The state government should do everything it can to defend our fisheries

Juneau Independent
December 14, 2025
Linda Behnken

On Dec. 5, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation director Randy Bates wrote an opinion piece arguing against Salmon Beyond Borders and the Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association's (ALFA's) assertion that, 10 years after the Walker administration signed a Memorandum of Understanding with British Columbia, the Dunleavy administration is "leaving Alaskans in the dark." Reading Mr. Bates' opinion piece you would not realize that commercial fishermen have also expressed strong concerns about the state's lack of action to protect the Taku, Stikine, Unuk, and Salmon Rivers from the B.C. polluting mining boom upstream.

Read the full article here.

Comment: Let's work together to help wild salmon thrive

Times Colonist
December 8, 2025
Jeff Favour

(A commentary by a Sitka, Alaska resident who has been commercial fishing since 1989. He serves on the board of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association and has served on several other fisheries and community-related boards and commissions.)

It was disappointing to see David Mills, a fisheries advisor with the Watershed Watch Salmon Society, use divisiveness in the name of salmon conservation in his Nov. 15 commentary, “Let’s unite to fight Alaska’s salmon overharvest.”

Our world needs more collaboration and unity right now, especially when it comes to the shared management of wild Pacific salmon.

Read the article here.

The Wild Fish Conservancy’s never-ending lawsuits

National Fisherman
December 3, 2025
Paul Molyneaux

The environmental group that sued the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in 2020 in an effort to shut down the Southeast Alaska troll fishery for salmon took home a $1.6 million reimbursement for its costs, despite finally losing its case.

According to the Wild Fish Conservancy (WFC) website, its sole mission is “the protection and recovery of the Northwest’s wild fish.” Sounds like a great idea, and it would seem that the WFC’s mission and that of commercial fishermen ought to align.

Read the article here.

In Alaska ecosystems, powerful forces hide in plain sight

Alaska Beacon
November 26, 2025
Beth Short-Rhoads

After the remnants of Typhoon Halong devastated communities in Western Alaska last month, you might have been jolted into remembering that forces beyond our immediate control govern the planet. A combination of wind, gravity, planetary rotation and uneven heating of the Earth’s surface can result in destructive storms and, in worst-case scenarios, a tragic loss of life.

While we’re right to be gravely concerned about climate change in Alaska, we can also appreciate that the powerful natural phenomena operating around us are often simply doing the quiet work of keeping our ecosystems humming — by transporting water, nutrients and atmospheric gases from place to place. The result is a bountiful suite of ecosystem services: fish and game that fill our freezers, vibrant landscapes for recreation and spiritual renewal, foundations for Indigenous culture and the economic engines of fishing and tourism. 

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Opinion: Don’t trade salmon wealth for timber pennies

Alaska Daily News
November 29, 2025
Linda Behnken

As the U.S. Forest Service considers the future management of the Tongass National Forest, I hope that Alaska’s congressional delegation will listen to what Southeast Alaskans already know: Wild salmon are one of the Tongass’ most valuable resources. If we leave the trees standing and protect the habitat that fish need, the Tongass will continue to generate billions of dollars in natural dividends, in turn supporting thousands of fishing jobs and providing millions of pounds of nutritious seafood year after year.

Read the article here.

Innovative propulsion systems coming for Alaska fishing boats

National Fisherman
October 29, 2025
Margaret Bauman

Southeast Alaska fishermen hoping to decarbonize working waterfronts and lower their operating costs are turning to innovative propulsion systems as a solution.

In November, the Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association (ALFA) plans to begin reducing the carbon footprint of its fleet by converting first one, then a second, diesel-powered fishing boat to hybrid diesel/electric vessels. A third conversion — for full-electric propulsion on a mariculture boat — is also planned for next winter.

Read the article here.

Commercial fishing groups welcome new USDA seafood liaison position

Seafood Source
November 18, 2025
Nathan Strout

Commercial fishing groups are praising U.S. lawmakers for establishing a new seafood liaison position within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) – a long-held goal for the industry.

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‘Trolling is what sustains us’: Pacific Salmon Commission testimony highlights importance of Chinook to Southeast

Raven Radio
November 3, 2025
Hope McKenney

The Pacific Salmon Commission held a meeting in Sitka last month, where commissioners from Canada and the United States discussed Chinook salmon issues and approved an annual work plan for the coming year.  

Several people from across Southeast Alaska spoke during the meeting about the importance of conservation and maintaining fisheries access to the region.

Read the article here.

Helping Alaska's Coastal Communities Adapt with Next-Generation Ocean Forecasting

NOAA Fisheries
November 17, 2025

Changing ocean conditions threaten lives, livelihoods, and invaluable marine resources across the United States. From marine heatwaves and the collapse of snow crab populations in Alaska, to last year’s historic hurricane season, the day-to-day realities of people throughout the nation are being impacted by reduced food security, increased operational costs for fisheries, and higher seafood costs for consumers.

Read the article here.

SICA Success Stories: ALFA

Acme Smoked Fish
Nov 1, 2025

For small-scale fishermen working Alaska's coastal waters, diesel fuel represents a harsh reality – it can consume up to 40% of total operating costs. It's an expense that cuts into already thin margins, yet for decades it seemed like an inescapable cost of doing business. The omnipresent diesel engine powered everything: propulsion, deck equipment, freezers, etc. While hybrid and electric boat systems existed elsewhere, Alaska's fishing community faced steep barriers to entry: limited infrastructure, high upfront costs, and virtually no proof of concept for their unique operating conditions.

Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association (ALFA), a 2022 Seafood Industry Climate Awards (SICA) winner, set out to change this equation.

Read the article here.