Local News

In the Pribilof Islands, no one’s gotten an accurate count of blue king crab since the population crashed hard in the 1980s.

This summer, a marine biologist is trying to change that, with the species’ first in-depth study in more than 30 years.

His ultimate goal: Determine if blue crab can make a comeback — or if it’s gone for good.

It’s a foggy day on St. Paul Island, and Jared Weems  is itching for the weather to clear up. He wants to get out on the water and back to work.

Campers huddle in the hallway of the Burma Road Chapel dressed as sea otter hunters. The kids adjust their bentwood visors as community members file into rows of folding chairs. 

“Am I missing any whiskers?” one girl asks.

“One of them broke,” says the boy next to her.

With costumes complete, they're ready to perform an Unangan folk tale they’ve practiced all week at Camp Adguyax, about a greedy otter hunter who betrays the octopus that helps him.The “whiskers” on their paper visors aren't genuine sea lion, but imitation — beach grass, strung with beads.

Seventy-five years after supervising the Unangan internment during World War II, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has finally apologized to the people of St. George Island.

Federal officials visited the island last month to make amends in person.

Before a small crowd at the St. George community center, Wes Kuhns says the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)  is ready to take responsibility for its actions.