On Sept. 3, the House Natural Resources Committee has advanced H.R. 3692, a bill to reauthorize the Young Fishermen’s Development Act (YFDA). The legislation, first passed in 2020, is aimed at addressing workforce challenges in the commercial fishing industry by providing training and business development support for new entrants.
Off the Water, Into the Record: Why Fishermen Need to Comment Now
Fishing season is winding down in many ports, and with boats tied up, attention turns to the other half of the work—what happens off the water. This is the time when policy meetings, comment periods, and agency hearings start filling the calendar. And right now, two major federal comment opportunities are open that deserve the full attention of independent fishermen.
If you want a future where small boats still have a place on the water, where independent hands can make a living without being swallowed by consolidation, then it’s time to speak up.
The Calls for Comment
Two opportunities are open right now:
1. NOAA Fisheries on the Executive Order for Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness
Public comment open until Tuesday, October 14, 2025
Two virtual listening sessions: Thursday, September 25 and Wednesday, October 1 from 4:30–5:30 PM EST
Submit written comments to nmfs.seafoodstrategy@noaa.gov
2. USDA on Department Reorganization
Public comment open until Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Submit comments to reorganization@usda.gov
Details at usda.gov
These may sound like bureaucratic exercises. But the rules written today will shape tomorrow’s docks, processors, and markets. Independent fishermen have every reason to weigh in.
Join the Movement - Protect the Tongass
The Boat Company
August 8th, 2025
By Marisa Marulli
The Roadless Rule’s creation in 2001 drew an astonishing 1.6 million public comments, the most ever for any U.S. government regulatory matter, as documented in the Federal Register (January 11, 2001).
This overwhelming support, shaped by grassroots efforts including The Boat Company’s pivotal role in its adoption into federal policy, forged a shield protecting 58.5 million acres of pristine wilderness across the United States.
With the recent June 23, 2025, announcement by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to rescind this Rule, these lands are at risk—and that includes 9.34 million acres of the 16.7 million-acre Tongass National Forest.
The Boat Company’s Conservation Director and environmental attorney, Paul Olson, alongside partners like Earthjustice and Natural Resources Defense Council, have defended Roadless Rule repeal attempts in the past—victoriously.
Today, we ask you to make history again: add your name to our sign-on letter supporting the Roadless Rule. Paul Olson will submit it along with a legal letter likely to be one of the largest, most detailed messages going to officials in defense of the Roadless Rule.
Sign at act.theboatcompany.org, and when the public comment period officially opens, we will guide you to regulations.gov to amplify your impact.
Together, we can outmatch history and preserve this natural treasure for generations to come.
Read the full newsletter here
Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association to test AI monitoring with USD 485,000 grant
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.
Read full article here
The Fishing Communities Coalition applauds bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Young Fishermen’s Development Program
Fishing Communities Coalition
July 23rd, 2025
By FCC Staff
The Fishing Communities Coalition issues the following statement in response to the introduction of legislation to reauthorize the Young Fishermen’s Development Program for another five years:
The Fishing Communities Coalition (FCC) applauds today’s introduction of bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Young Fishermen’s Development Act (YFDA) led by Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK). The legislation, which would extend the program for five years beyond its current expiration after Fiscal Year 2026, is a sound investment in the future of America’s fishing industry and a response to the demographic challenge known as the “graying of the fleet.”
The FCC is also deeply grateful for the leadership of Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) and a bipartisan group of colleagues, including Reps. Nick Begich (R-AK), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Jared Golden (D-ME), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Delegate Amata Radewagen (R-AS) for the introduction of H.R. 3692 last month. This unified, bicameral effort underscores the support for the Young Fishermen’s Development Program (YFDP), which provides workforce development and safety training for early-career commercial fishermen.
The original Young Fishermen’s Development Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump in 2021. If passed, this reauthorization bill would also be signed by President Trump, continuing his support for the YFDP, consistent with his executive orders on strengthening the U.S. seafood industry, workforce development, and U.S. maritime industry.
Read full article here
Seafood’s share of USDA funding? Just 0.5 percent
National Fisherman
July 22nd 2025
By NF Staff
Of $31.2 billion in grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s marketing service during 2018 to 2023, $261.7 million went to seafood-related projects – just 0.5 percent of all USDA funding for food supply investments.
A research team recently published those findings in the journal Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, titled Fish, funding, and food systems: a review of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s recent history of grant funding in support of the seafood sector (2018-2023). The authors call the study “the first empirical study looking at the USDA’s investment in American seafood since President Trump issued Executive Order 14276, ‘Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness.’”
The authors wrote that they found is no single explanation for why seafood projects gets such a small fraction of USDA grant funding, compared to other U.S. food production sectors. But they did find “numerous opportunities for increasing the USDA’s investment in American seafood.”
The research was funded by the Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust (ASFT), as part of a larger project to identify ways USDA grant funding could be made more accessible for the fishing and seafood industry.
“Alaska’s fishermen harvest some of the healthiest and highest quality food on the planet and supply 60 percent of our country’s seafood production. Yet, our fishing organizations have struggled to secure USDA grant funding for a variety of projects despite being aligned with the USDA’s goals. Seafood is generally a square peg in a round hole when it comes to USDA funding opportunities,” said Linda Behnken, a commercial fisherman, board president of the Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust and executive director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association.
Read full article here
Wind and solar power for Alaska's fishing fleet
National Fisherman
July 16th, 2025
By Carli Stewart
As the fishing industry looks to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, wind and solar power have become an increasingly discussed option for commercial fishing vessels.
Linda Behnken, executive director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association (ALFA), sees potential in both energy sources but stresses that careful consideration of each vessel’s needs is necessary for successful integration.
Solar power
Solar energy is often viewed as a straightforward solution to renewable energy. Solar panels can power non-propulsion systems on vessels such as refrigeration, lighting, and electronics, potentially reducing fuel consumption. Many Alaskan vessel owners have begun adopting renewable energy technologies.
“Solar seems promising for the seafood processing sector, but I am not aware of workable technology for our small-scale commercial fishing boats at this time,” said Behnken.
Despite the clear benefits of solar, Behnken noted that solar panels cannot replace the need for a fuel-powered engine on most fishing vessels. Instead, they serve as a supplement. “It’s especially effective on boats with limited space for large engines or battery systems,” she added.
Wind power
Wind power is another renewable energy source that has garnered some interest among fishermen. Small wind turbines installed on vessels could help reduce fuel consumption, especially on longer trips. Behnken pointed out that wind turbines can be a valuable supplement to traditional power sources but may not be suitable for all types of vessels.
“Not all vessels are built for wind power,” said Behnken. “But for some boats, especially those with larger superstructures or those that fish offshore, adding a small wind turbine could make a lot of sense.”
For those vessels that could benefit, wind turbines could help offset some of the energy demands, especially in favorable wind conditions.
Read full article here
Healthy fishermen for a healthy America
National Fishermen
July 20th, 2025
By Monique Coombs and Lauren Howard
The America First Seafood Strategy put forth in President Trump’s “Restoring America’s Seafood Competitiveness” executive order offers a promising vision for the economic resurgence of our fisheries, but first we must prioritize the wellbeing of the very people who can make that vision a reality: our commercial fishermen.
The shuttering of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Center for Maritime Safety and Health, coupled with the proposed elimination of its vital research and training funds in the 2026 Health and Human Services (HHS) budget, represents a dangerous misstep in the pursuit of a healthier nation.
For 40 years, NIOSH's targeted prevention efforts have succeeded in dramatically improving the safety record of one of the nation's most dangerous occupations. The data speaks for itself: Commercial fishing fatalities have been slashed by more than 80 percent since these initiatives began.
This isn't just a matter of saving lives; it's a sound investment as well as a Coast Guard requirement for many fisheries in order to leave the dock. For every dollar spent on NIOSH's work, the return is millions in saved costs — from preventing expensive Coast Guard rescue operations to reduced burdens on the healthcare and insurance systems (not to mention our families and communities) for work-related injuries and deaths.
Read full article here
New plan seeks to restore rural access to Alaska halibut fishery
National Fisherman
July 10th, 2025
By Margaret Bauman
Southeast Alaska fisheries entity with a proven track record for providing thousands of free seafood meals to those in need and educating the next generation of commercial harvesters has a new plan to make more halibut quota available to the area's traditional coastal fishing communities.
Using grants and investments totaling $934,000 from the Rasmuson Foundation, the Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust (ASFT), in collaboration with Sealaska Corporation, Central Council of Tlingit, and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska and Spruce Root, a non-profit community development financial institution, will purchase halibut quota on the open market this fall and winter to make the highly popular whitefish available for harvest in Craig, Kasaan, and Yakutat. The plans were announced on July 7.
The funds include a $700,000 grant and a $234,000 program-related investment (PRI) aimed at restoring rural and indigenous access to the coastal fisheries. All three communities have signed resolutions in support of the regional community quota entity (CQE).
"With this funding, which includes both Program Related Investment and grant funds, we will anchor access to the halibut fishery in rural communities and ensure residents enjoy the cultural, social, and economic benefits of participating in Alaska's commercial fisheries," said Linda Behnken, board president of ASFT, executive director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association (ALFA), and a veteran halibut and black cod commercial harvester from Sitka.
Read full article here
New research shows seafood gets just half a percent of USDA food funding, identifies significant opportunities to enhance U.S. seafood competitiveness with increased investment
Photo courtesy of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI)
ASFT
July 9th, 2025
SITKA, AK - This week, Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems published “Fish, funding, and food systems: a review of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s recent history of grant funding in support of the seafood sector (2018-2023),” the first empirical study looking at the USDA’s investment in American seafood since President Trump issued Executive Order 14276, “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness.”
The authors found that of the total $31.2 billion awarded through USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, Food and Nutrition Services, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and Rural Development grants between 2018-2023, only 0.5% went to seafood-related projects when compared with other food products. While there is no single explanation for why seafood projects received such a small fraction of the USDA’s grant funding, the authors identified numerous opportunities for increasing the USDA’s investment in American seafood. The research was funded by the Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust (ASFT) as part of a larger project to identify potential ways to make USDA grant funding more accessible for the fishing and seafood industry.
“Alaska’s fishermen harvest some of the healthiest and highest quality food on the planet and supply 60% of our country’s seafood production. Yet, our fishing organizations have struggled to secure USDA grant funding for a variety of projects despite being aligned with the USDA’s goals. Seafood is generally a square peg in a round hole when it comes to USDA funding opportunities,” said Linda Behnken, commercial fisherman and Board President of the Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust and Executive Director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association.
Read full press release here