Saving Seafood

High fuel prices could hurt Kodiak’s salmon fishermen

June 5, 2026 — The high cost of diesel, fueled by the war in Iran, coincides with a projected weak salmon harvest for this summer.

Down at the dock in Kodiak’s St Paul harbor on a windy Tuesday in May, Darren Platt organized his boat, a 42-foot seiner called the Agnes Sabine, ahead of the upcoming salmon season.

“Before a season, you just tear everything apart, and then just desperately try to put it back together,” he said. “I’m still in the tearing everything apart phase.”

This time of year, Platt would normally be excited to hit the water. This summer though, he said he’s feeling apprehensive, mostly about the price of diesel.

“It’s probably going to be close to double what it was last year,” he said.

Platt is one of many who work on the water who are concerned about the price at the pump. Gas prices are still high as a result of the war with Iran, and even a small increase could make or break an already short season.

Last summer, Dave Kubiak, owner and operator of the fishing vessel Lara Lee, said he paid around $3.75 a gallon for fuel. But when he filled his tank on May 20, diesel was $6.70 a gallon, an increase of more than 80%. He calculated that filling the vessel’s tank from empty would have cost him nearly $10,000.

Read the full article at KMXT

ALASKA: Pelagic trawl debate returns as council weighs next steps on gear performance

June 5, 2026 — As the North Pacific Fishery Management Council meets this week, a renewed debate over pelagic trawl gear is drawing attention from conservation groups, fishermen and fisheries managers.

In a June 1 statement, Alaska-based nonprofit SalmonState urged the council to close what it describes as a loophole that allows pelagic, or “midwater,” trawl vessel to make contact with the seafloor while operating in areas closed to other forms of bottom-contact fishing.

“In the Bering Sea alone, 40 percent of all bottom contact by fishing operations comes from ‘mid-water’ trawlers,” SalmonState stated in its release.

“No one should be allowed to drag the ocean floor in protected, sensitive areas closed to that practice,” said SalmonState executive director Tim Bristol. “It’s far past time to close this colossal loophole.”

SalmonState operations director Ryan Astalos argued that if pelagic gear is contacting the seafloor, it should be managed differently.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

“Americans are buying American freedom fish, not communist fish” – US Senator Dan Sullivan touts work on securing extension of Russian seafood ban

June 4, 2026 — U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) took credit for the recently extended ban on Russian seafood during a Congressional committee hearing 2 June, stating that “Americans are buying American freedom fish, not communist fish from Russia.”

The hearing, titled “The Blue Economy: Advancing American Fisheries, Maritime Strength, and Coastal Economies,” took place more than a month after U.S. President Donald Trump opted to extend the ban on Russian seafood imports into 2027.

Read the full article at Seafood Source

In Kachemak Bay, Kotzebue and beyond, Alaskans are on the lookout for harmful algae blooms

June 3, 2026 — Algae is vital to a healthy marine system, and most of the hundreds of varieties in Alaska’s waters are beneficial or benign.

But the handful that are harmful are, like other algae, proliferating in warmer conditions and releasing or threatening to release toxins that can sicken people and wildlife and, in the worst cases, cause deaths.

The best-known type of algae that poses risks to people, mammals and birds in Alaska is called Alexandrium. The toxins it produces cause paralytic shellfish poisoning; they block the delivery of sodium to cells, thus interfering with or shutting down nerves essential to bodily functions.

The most potent Alexandrium toxin is saxitoxin, but there are related toxins produced by the same algae called gonyautoxins, or GTX. Some GTX varieties, including one detected in tomcod harvested in December by Nome-Beltz High School students in a yearslong science project, are nearly as toxic as saxitoxin. For simplicity’s sake, testing for paralytic toxins often lumps measurements of saxitoxin and GTX compounds together as “saxitoxin equivalent,” said Thomas Farrugia, coordinator of the Alaska Harmful Algal Bloom network.

Read the full article at Alaska Public Media

ALASKA: Harmful algae blooms are an increasing concern in Alaska due to climate change, NOAA says

June 3, 2026 — As oceanic temperatures continue to climb, harmful algal blooms have become an increasingly worrisome threat on the seabed floor of the Alaskan Arctic Ocean.

According to NOAA, a Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing-funded project conducted by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) found that warming waters are “causing algal blooms to occur more frequently in the Arctic Sea.”

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

ALASKA: Algal toxins emerge as a new concern in Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea

June 1, 2026 — For countless generations, people of the Bering Strait region have relied on the food they harvest from the sea without worrying about harmful algal blooms that threaten seafood eaters in warmer and more southern latitudes.

Now, as the Northern Bering Sea undergoes cascading effects of a warming climate, algal risks pose a new challenge.

The change has been dramatic.

And it has prompted a change in the way Nome youth grow up learning about collecting food from the waters around their home. In early April, Nome high school students traveled to Bethel with their science teacher, where they presented their research at the Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference held by Alaska Sea Grant.

Algal toxins were present, at very low but detectable levels, in fish they eat.

Sophomore Audrey Bruner-Alvanna was among the group of student researchers. She said young people are concerned about algal blooms, which proliferate in warmer conditions, and their potential effects on wild food resources.

Read the full article at the Alaska Beacon

North Pacific council seeks public comment on pelagic trawl gear

June 1, 2026 — Federal fisheries managers are scheduled to take up pelagic trawl gear issues in Alaska’s commercial fisheries when they meet June 1 to June 9 in Vancouver, Wash. 

   Members of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) plan to hear presentations from industry, processor and research entities and research updates to determine whether further action should be pursued to minimize the impact of trawl bycatch on other species.

   NPFMC staff posted the June 2025 Pelagic Trawl Gear Innovation report for discussion at the June meetings. The council may also evaluate potential management measures to minimize the impacts of pelagic trawl gear in areas that are closed to nonpelagic trawl gear and address potential unobserved crab mortality, council staff said.    

    Trawl bycatch of salmon and other species in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska has prompted economic controversy for years, particularly from rural residents pursuing a subsistence lifestyle. The trawl fishery plays a significant role in the economy of areas such as Kodiak Island.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

Fishing Regulations Are Sinking Small Businesses: Advocacy Is Fighting Back

May 29, 2026 — The following was released by the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy:

Commercial fishing is woven into the fabric of American life. It feeds our communities, supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, and strengthens our national food security by reducing dependence on foreign-sourced seafood.

Small, owner-operated vessels and processors are the backbone of the industry. Small businesses make up 99.9 percent of all U.S. firms and employ nearly half the private-sector workforce. In fishing communities from Maine to Alaska, that share is even higher. Yet decades of overregulation make it harder for these small commercial fishing businesses to stay afloat.

On April 17, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order, “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness,” which stated, “Federal overregulation has restricted fishermen from productively harvesting American seafood, including through restrictive catch limits, selling our fishing grounds to foreign offshore wind companies, inaccurate and outdated fisheries data, and delayed adoption of modern technology.”

As the voice for small businesses within the federal government, the Office of Advocacy (Advocacy) has been actively engaged with the American commercial fishing industry during the Trump 47 Administration by elevating their concerns to federal agencies and attending numerous nationwide in-person meetings with fishermen.

Advocacy held a panel discussion on March 16 at the 2026 Seafood Expo North America, a multi-day event with about 15,000 attendees from around the globe. After engaging with business owners in the fishing industry, the message is clear that regulatory burdens threaten the livelihoods that have sustained small family-owned fisheries for generations.

At the Seafood Expo North America, I had the opportunity to collaborate with commercial fisherman and seafood processors from across the country and to arrange a panel discussion about the regulatory burdens facing the industry. Capt. Bob Zales, Executive Director of the Southeastern Fisheries Association hosted the event, and Tyler Macallister, owner-operator of the fishing vessel (F/V) Cynthia C of Cape Cod, MA, worked with us to bring together numerous commercial seafood organizations nationwide. NOAA’s Asst. Administrator for National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Eugenio Pineiro Soler, spoke at the event and took questions. In addition, leadership from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration traveled from Washington, DC, attended and participated in this first-ever national meeting of the American commercial seafood industry at the Boston Seafood Show.

Fishermen Concerns

Zales stated, “Our shared mission is to bring long-overdue recognition to the American seafood industry as equal to America’s farmers and ranchers, and to confront the excessive regulatory burdens that hinder small, family-owned commercial fishing businesses from prospering.” USDA has heard this message and recently announced the opening of its Office of Seafood, which will work with fishermen to help them take advantage of USDA programs. Advocacy attended the April 15 event announcing the opening of the Office of Seafood, hosted by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. Also present at the event were Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Rep. Kat Cammack (FL-03).

One of the seafood industry’s most pressing concerns is the cost of onboard observer and monitoring requirements. Federal mandates require many commercial vessels to carry at-sea monitors, and the financial burden falls squarely on small operators. Revising this rule alone could save an estimated $180,900 per small business, money that could go toward crew wages, vessel maintenance, or simply keeping the lights on.

Fishermen are also deeply concerned about marine sanctuary and national monument designations that restrict access to productive fishing grounds. Rescinding overly broad designations could generate approximately $9.7 billion in cost savings for small businesses. That figure speaks for itself. The Trump Administration is addressing this concern by issuing an executive order reopening the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts National Monument to fishing.

Further, Fishermen have shared frustrations on how federal regulations that inhibit fishermen’s and seafood processors’ ability to purchase new equipment, modernize vessels, and compete with foreign-sourced seafood impact their businesses. When regulations make it prohibitively expensive to invest in upgrades, American seafood businesses lose ground to foreign competitors who face far fewer restrictions.

Advocacy Taking Action

Advocacy has taken action to get relief for the industry. On January 7, 2026, Advocacy launched the Most Wanted Reform list, a targeted initiative identifying the federal regulations that impose the greatest burdens on small businesses and pushing for meaningful change. On March 23, 2026, we added fishing-related regulations to that list, sending a clear signal that we heard the commercial fishing industry’s concerns at the highest levels.

It is also important to carry this message back to the industries. During the Expo, we updated the audience on current deregulatory efforts, including the removal of fishing barriers in the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts marine monument, proposed changes to rules for the classification of squid as a “shellfish,” and vessel speed rules.

Your Voice Matters

If you are a fisherman, a seafood processor, or a small business owner affected by federal regulations, I want to hear from you. Advocacy’s strength comes from the real-world experiences of the people we serve. Reach out to me at Janet.Fogarty@sba.gov, and I will connect you to a Regional Advocate in your area. We are here to be your voice in Washington and to fight for regulations that make sense for small businesses to prosper, not ones that sink them.

ALASKA: Copper River sockeye fillets are a hot seller

May 29, 2026 — First-run Copper River reds, heralding the start of Alaska’s 2026 wild salmon fishery, are in high demand, selling for up to $74.99 a pound. 

A third drift net opener, this time up from 12 to 24 hours, was scheduled for the Copper River District of Prince William Sound for Thursday, May 28.  

As of Wednesday, May 27, the total harvest came to 73,165 sockeye salmon and 1,224 Chinooks, all from the Copper River district. 

At the Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle on Tuesday, May 26, shipping manager Hillary Sager said that their first shipment from the Copper River on Alaska’s Prince William Sound sold out due to preorders. “Demand is still very high and all the fish are spoken for right now,” she said. 

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

ALASKA: State voids Area M restrictions after Aleutians East argues ethics violation

May 27, 2026 — The Alaska Department of Law has voided regulations aimed at restricting the Area M commercial salmon fishery.

The regulations were passed by the state Board of Fisheries in February, and quickly challenged in a lawsuit filed by the Aleutians East Borough, the Native Village of Unga, and two commercial fishing groups. They argued the regulations couldn’t be enforced because the Board of Fisheries violated state ethics laws while adopting them.

The groups dropped the lawsuit Wednesday after the state revoked the new rules, with both sides agreeing to end the case.

Area M has long been at the center of a fight over salmon conservation in Western Alaska, where low chum and Chinook returns have led to major restrictions on subsistence fishing.

Read the full article at KUCB