Saving Seafood

ALASKA: Shore-Based Observers Strengthen Catch Accounting in Alaska’s Pollock Fishery

January 26, 2026 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries is required by law to monitor fishery catches to ensure sustainable management of U.S. fisheries. The Alaska pollock fishery is the largest U.S. fishery by volume, and one of the largest in the world. Accurate accounting of pollock and other landed species—along with the catch of prohibited species such as salmon and halibut—is critical for science-based management and compliance with regulations. Traditionally, fisheries observers working on-board Alaska pollock vessels filled this role by collecting catch information and biological samples. These data contribute to stock assessments and catch accounting.

However, deploying at-sea observers can be both logistically challenging and expensive in some fisheries. As a result, hybrid monitoring programs, which combine electronic monitoring at sea with human shore-based observers, are becoming more common. They are well suited for low-discard fisheries which land all, or most of, the catch.

Researchers at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center evaluated the implementation of shore-based observers in the Alaska walleye pollock trawl fishery. The study, conducted under a voluntary exempted fishing permit, examined whether shore-based observers stationed at fish processing plants could:

  • Meet core monitoring responsibilities
  • Fulfill expanded sampling duties
  • Verify the accuracy of industry-reported catch data

ALASKA: Alaskan lawmakers introduce Bycatch Reduction and Research Act

January 8, 2026 — Alaska’s Congressional delegation has proposed new legislation designed to reduce salmon bycatch in commercial fisheries and protect seafloor habitats from trawling operations.

“In recent years, Alaskans have witnessed unprecedented declines among some fish and crab species in parts of the state while, in other parts, runs have been strong and historic,” U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) said in a release. “We need to get to the bottom of all potential causes of this increased variability, including concerns about bycatch and trawl gear habitat impacts, to strengthen the sustainability of our fisheries.”

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Federal fisheries managers hold Bering Sea pollock catch steady

December 9, 2025 — Federal fishery managers are keeping the Bering sea pollock quota flat next year, even as they move to sharply reduce catch limits in the Gulf of Alaska.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council on Sunday recommended the 2026 Bering Sea pollock total allowable catch at 1.375 million metric tons, the same as this year. The catch limit for the Aleutian Islands is another 19,000 metric tons.

Read the full article at KUCB

ALASKA: Smarter nets and faster data for the Alaska pollock fishery

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.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

ALASKA: Two Economic Reports Highlight Pollock Industry’s Impact in Alaska

October 2, 2025 — A pair of new studies validate the economic importance of the Alaska pollock industry. The Alaska Pollock Fishery Alliance (APFA) paid for two studies prepared independently by Northern Economics and the McKinley Research Group.

Both studies found significant economic impacts from pollock fishing and processing and contributions to Community Development Quota (CDQ) groups. The studies put the value of the fishery at the billions of dollars, including thousands of jobs in the seafood sector and the transportation and other support industries.

Read the full article at Alaska Business

Faster Analysis of Data to Evaluate Bycatch Reduction Efforts in Pollock Fishery

September 30, 2025 — Scientists used a model to detect and classify fish in videos more quickly than humans. The detection model is called You Only Look Once, version 11 (or YOLOv11). It’s helping scientists evaluate the effectiveness of excluders that help salmon escape from fishing nets intended to catch pollock.

YOLOv11 is an object detection deep learning model for images. Scientists at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center customized it to detect and identify both pollock and salmon in fishing nets. This allows scientists to semi-automate the video review process used to evaluate the effectiveness of bycatch reduction devices. They can also observe fish behavior to improve the performance of these devices.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

NPFMC says pelagic trawl gear impact needs further evaluation

June 17, 2025 — Federal fisheries managers have given the Bering Sea pollock industry until the December of 2025 to develop spatial closures for the 2026 groundfish A season to protect Bristol Bay red king crab.

The decision reached by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) at its June meeting in Oregon is based on new winter pot surveys, tagging data and other recent data sources, the council said in its motion of June 8. The council requested information from the industry to be presented at its December meeting in Anchorage.

The council also acknowledged the lengthy Pelagic Trawl Gear Innovation Discussion Paper available in May and requested an update on the progress of that initiative at its meeting of April 2026, by which time the field study portion of the protect for catcher processors is expected to be complete.

Read the full article at The Cordova Times

USDA awards USD 2.3 million in pollock contracts, seeks more bids on pollock, salmon

May 12, 2025 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded USD 2.3 million (EUR 2 million) in contracts for Alaska pollock, while asking for additional bids on contracts to provide millions of dollars’ worth of pollock and salmon.

The USDA awarded two contracts for 1,026,000 pounds of Alaska pollock products, with the largest, worth USD 1.45 million (EUR 1.3 million), going to Braintree, Massachusetts, U.S.A.-based Channel Fish. Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.-based Trident Seafoods was awarded USD 829,996 (EUR 739,000) to supply frozen pollock sticks and nuggets.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Bids due 7 April for USD 50 million USDA pollock contract

March 31, 2025 — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is asking for bids on Alaska pollock for domestic food distribution programs as part of up to USD 50 million (EUR 46 million) the agency said it would spend on the fish.

Suppliers that want to bid on the contracts for 1 million pounds of pollock fillets, nuggets, and sticks must submit bids by 7 April 2025. Deliveries will be made between 16 May and 31 July 2025.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource