ANCHORAGE, ALASKA— In a recent survey of more than 1,000 Alaskans, most named banning bottom trawling as their top priority when it comes to federal fisheries management in Alaska.

Illustration credit: Oceana

Juneau, AK:  A headline in Under Current News published June 9th read: “North Pacific Council Bucks Critics, Preserves Status Quo for Alaska Trawlers”.  This is not the news that Alaskan coastal communities and fishermen were hoping for.  The North Pacific Fishery Management Council at their June meeting, which ended Tuesday, decided once again to postpone meaningful action to update its definition of “pelagic trawl gear” and continue allowing midwater trawl gear to contact up to 100% of the area fished with the seafloor. 

ANCHORAGE, AK— While the North Pacific Fishery Management Council did not take final action at its February special meeting to institute a cap on the Bering Sea pollock trawl fleet’s bycatch of chum salmon, SalmonState is encouraged by the depth, knowledge and importance of the testimony from western and Yukon River Alaskans experiencing devastating chum salmon declines, advocacy for Indigenous inclusion in the decision-making process, and a more respectful tenor to the meetings than there has been in years past.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council this week will consider limiting trawlers’ bycatch of chum salmon in the Bering Sea pollock pelagic trawl fishery. From 2014 to 2023, trawlers have bycaught (caught and then largely discarded) more than 300,000 chum salmon each year on average. Meanwhile, Western Alaska communities, traditional chum salmon fishermen, small boat commercial fishermen, and everyday Alaskans have been experiencing chum salmon restrictions and shutdowns.

CORDOVA, ALASKA—The Alaska State Board of Fisheries is this week set to consider four proposals that would reduce or eliminate bycatch in Alaska’s only state-managed pollock pelagic trawl fishery, which takes place from January 20 through March 31 in Prince William Sound. The fishery has zero observer coverage and while supposedly “midwater,” trawlers regularly bycatch bottom-dwelling species like shortraker and rougheye rockfish, halibut, black cod, lumpsuckers, skates, sole, flounder, octopus and prowfish, as well as non-bottom species like Chinook salmon, chum salmon, and squid.

ANCHORAGE, AK— The National Marine Fisheries Service was forced to close most of the Gulf of Alaska to pollock trawling last week after two “midwater” trawlers accidentally netted 2,000 Chinook salmon in one day bringing the estimated season total of Chinook bycatch to near or over their allowable number. While pelagic or midwater gear is supposed to be off the seafloor, recent studies found that trawl nets contact the bottom on average 40% to 80% of the time, with rates up to 100% on factory ships, also called catcher/processors.  Last week's closure halts fishing for 20 boats ahead of their scheduled Nov. 1 closure.  The North Pacific Council will meet this week in Anchorage to discuss whether or not to clarify if midwater nets should be allowed to drag the bottom.