Brannon Finney suggests five methods to reversing the worrying trends and restoring rural fishing access. The Young Fishermen's Summit was created to highlight Alaska's resurgence of fishing culture. These five steps, as well as others, are detailed in this report. Continue reading to learn more about the implications of these proposals.
The fishing fleet in Alaska has a startling number of vessels. Each of them would cover 71 miles from bow to stern if built to the magnitude of the state's fishing fleet. Despite the size of Alaska's fleet, the state catches enough seafood to feed the entire world for a month. The copper river salmon season began last week, and just 33,000 chinook and 400 chum salmon were captured.
This season, Alaska's fishing fleet must fly a quarantine flag. When crew members from outside the state come on board, this flag is called a Lima flag and it is needed to be carried onboard. It's yellow and black, and it says there'll be a 14-day quarantine. If you're concerned about bycatch on your boat, the local fishing council can provide you with one. These organizations are pushing fishermen to follow these guidelines.
Brannon Finney believes that a number of things influence the quality and pace of fishing in a certain location. The quality and speed of fisheries can be affected by the number of boats in a fishing fleet. A large number of boats in the Kodiak fishing fleet, for example, may have a higher quality harvest than fewer boats in another area. The number of boats required is also determined by the weather conditions and the quantity of fisherman on board. For example, 85 boats have signed up for the fishing in Kodiak, while only 14 will be working in Chignik.
According to a recent report by the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, the state's seafood industry supports 36,800 employment and creates $5.2 billion in yearly economic activity. After oil and gas, this is more than enough to make the state the country's second largest seafood producer. Furthermore, prior to the epidemic, fish processing businesses were investing $100 million per year in Alaska. Infrastructure investments are frequently costly and require complex technologies.
The commercial fishing in Bristol Bay helps the state's salmon and other seafood sectors develop. It produces more than half of all sockeye salmon in the world and is home to the world's largest red run. In fiscal year 2019, the fishing industry in this region earned $163 million in taxes.
Quota reductions in Alaska's fishing industry are harming the bottom line for fishermen who rely on crabbing for a living. Fishermen must now decide whether or not to go to the Bering Sea to fish for red king crab and other species since the quota cuts began in January. Meanwhile, 44% of drift netters do not chill their catch, affecting the price of Alaskan seafood significantly.
While the EEZ closure has harmed many commercial fisherman in the state, it has also provided an opportunity for new businesses to enter the market. Rogue Wave Seafoods was founded in November of last year and hopes to operate out of the same facilities as other businesses in the area, such as Copper River Seafoods and Snug Harbor. Matt Haakenson, the company's creator, formerly worked for Pacific Star Seafoods in Kenai and Inlet Fish, both of which shut down the fishery in the middle of last season. The corporation owns the facilities and hired him because of his local knowledge.
In February, the Cook Inlet Coalition, a Homer activist group, and many commercial fishermen signed a letter urging the state to reject the Kachemak Bay State Park proposal. The Tutka Bay Lagoon Hattery, which was established in 1975 to increase the amount of pink salmon in the state, is mentioned in the letter. The hatchery makes more money through cost recovery harvesting, despite the reduced per-pound price.
For Alaska fishermen, Brannon Finney feels the herring fishery is profitable. A record-breaking 45164 tons of fish were harvested in 2017. The overall catch for the year was 130 million pounds, up 32% from the previous year. The Togiak sac roe herring fishery, which typically begins in late March at Klawok and Craig, is the second significant fishery in the state.
