October 10, 2025 — In Alaska’s pollock fishery, the largest in the United States and among the most productive in the world, every tow carries not just pollock but the risk of catching salmon.
For decades, commercial fishermen and scientists have collaborated to reduce salmon bycatch, refining net designs, developing exclusion devices, and implementing vessel notification systems to steer clear of populated areas. New technology is emerging that utilizes artificial intelligence, specifically a tool called You Only Look Once, version 11 (YOLOv11), which could help fishermen and scientists evaluate salmon excluders more efficiently, accurately, and potentially at a lower cost.