Fisheries

Murkowski says the $50 million the CARES Act designated for commercial fisheries nationwide is not enough.

Local officials, processors, health care professionals and state representatives discussed plans and answered questions about the 2020 commercial fishery in Bristol Bay.

Thousands of fishermen coming to Bristol Bay will be operating under a strict set of guidelines this season, laid out in the new mandate released last week by Governor Mike Dunleavy. But some local leaders say it’s not enough. 

This year, concerns about COVID-19 are hanging over the Bristol Bay fishing season. Along with the millions of reds returning to spawn in the streams and lakes around the region, thousands of commercial fishermen, processors and cannery workers are starting to arrive in the region.

There is still no consensus between the state, communities, and local entities on what the rules will be for the Bristol Bay fishery. Regional organizations are demanding strict safety measures, saying that if they are not met, the fishery should be closed. The state is moving forward with efforts to create safety plans while keeping the fishery open. 

The Curyung Tribe and the City of Dillingham asked the governor to decide the fate of the 2020 commercial fishery immediately, citing the health and safety of residents. 

In a major shift, the board voted to halve Kodiak's allocation of Chignik sockeye in Cape Igvak, shortened fishing time, and doubled the minimum harvest required to open fishing in the Igvak section.

Fishermen participating in Alaska’s largest herring fishery have a huge quota to fill next year. But the primary customer isn't buying. 

Over 500 vendors exhibited at the 2019 Pacific Marine Expo in Seattle in late November. For commercial fishermen, processors and small businesses, it’s the place to be. 

If ADF&G's 2020 sockeye forecast for Bristol Bay comes in as predicted, it would make next year another in a series of big returns. But some biologists caution that continued abundance could lead to a downturn.

The Bristol Bay Borough's general election was postponed. It was originally scheduled for Oct. 1. A special election will be held Nov. 5.