Ban bottom trawling, more than 5,000 Alaskans tell Rep. Begich

JUNEAU, AK— Alaskans this week delivered to Rep. Nick Begich, R-Alaska, a letter signed by more than 5,000 state residents urging him to work to ban bottom trawling in federal waters.

“The health of our fisheries and the impact of trawling has emerged as a top tier issue for Alaska’s decision makers,” said SalmonState Operations Director Ryan Astalos. “I have traveled across our great state, talking to Alaskans about the negative impacts of trawling, both on the habitat and the many species that we care about and rely on including salmon, halibut, and crab. From Nome, Fairbanks, and Homer, to Yakutat and everywhere in between, Alaskans are fed up with being restricted or closed to fishing while the trawl industry continues business as usual, often bycatching more of these species than we are allowed to catch for our freezers.”

Trawling is an industrial form of fishing that uses nets the size of football fields and larger to catch low-value fish like pollock and whitefish in large quantities. In the process, draggers bycatch — incidentally catch and then discard dead — an average 141 million pounds of marine life each year. This bycatch includes king salmon, chum salmon, halibut, crab, forage fish like herring, and killer whales.

At the same time customary and traditional, sport, and commercial fishermen are facing severe restrictions or outright bans on fishing for the same species that trawlers bycatch. On the Yukon River, Native Alaskan communities that have fished sustainably for ten thousand years are forbidden to catch a single king salmon. Halibut stocks are at record lows. But trawlers continue to bycatch and discard them dead. As of February 28, in 2026, trawlers have bycaught a recorded 1 million pounds of halibut. The number of dead and discarded halibut could be much higher, since halibut picked out of the net and thrown back overboard (deck sorted) are estimated to have a 50/50 chance of survival so half are not counted as bycatch.

“On the campaign trail, Nick Begich told Alaskans that domestic trawling is not sustainable and major reform is needed. In the same interview, Nick stated that immediate action to protect salmon was necessary and that we must reduce bycatch thresholds. Alaskans are still waiting to hear from Nick following through on the stance he took during the campaign,” said Melissa Norris of Fish Alaska Magazine.

“We don't need to measure every single cause of fishery decline to know that bottom trawling is a mistake. Why continue crushing the bottom of the food chain and wasting resources through bycatch? If you told a third-grader they could only have three chicken nuggets instead of five because you were throwing the rest in the trash, they’d tell you the solution isn't a smaller appetite—it’s to stop the waste. We should listen to that same basic logic,” said Karl Thomas, owner of Wild Coast Alaska. “Why would you continue to put enormous pressure on the bottom of the food chain and waste through bycatch the resources under decline? Waste is never the right response to scarcity. Why this is so difficult to understand is asinine to me.”

"Our family's small business depends on the health of Alaska's oceans and fisheries, which visitors travel thousands of miles to experience," said Timothy Ozerkov, owner of Oz Lodge in Seward, Alaska. "While small boat fishermen, charter operators, and subsistence users face tighter restrictions and declining opportunities, large-scale trawl operations continue to discard fish that our communities depend on. Banning bottom trawling is a meaningful step toward the long-term sustainability and health of Alaska’s fisheries and fishing economy. Our coastal communities deserve fisheries management that values these resources not just for today’s profits, but for the generations that will depend on them tomorrow.” 

“Alaskans who depend on salmon for food security are banned from catching a single fish, while out-of-state industrial operations kill thousands as waste product. When returns fall below minimum escapement goals—the bare minimum needed for population survival—every fish matters. Trawl bycatch of 35,000+ kings represents more fish than returned to the entire upper Yukon River,” said Justin Shoffner, owner of Alpenglow Coffeehouse in Girdwood Alaska.

“’I’m so mad about what’s happening to our fish. It’s ridiculous what’s going on…,’ is the gist of what we hear from customers and visitors alike on a regular basis,” said Troy Arnold, Owner of B&J Sporting Goods, B&J Tackle Repair in Anchorage, AK and B&J Tackle Box in Whittier, AK. “With nearly three-quarters of Alaskans supporting a ban on trawling entirely, most Alaskans are frustrated with the status quo and feel like they’re not only not being heard but not being adequately responded to by those responsible for management and oversight of our most valuable living resource – our fish. This issue gets at the heart of what matters to Alaskans – our ability to feed our families – and that is becoming increasingly more difficult and pressing. It’s a statewide issue for Alaskans of all ages and backgrounds. It really is time for the rest of the country to pay attention to not only where their seafood comes from but, how it’s harvested and where it gets processed.”

“I have seen the trawlers and their devastation over my 30-plus years living in Uyak Bay on Kodiak Island,” said Steele Davis, owner and operator of Spirit of Alaska Wilderness Adventures. “Years ago, our guests used to limit out on King salmon and it would take us just an hour to catch two halibut. We would never keep a fish under 25 pounds. Now it’s rare we can find a 25 pound halibut.”

“For many of us in Alaska, salmon are more than a fish. They are culture, food, economy, and a sacred relationship with the ocean. Industrial bottom trawling that wastes salmon as bycatch threatens that relationship. As a fisherwoman and co-founder of Sakred Salmon, I stand with thousands of Alaskans calling for an end to these destructive practices so salmon can return for generations to come,” said Lisa Rodgers, owner of Sakred Salmon in Kenai, Alaska.

SalmonState works to keep Alaska a place where wild salmon and the people who depend on them continue to thrive.

Wild Coast Alaska, based in Homer, AK delivers an authentic Alaskan fishing experience led by an experienced crew and fueled by a true passion for the water. 

Oz Lodge is family owned and operated in Seward, AK

Alpenglow Coffeehouse is located slope-side to Alyeska Ski Resort in Girdwood, AK. Alpenglow offers fresh roasted coffee, locally made treats and a cozy apres ski experience.

Spirit of Alaska Wilderness Adventures is a lodge located in Larsen Bay on Kodiak Island.

Fish Alaska Magazine is family owned and has been published for more than 23 years. The magazine offers a variety of how-to articles, regional features, trip-planning advice, gear reviews, recipes, entertaining stories, and in-depth Alaska fishing information.

B&J Sporting Goods is the largest tackle, bait, and fishing gear store in the state. We're dedicated to empowering Alaskans and fishing enthusiasts to make the most of their outdoor adventures in the Land of the Midnight Sun. 

Sakred Salmon is an Alaskan Native & Woman owned 5th generation family. Sakred Salmon harvests & sells our pristine AK Wild Salmon.