This week on the Alaska Fisheries Report: It's the end of the "Uncle Ted" era in Alaska; Sea Hawk Seafoods is appealing a judge's decision to not give it more money under the Exxon Valdez pay out; and seaweed - it's not just for wrapping sushi any more. All that and more, on the Alaska Fisheries Report.

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           A long time Kodiak fisherman is back in town after weeks in an Anchorage hospital and is recovering well from a benign brain tumor.

Originally from Montana, 72-year-old Al Burch is a commercial fisherman and executive director of the Alaska Whitefish Trawlers' Association. At the end of August this year, after suffering two attacks, doctors discovered that Burch had a brain tumor.

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           The Alaska Division of Elections released an updated vote count this (Tuesday) afternoon, that included all outstanding votes for District 36, which includes the Kodiak Island Borough and parts of the Lake and Peninsula Borough.

            With 6,036 votes now counted, Republican Alan Austerman has increased his lead by eight votes over Democrat Andy Lundquist since the last update on Thursday.

            Austerman now has 3,214 votes to Lundquist's 2,792, a difference of 422 votes.

            An Elections spokesman in Juneau says all the votes for District 36 the division has on hand have been counted. Tomorrow (Wednesday) is the deadline for overseas and remote absentee ballots to arrive at division headquarters.

            Lundquist said by satellite phone that he called Austerman today from his hunting camp on Afognak Island to concede the race and wish him well for the upcoming legislative session. He also thanked his many supporters.

            Austerman, a former representative and senator for Kodiak, winds up with 53-point-25 percent of the vote, while Lundquist, a political newcomer, finished with 46-point-26 percent.

            Overall turnout in District 36 was 60-point-4 percent.

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            The United States Coast Guard launched two aircraft from Air Station Kodiak this (Tuesday) morning to conduct an evacuation from a cargo ship approximately 200 miles south of Adak, or about 1,000 miles from here. A 51-year-old crewman is reported to have suffered a stroke aboard the Marshall Islands-flagged ship.

             The Coast Guard received a phone call Monday around 1:45 a.m. from the agent of the 621-foot bulk carrier, Sparrow, requesting a medevac for the Second Officer. The Sparrow crew was able to temporarily treat the Ukrainian man aboard the vessel after he began exhibiting signs of a stroke.

            An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and an HC-130 Hercules airplane are scheduled to leave Adak about 10 a.m. Wednesday morning, and conduct the medevac and return to Adak. If all goes well, the patient will then be transferred to a Life Flight Air Ambulance and flown to Anchorage to receive medical care.

            Coast Guard spokesman Captain Michael Inman says the distance and weather conditions will make the medevac attempt a challenge. A North Pacific low pressure system is moving in from the west, and Iman said the combined travel of both aircraft will exceed 4,000 miles, which is equivalent to flying from St. Louis to Dublin.

            The Marshall Island-flagged vessel was en route from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Indonesia.

            The condition of the patient is unknown at this time.