Prioritize Alaskan Fisheries

Alaska’s fisheries are central to our economy, food security, and way of life. They should be managed for Alaska’s long-term interests, not outside pressure.

Acknowledge the impact of Climate Change on our fisheries

We must use our best science to understand how to address the impact of climate change on our fish populations. Warmer temperatures are impacting our stock and fish genetics.

As Governor I will:

• Invest in science and science research to fully understand these impacts on all our seafood resources

• Identify new and innovative ways, based on science and indigenous knowledge, to improve fish stock and other seafood resistance to higher temperatures

• Develop a coordinated, science-informed plan to resist the incursion of invasive species like the green crab in Southeast Alaska that are decimating our undersea habitat

• Fully fund our Sea Grant, other University, and independent scientific facilities that are at the forefront of this struggle 

Crack down on bycatch

The bycatch issue is consuming our fisheries debate, but at least now it has brought this issue front and center. We must understand the causes and aggressively combat unnecessary bycatch in the waters we govern directly and those managed by the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council.  Most importantly – we must bring Alaska’s fish home.

As Governor, I will:

• Enforce existing Alaska regulations that eliminate bottom trawling in most Alaska waters

• Work for enforceable, science-based caps on salmon bycatch

• Require full transparency on bycatch data and enforcement

• Work with those seeking to develop better methods for reducing bycatch in the waters we don’t directly govern

• Fight for harsher penalties for foreign fleets fishing in US waters to discourage rouge fishing and massive over harvest which harms all of our fisheries

• Work with Alaska’s federal delegation to reform federal fisheries governance and to allow for non-fisheries investment for CDQ entities

Smart caps, transparent data, and stronger federal accountability mean Alaska can stop managing fisheries around waste and start managing them around survival.

Put Alaska communities first

Too many fishery decisions are made without enough input from the rural, Tribal, and subsistence fishing communities that depend on Alaska’s fish. Alaska needs leaders who put our communities first and protect our fisheries for the long term.

As Governor, I will:

• Appoint non-industry, Alaska-based representatives to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and have them speak with a united voice that will prioritize bringing our fish home

• Expand tribal and rural representation in fisheries decision-making at the state and federal level

• Stand up for Alaska fisheries first, including our subsistence and commercial fishery users

• Appoint state leaders who treat sustainability as the priority and who follow the science in their decision-making

Restoring fairness, accountability, and local control will help protect Alaska fisheries, rural communities, and the people whose lives depend on them.