The USCGC Sycamore is a buoy tender, shown here docked in Cordova Recently the USCGC Sycamore left Cordova and will be replaced by the USCGC Fir. Cutters require maintenance and are required to cycle out of their ports every so often. Until recently the buoy tender in Cordova was the USCGC Sycamore, a 225 foot long cutter familiar to any fisherman in Prince William Sound. Here in our fishing fleet’s homeport of Cordova, we have a buoy tender that maintains the navigation and safety buoys throughout the region.Ī fisherman carefully navigates the waves breaking over a sand bank on the Copper River Flats Much of the Coast Guard’s responsibility is to maintain navigational buoys, carry out patrols and stand by for quick response to emergencies both minor and major.

Our region of South Central Alaska is serviced by three Coast Guard stations Cordova, Valdez and Kodiak. But when the worst occurs it is always heartening to know that the United States Coast Guard is close at hand to aid a fisherman and possibly even save their life.Ī storm brewing on the horizon on the Copper River Flats fishing grounds

A calm day can quickly turn sour and dangerous in the Gulf of Alaska. Our fleet of 540 small vessels relies on up to date technology, solid information and practiced safety procedures to keep them safe out at sea. It’s no secret that commercial fishing can sometimes be a risky business. Smolkis looks over the navigation equipment inside the bridge aboard the USCGC Sycamore But May is also a time to thank our service members for their work and dedication during Military Appreciation month with both Armed Forces Day on the 19 th and Memorial Day. Boats are being put back into the water and the first Copper River salmon of the season will be freshly harvested on the Copper River Flats fishing grounds. May is an exciting month for us here in our fishing community.

Coastal flats salmon