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This undated handout photo provided by Alaskan Leader Tours, shows the converted fishing boat, "Wild Alaskan," in Kodiak Island, Alaska. The new attraction on Alaska\'s Kodiak Island features exotic dancers who entertain fisherman on the converted fishing boat, but apparently not everyone approves of the idea. (AP Photo/Alaskan Leader Tours, Darren Byler)

Alaska boat featuring exotic dancers briefly shut down by Coast Guard soon after opening

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A new attraction on Alaska’s Kodiak Island featuring exotic dancers who entertain fishermen on a converted Bering Sea crabbing boat already has encountered trouble.

Barely open for business, “Wild Alaskan” has been briefly shut down by the Coast Guard. Someone reported a water taxi was overloaded as it transported patrons to the 120-foot vessel.

Owner Darren Byler says he is “100 per cent sure” whoever notified authorities is someone who doesn’t like that he has stripping dancers aboard the vessel, which opened for business June 25. He says the water taxi is allowed to carry six passengers, and four others were crew members, so there were no violations.

Byler says his business was shut down early Saturday on unrelated safety-gear violations and reopened Tuesday.

Kodiak radio station KMXT first reported the shutdown.

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