Another conviction for Thorstenson

At a bench trial today in Sitka, Robert Thorstenson, 59, of Juneau, was found guilty of a commercial fishing violation, the Alaska Wildlife Troopers reported.

"Thorstenson was sentenced to a fine of $3,000 with $1,000 suspended, forfeiture of all proceeds and supplemental payments for seized fish, and two years probation with a condition to not commit any further commercial fishing violations," the agency said.

The case dates to September 2021 when Thorstenson, captain of the F/V Vigilant, and Jason Moilanen, of Petersburg, permit holder aboard the vessel, were found to be fishing in waters closed to commercial seining during a seine opening in Silver Bay near Sitka, the troopers said.

Troopers said they seized 5,170 pounds of salmon valued at $4,372.

Costly conviction for Juneau fisherman

Robert M. Thorstenson, 59, of Juneau, recently was found guilty at nonjury trial of a commercial fishing violation and sentenced to forfeiture of $24,993 for illegally caught salmon, according to court documents.

The original citation said that on Aug. 25, 2019, at Crawfish Inlet, Thorstenson as permit holder on the F/V Magnus Martens fished with seine gear less than 200 yards from a stream mouth in closed waters.

Authorities seized 83,282 pounds of salmon.

Thorstenson originally was charged with a misdemeanor, but the charge was amended as a noncriminal first offense.

Here's the judgment in the case.

Seiner cited, 83,282 pounds of salmon seized

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Crawfish Inlet
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 8/25/19 Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Sitka Post, were patrolling the commercial salmon seine opening at Crawfish Inlet. The F/V Magnus Martens was observed operating gear less than 200 yards from an anadromous stream. Permit holder Robert Thorstenson, 55, of Juneau, was cited for commercial fishing in closed waters, and 83,282 pounds of salmon were seized.

Sitka troopers say vessel lacked license

The person named in this item, Bob Thorstenson Jr., is executive director of the Southeast Alaska Seiners Association, a Juneau-based nonprofit. Deckboss spoke with Thorstenson and he admitted that he uses his SeaSport catamaran, the Sylvi Elise, to scout for salmon in support of commercial seiners including his own vessel, the Pamela Rae. He said he believes this citation is highly unusual, maybe even unprecedented, but will pay the fine promptly.

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: Vessel license
On 7/18/10 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Robert M. Thorstenson, 46, of Juneau, near Hidden Falls terminal harvest area in an 32-foot SeaSport not bearing any Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission license. Investigation revealed Thorstenson was participating in the commercial seine fishery, which requires the vessel to be licensed with CFEC. Thorstenson was cited with bail set at $210 in Sitka District Court.