Brief
Alaska pollock fishery faces criticism over salmon bycatch, AP report shows
The Associated Press report details bycatch numbers, mitigation measures and the concerns of Alaska Native villagers.
By Felo News Desk · Published
According to the Associated Press, Alaska’s pollock fishery – the world’s second‑largest – is under scrutiny for the salmon it unintentionally catches, a practice that threatens already‑collapsed salmon runs in western Alaska.
What happened
Over the past decade, Bering Sea pollock trawlers have averaged about 18,000 Chinook and 288,000 other salmon, almost all chum, per year. The bycatch occurs as nets designed for pollock also trap salmon, adding to the decline of runs that have already prompted a seven‑year ban on Chinook fishing along the Yukon River.
What the reports add
The AP report notes that scientists attribute the primary cause of salmon declines to warming waters and shifting ocean conditions, not bycatch, but argue that bycatch remains a controllable source of mortality. The article also cites that genetic testing shows most chum caught by pollock vessels originates outside western Alaska.
What was said
Janet Woods, a resident of Rampart, told the AP that the fishing ban has upended her family’s traditional summer activities, adding, “You think back in history how they tried to destroy us… now our culture is a fight for us just to hang on to what very little we have.” Andrew Seitz, a fisheries professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, said the river communities bear the brunt of conservation measures. Matt Tinning, CEO of the At‑Sea Processors Association, claimed the industry has invested heavily in reducing bycatch, describing the scientific and management effort as “basically unprecedented anywhere.”
How it came about
The bycatch issue is linked to broader environmental pressures on Alaska’s fisheries, a topic previously covered by Felo News in its reporting on Alaska’s Senate race and local resource debates. The fishery’s mitigation steps – weekly voluntary closure areas, salmon excluder devices on every vessel, and observer or camera monitoring – are part of ongoing management efforts that have been highlighted in earlier Felo articles on Alaska’s marine resources.
Key facts
- Alaska pollock fishery supplies McDonald’s Filet‑O‑Fish and other products (independent.co.uk)
- Average bycatch over the last 10 years: 18,000 Chinook and 288,000 other salmon per year (independent.co.uk)
- Every pollock vessel carries a salmon excluder and is monitored by observers or cameras (independent.co.uk)
- Scientists say warming waters, not bycatch, are the primary cause of salmon declines (independent.co.uk)
- Genetic testing shows most chum caught by pollock trawlers does not originate in western Alaska (independent.co.uk)
