SeafoodSource
July 30th, 2025
By Erin Spampinato
Sitka, Alaska, U.S.A.-based fisher advocacy organization The Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association (ALFA) has won a USD 485,000 (EUR 422,719) National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant to support AI-driven electronic monitoring (EM) efforts for Alaska fixed gear fishers.
The project will involve utilizing the FishVue AI tool created by British Columbia, Canada-based Archipelago Marine Research, as well as a partnership with the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC), to monitor Alaska sablefish and halibut in fixed gear fisheries.
ALFA Policy Coordinator Lauren Howard said that the “project aims to increase efficiency and lower the fleet’s overall observer costs.”
It also addresses fisher ffedback gathered by the organization, she said..
“Many small-boat fishermen prefer EM systems over human observers, so increasing the usefulness and effectiveness of EM should have direct benefits to our members and Alaska’s fixed gear fleet in general,” Howard said.
Archipelago President and CEO Gord Snell added that the project marks a "major step forward" in the relationship between his firm and ALFA.
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