Friday, November 21, 2025
- admin04655
- Nov 21, 2025
- 6 min read
Alaska
Disaster relief applications open for captain and crew affected by 2021-22 and 2022-23 crab seasons
KUCB by Theo Greenly - November 19, 2025
Financial relief is finally reaching Alaska fishermen, roughly four years after the crab crash hit the Bering Sea fleet.
ADF&G Forecasts “Average” Pink Salmon Harvest for Southeast Alaska — 19M Pinks in 2026
SeafoodNews by Peggy Parker - November 20, 2025
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) issued its latest salmon forecast for next year last Monday: a lackluster “average” run of pink salmon to rivers in the state’s panhandle, with a predicted harvest of 19 million fish.
“Juvenile pink salmon abundance measured in northern inside waters during summer 2025 was near the middle of the long-term range, which suggests a moderate number of adults returning in 2026,” the agency’s forecast said.
While salmon returns can vary due to changing ocean conditions, ADF&G’s forecast is based on historical monitoring of the resource by NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Auke Bay Laboratories, and ADF&G monitoring programs.
Next year’s harvest forecast was primarily based on juvenile pink salmon abundance indices collected by the Southeast Alaska Coastal Monitoring (SECM) project in northern Southeast Alaska SEAK inside waters. The data was collected from annual systematic surface trawl surveys conducted in June and July in upper Chatham and Icy Straits and has been shown to be highly correlated with the harvest of adult pink salmon in the following year.
The 2026 harvest forecast of 19 million pink salmon is near the 2024 harvest (20 million), greater than the mean harvest of the last 10 even years (18 million; 2006 to 2024), but less than the mean even-year forecast from the same period (22 million). The 2025 juvenile pink salmon abundance index value ranked the 7th lowest out of the 29 years for which SECM information has been collected.
ADF&G’s forecasts for Southeast pink salmon have been spot-on about 32% of the time in the last 22 years. They underestimate the size of the run about 18% of the time and overestimate it about 30% of the time.
Assembly to decide whether to accept P-cod disaster money
Kodiak Daily Mirror By Steve Williams - November 19, 2025
Federal Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod fisheries were closed in 2020 with corresponding loss of revenue for the Kodiak Island Borough and the State of Alaska.
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National
Trump moves to roll back Biden’s strengthening of ESA protections
Seafoodsource by Nathan Strout - November 20, 2025
ESA protections have been a significant source of friction for salmon fisheries in the Pacific Northwest
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed rolling back changes made to strengthen the Endangered Species Act (ESA) under former U.S. President Joe Biden, reverting parts of the law to the language used during Trump’s first term.
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Bipartisan FISH Wellness Bill Would Double Grants for Fishermen's Safety and Behavioral Health
Expana by Ryan Doyle - November 21, 2025
Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) reintroduced the Fishing Industry Safety, Health, and Wellness Improvement (FISH Wellness) Act on November 20.
The legislation would reauthorize the Commercial Fishing Occupational Safety Research & Training Program and build on its previous success with an aim to improve on-the-job safety and health risks facing today’s commercial fishermen. The focus will be on chronic fatigue and the high rates of drug overdose, alcohol-related liver disease, and suicide.
Markey’s office added that the bill would double the authorized funding level for the program, increasing grant availability and access from coast to coast.
“Our fishermen face demanding and dangerous working conditions on the water every single day—conditions that take both a physical and mental toll,” said Senator Markey. “The FISH Wellness Act would provide much-needed funding to ensure that fishermen continue to access critical information and resources from trusted local providers to stay safe and healthy on the job.”
“Fishermen contend with extreme weather, long distances and periods away from shore and their families, and often strenuous working conditions—factors that contribute to the industry being consistently ranked among the most dangerous in the country,” said Senator Sullivan. “I’m glad to introduce the FISH Wellness Act with Senator Markey, which would continue to fund job safety training opportunities and address behavioral health concerns to support our fishermen as they sustainably harvest a world-class renewable resource and strengthen our coastal economies.
”Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), Angus King (I-Maine), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) are cosponsors of the FISH Wellness Act.
Here's a look at more reactions of the reintroduction of the FISH Wellness Act:
“Fishermen's lives are inherently risky and uncertain, whether it's navigating dangerous seas, volatile markets, changing regulations or skyrocketing expenses, the pressure is enormous. They need support tailored to the many difficult challenges they face,” said Aubrey Church, Fisheries Policy Director of the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance. “Industry-led training and greater access to health programs are essential to their success and the success of our coastal communities. We are grateful to Senator Markey for understanding that these programs not only improve the daily lives of small business owners and their families, but save lives.”
“The FISH Wellness Act recognizes that healthy fisheries depend on healthy fishermen,” said Michelle Stratton, Executive Director of the Alaska Marine Conservation Council. “For too long, the physical and mental strain carried by those who harvest our seafood has gone unseen. This bill strengthens the programs that keep fishermen safe, supports the wellbeing of coastal communities, and ensures that the next generation can continue this vital work. We are grateful to the bill’s sponsors for recognizing the human side of our nation’s seafood economy and investing in the people who sustain it.”
“Fishermen face an increasingly unpredictable work environment with more frequent and dramatic storms,” said Linda Behnken, Director of the Alaska Longline Fishermens Association and founding board member of the Fishing Communities Coalition. “Safety training and mental health support are critical to their survival. ALFA applauds senators Sullivan, Murkowski and Markey for recognizing the challenges our fishermen face every day and taking bold steps to keep them safe and thriving.”
“The commercial fishing industry fluctuates with logging, at being the most dangerous industry in our nation, with up to 45 deaths per 100,000 fishers,” said Andrea Tomlinson, Executive Director of the New England Young Fisherman’s Alliance. “Additionally, the industry is wrought with uncertainty, increasingly stringent regulations, and constant challenges to our fishermen and women's physical and mental health. We fully support the FISH Wellness Act and hope to see it get the bipartisan support it deserves.”
“Commercial fishing is the second most dangerous occupation in the U.S. Fishermen face risks such as vessel disasters, onboard injuries, and falls overboard,” said Dr. Leann Cyr, Executive Director of the Alaska Marine Safety Education Association. “On top of this, they often experience high-stress environments from the boat, crew, weather, regulations, economic uncertainty, lack of sleep, and musculoskeletal injuries just to name a few. This legislation supports the health and safety of fishermen through research and training that have contributed to an 80% decrease of commercial fishing fatalities since the 90s. This legislation also makes U.S. Coast Guard required training affordable and accessible to fishermen.”
Environment/Science
New offshore drilling plan opens almost all federal water off Alaska
Alaska Public Media by Liz Ruskin - November 20, 2025
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration proposes to open nearly all of the oceans off Alaska to potential oil and gas drilling.
Federal Register
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Regulations for Designating Critical Habitat
A Proposed Rule by the Fish and Wildlife Service on 11/21/2025
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS or the Service), propose to amend portions of our regulations for section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act or ESA).
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings
A Notice by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 11/20/2025
The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its 158th Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), Executive and Budget Standing Committee (SC), Program Planning SC, and its 205th Council meetings to take actions on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region.
FYI’s
Semester by the Bay students present at symposium
Students participating in Kachemak Bay Campus’ Semester By the Bay program gave presentations during a day-long symposium hosted at the college Friday.
Homer News by Delcenia Cosman - November 20, 2025
Students participating in Kachemak Bay Campus’ annual Semester By the Bay program gave presentations on their research conducted over the past months during a symposium hosted Friday at the college.
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