisheried are organizing to prevent even more loss.

The closer to Anchorage and to civilization, the fewer reports of attacks, yet many fearless pirates have ventured here to cause a substantial amount of theft.

NORTON BAY

THE BERING SEA

Walter Mead

Delve April 2011

Many Alaskan fisherman remain hope-ful of finding he pirate boats responsible

for the May 2010 atttacks. (left)