Alaskafish.news
January 2, 2026
Laine Welch
Bering Sea and Gulf of AK trawl fisheries were re-certified as well-managed and sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council. Alaskans were left out of the process.
Alaska’s First Commercial Fishing Boat Hybrid Prepares to Hit the Water
Must Read Alaska
December 17, 2025
Natalie Spaulding
The Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association (ALFA) has been working to hybridize Alaska’s fishing fleets since receiving a grant from the Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technology Office (VTO) in 2021. From 2021-2023, ALFA partnered with the National Research Energy Laboratory to “identify that the viable next step is a hybrid diesel/electric boat.”
‘We’re really breaking new ground’: hybrid fishing boat prepares for maiden voyage in Sitka
KCAW Raven Radio
December 15, 2025
Hope McKenney
It’s a cold, snowy day down by Sitka’s marine haulout. Inside the giant unheated commercial workspace, I can still see my breath as men weld and work on boat parts around me.
Off to one side is a giant engine — or should I say two, one white and one dark grey — stuck together in an intricate pattern of metal and tubing. This engine is hybrid electric and is about to be put in the 50-foot fishing vessel Mirage.
The Mirage could be Alaska’s first official hybrid electric fishing boat, and it’s one step closer to hitting the water. The boat is part of a pilot program based in Sitka to address high fuel costs for the fishing fleet and maybe make fishing just a little bit greener.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.