(SitNews) - Alaska’s largest statewide commercial fishing trade association announced it is beginning the process to request Alaska authorities to investigate what they say was unauthorized eavesdropping of their United Fishermen of Alaska private teleconference by the Kenai River Sportfishing Association's office.

According to UFA Interim President Bruce Wallace, on January 17, 2013 the United Fishermen of Alaska, representing 34 member organizations, held a private teleconference. In addition to 25 UFA Board members, UFA alleges an individual or individuals at the offices of the Kenai River Sportfishing Association (KRSA) was also on the line during the private teleconference.

This allegation was later confirmed by the teleconference vendor, who provided a phone log, which included a phone number registered to the Kenai River Sportfishing Association (KRSA) office. KRSA is not affiliated with UFA in any way.

According to the United Fishermen of Alaska, KRSA is not a member of UFA and KRSA was not invited by UFA to join the private teleconference. The person or persons who listened in on UFA’s private meeting from the KRSA offices did not acknowledge their presence when joining the teleconference and UFA was not aware of this intrusion until it received an email on January 18, 2013 indicating that information regarding UFA Board member discussions had been transmitted to a third party.

On February 8, 2013, the United Fishermen of Alaska began the process of turning over information to authorities with the expectation that a full investigation would be initiated.

By the publication date, the Kenai River Sportfishing Association had not responded to a request for comment made by SitNews on February 12th.

Edited by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News: 

United Fishermen of Alaska
www. uaf.org

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