Alaska Legislature Boosts Available Injury Payouts from Fishermen’s Fund
Alaska legislators have boosted from $10,000 to $15,000 the maximum payout allowed for crew injuries and disablement via the state’s Fishermen’s Fund.
The fund, which predates statehood, is administered by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. It’s considered an emergency fund payer of last resort.
The $5,000 upgrade to the fund was contained in Senate Bill 92, which was approved by legislators on April 4.
Clay Bezenek, a commercial salmon and herring gillnetter in Ketchikan, who serves on the board, said that demands on the fund are fewer than they used to be because commercial boat owners are more likely these days to carry medical insurance to cover crew members.
He also said the board supports any legislation that modernizes the fund, recalling the d...