Cordova

Biologists with NOAA Fisheries Alaska region have been conducting survey work in the area since mid-May and have so far found 22 Steller sea lions and one harbor seal dead. Necropsies performed on the animals have shown gunshot wounds and other human interactions as the cause.

"We’re way, well below what we expect to be at this point,” said Jeremy Botz, a biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. He says so far the entire commercial fleet has harvested around 6,000 sockeye, which is way below what the department anticipated

One boat lost its net while at least two other fishermen say giant waves threatened to capsize their vessels as they tried to reach safe harbor.

NOAA is monitoring significant numbers of gray whale deaths this spring along the Pacific coast.

A 100-foot vessel, the Polar Bear, ended up aground on an island across a channel from the town.

Residents speculate the black bears are venturing into town because they're hungry, after a poor run of pink salmon and rainy weather that hurt the abundance of berries, limiting food for the animals.

Days of rain have triggered flooding in Cordova and slowed drivers on the Taylor Highway and McCarthy Road.

Black slugs are impacting native plants in the Chugach Forest and may be spreading elsewhere.

11-12-14 Late coho salmon run - Cordova, Alaska, USA

It funds maps, sirens and education. "Losing this program, really, at the end of the day could mean deaths in Alaska," says a state official.