State, fishermen appeal Steller sea lion ruling

In ongoing legal wranglings, the State of Alaska and the coaltion of fishing groups have filed appeals with the 9th Circuit on Judge Timothy Burgess' January ruling upholding wide-ranging fishing closures for cod and Atka mackeral in the western Aleutians.

Not much to see here, but this is the state appeal, and the fishing groups' appeal.

In the lawsuit originally filed by five processors with Kodiak operations challenging the new Gulf of Alaska rockfish program set to take effect this May, one company has dropped out.

According to the most recent filings as of March 16, International Seafoods of Alaska has withdrawn from the case. ISA is owned by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon.

Here is the amended complaint without ISA listed as plaintiff.