Fishing Industry

Published on: October 20, 2026

The Comeback of the Yelloweye Rockfish

Most folks who grew up along the Pacific Northwest coast remember rockfish on the dinner table. The firm, mild white fillets were a fixture at fish counters and family tables as they were sturdy enough to fry, bake, or simmer in a chowder. That firm white flesh also worked well with butter, garlic, and herbs. Of the many rockfish species, the yelloweye, often sold as “red snapper,” was considered a high-quality protein. After a quarter century off the menu, it is on its way back.

Yelloweye rockfish are hard to mistake, with bright orange bodies, golden eyes, and rough ridges above each eye. They are among the largest rockfish, reaching about three feet in length and over 30 pounds, and they live on rugged, rocky reefs where they hunt smaller fish, crab, and squid. They reside in the East Pacific and range from Baja California to Dutch Harbor in Alaska. What sets them apart is their lifespan, as yelloweye rockfish can live as long as 147 years. They grow slowly, and it takes about 20 years before even half of them are old enough to reproduce.

That slow growth is what made them vulnerable. Catches peaked from the late 1970s through the late 1990s, and the population could not be sustained. In 2002, yelloweye rockfish were declared overfished off the West Coast, and keeping them was prohibited. With an average generation time of 44 years, fishery managers projected only a 50 percent chance of recovery by 2027, even if all fishing stopped.

Published on: July 21, 2026

The Astoria Regatta Festival: Love Letter to the Sea

by Nigel Stacey

Every August, the town of Astoria, Oregon, celebrates the Columbia River, the sea, and the people who have spent generations working it. The Astoria Regatta Festival has been a hometown tradition since 1894, which makes it one of the oldest festivals in the Pacific Northwest, and the oldest celebration in Oregon’s oldest city. This longevity does not happen by accident. It happens because a community keeps deciding, year after year, that their maritime story is important and worth sharing and remembering.

The Astoria Regatta celebrates the area’s maritime tradition. Commercial and recreational boaters alike demonstrate the pride they have in this tradition through land and sea parades, search and rescue demonstrations, boat races, and a Seafarers’ Memorial. Through these events and the Regatta, the community pays homage to the hardworking men and women who built this industry, many of them multi-generational family mariners, and the excitement to continue the tradition for generations to come.

To understand why this festival matters, one must understand the river. Astoria sits where the Columbia meets the Pacific, a stretch of water that has carried Native American canoes, tall-masted clipper ships, U.S. Navy vessels, U.S. Coast Guard cutters, and generations of fishing boats. It is not an easy river to navigate. The bar at the mouth of the river is one of the most dangerous stretches in the world, earning it the nickname “Graveyard of the Pacific.” Every person who has piloted a boat across this bar, whether for a living or for pleasure, knows it demands respect and patience. The Regatta was born out of that knowledge and practice.

Published on: June 2, 2026

Alaska Seafood Contributes $5.2 Billion in Economic Value

by Nigel Stacey

Alaska’s seafood industry is one of the world’s most productive fisheries, and one of the most economically important in the nation. A new report released in May puts some numbers in perspective, and they’re worth understanding if you work on the water in Alaska.

The 2026 Economic Value of Alaska’s Seafood Industry report, produced by McKinley Research Group for the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI), uses data from the 2023 and 2024 fisheries. The industry contributed $5.2 billion in total economic value from harvest, processing, and distribution. Alaska fishermen harvested an average of 5.1 billion pounds of seafood valued at $1.5 billion at the dock. Processors turned that raw harvest into 2.4 billion pounds of finished product worth $4.2 billion, adding $2.7 billion in value before the product ever left the state.

The workforce behind those numbers is substantial. The industry directly employed 41,800 people, including more than 15,000 Alaskans from over 120 communities statewide. Total labor income generated by the seafood sector reached $1.9 billion.

Published on: May 26, 2026

What to Do If You Are Injured at Sea: The First 8 Steps

by Nigel Stacey

You already know that you work in one of the most dangerous industries in the world. When something goes wrong, the decisions you make in the first hours and days after an injury can determine whether you receive the full compensation you are entitled to or whether you walk away with far less than you deserve.

Maritime law and the Jones Act exist to protect you. Here is how to protect yourself.

Report any Accident Immediately

Published on: February 24, 2026

When Weather Forecasting Fails Fishermen Suffer

by Nigel Stacey

Before any commercial fishing vessel leaves the dock in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, or California, captains perform an essential task; they check the weather forecast. Marine forecasts, buoy data, and storm advisories determine whether a crew goes out. That information comes from a federal infrastructure system most fishermen take for granted, until it breaks down.

Federal budget conflicts in Washington, D.C. have consequences that reach beyond the capital. For commercial fishermen, cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) create real safety hazards on the water.

Since early 2025, hundreds of NWS and NOAA employees have left due to layoffs and attrition. About 40% of the nation’s 122 weather forecast offices now carry significant staffing vacancies, and at least eight are unable to maintain 24-hour coverage. As Tom Fahy of the National Weather Service Employees Organization noted, “This has never happened before. We’ve always been an agency that has provided 24/7 service to the American public.” Five former NWS directors issued a joint warning to Congress: “Our worst nightmare is that weather forecast offices will be so understaffed that there will be needless loss of life.”

Published on: July 29, 2025

New State Funding Boosts Alaska Seafood Workforce Development

by Nigel Stacey

Alaska’s seafood industry is getting a significant boost in workforce development thanks to new state funding through the Technical and Vocational Education Program (TVEP). This initiative supports five key programs for both seafood harvesters and processors.

For processors, the Alaska Seafood School will offer three programs focusing on crucial areas: food and processing regulations, automated equipment and refrigeration, and plant management.

Fishermen across Alaska will benefit from two TVEP-funded projects launching this fall: the Skipper Apprentice program in Bristol Bay, providing essential training and mentorship for new crew, and the innovative “Scaled Seafood” project, offering vital fisheries business training.

Published on: May 14, 2025

Empowering Alaska Fishermen Through Insurance Cooperatives

by Stacey & Jacobsen, PLLC

House Bill 116 is currently under consideration by the Alaska State Senate, representing a potential turning point for the state’s commercial fishing industry. This legislation would authorize Alaskan fishermen to form their own insurance cooperatives, which would lower operating costs and ensure the financial stability of smaller operators facing increasingly difficult economic conditions. Having passed the House unanimously, the bill is now before the Senate, with a strong possibility of enactment this session.

The bill originated from the Joint Legislative Task Force Evaluating Alaska’s Seafood Industry, which analyzed and identified growing financial strains on commercial fishermen. As Representative Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, and Senate President Gary Stevens have emphasized, the combination of record-high operating costs and record-low fishing market prices calls for innovative solutions to support this vital sector of Alaska’s economy.

The primary concern driving this legislation is the increasing cost and decreasing availability of traditional insurance for fishing vessels. Underwriters are reportedly increasing premiums and becoming more selective with their customers. This has created a significant barrier for many independent fishermen seeking insurance. By enabling fishermen to collectively pool their resources, they can create a larger, potentially lower-risk insurance pool, theoretically leading to more attractive rates and greater access to coverage.

Published on: February 17, 2025

Alaska Salmon Forecast 2025

by Nigel Stacey

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) has released its 2025 salmon run forecast for the Prince William Sound (PWS) and Copper River regions. The projections provide key insights into Chinook, sockeye, pink, and chum salmon returns, which will influence early-season management strategies.

Copper River Chinook Salmon

The 2025 forecast anticipates a total run of approximately 36,000 wild Chinook salmon in the Copper River, with a prediction range between 25,000 and 51,000 fish. This is 25% below the recent 10-year average of 48,000, classifying the run as “Weak.” Given the sustainable escapement goal (SEG) of 21,000 to 31,000 fish, ADF&G plans to enforce conservative management to support stock sustainability.

Published on: February 4, 2025

Joint Legislative Task Force Evaluates Alaska’s Seafood Industry

by Joseph Stacey

In response to mounting economic challenges within Alaska’s seafood sector, the Joint Legislative Task Force Evaluating Alaska’s Seafood Industry has released a preliminary report. The report identifies critical issues affecting the industry and proposes policy recommendations to address them.

Key Challenges Identified

The task force report highlights several pressing challenges:

Published on: October 29, 2024

NOAA’s 2024 Seafood Industry Report

by Joseph Stacey

Alaska’s seafood industry, a cornerstone of the state’s economy and U.S. fisheries, is facing significant hurdles, as revealed in NOAA’s 2024 report. Economic conditions, workforce challenges, and climate impacts are driving this once-thriving sector into a difficult period, resulting in substantial declines in profits and industry-wide layoffs.

Economic Downturn and Job Losses

The report details that from 2021 to 2023, Alaska’s seafood industry saw a 50% drop in profitability, largely due to rising costs for fuel, labor, and materials combined with declining global seafood prices. In total, the industry suffered a revenue loss of around $1.8 billion, impacting over 38,000 jobs across the United States, including workers in Alaska and beyond. This economic slump is attributed to global market competition and a complex web of supply chain issues that continue to hinder recovery efforts.