Take Action to Oppose Pebble Mine

Take Action to Oppose Pebble Mine

Top photo: Sockeye salmon in Lake Iliamna, which drains into Bristol Bay Recently I had the opportunity to be a panelist on a webinar hosted by Conserve America to talk about the Pebble Mine project at the headwaters of Bristol Bay in Alaska. I have written about this project before. This webinar was an opportunity […]

Selling Direct Provides Rewards Beyond Survival During This Emergency

Selling Direct Provides Rewards Beyond Survival During This Emergency

Top photo: Harrison Ibach and his freshly caught live Dungeness crab. The COVID-19 emergency has devastated the commercial fishing industry and changed the seafood industry, perhaps forever. But one silver lining in this crisis has been seeing the revitalization of direct sales of seafood, and sharing the fish that I catch with my Northern California […]

Executive Order Could Impact Coastal Fisheries, Habitats: Part II

Executive Order Could Impact Coastal Fisheries, Habitats: Part II

Aquaculture Read the first installment of this two-part series, which covered International Fisheries, International Trade, and Commercial Fishing Regulations. President Trump’s “Executive Order on Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth” (Executive Order) touched on a number of seafood-related topics, but the greatest part of the document was focused on offshore aquaculture. It’s easy to […]

At the May ASMFC/MAFMC MEETING, Here’s What Went Down

At the May ASMFC/MAFMC MEETING, Here’s What Went Down

Striped Bass, Menhaden, Bluefish & Recreational/Commercial Allocation Topped the Agenda Top Photo: Bunker and striper; Credit: John McMurray Last week the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission met, in part, jointly with the Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Council to consider a number of issues. Of course, because of the COVID 19 pandemic, Commissioners and Council members […]

Keeping a Clear Head in the Face of COVID

Keeping a Clear Head in the Face of COVID

Although I am not quite in the dire straits that many American families are facing in the COVID-19 crisis, things are not going all that well for the recreational sportfishing community. In 30 years of guiding, I’ve found out that it isn’t just fish that our customers need to come fishing, it’s expendable income. And […]

Alaska Fishermen and Processors Donate to Families in Need

Alaska Fishermen and Processors Donate to Families in Need

Photo courtesy of Linda Behnken As the COVID-19 pandemic creates a greater economic downturn with each passing day, many Alaskans are facing difficult decisions about how to cover daily needs with little or no income. With people out of work, many families are finding it increasingly difficult to put food on the table. Those who […]

April Reflections from Alaska

April Reflections from Alaska

April is a predictable month in Alaska. The days grow longer, the snow melts, foliage blossoms and salmon feel the call home. Fishermen and policy-makers fight their own pull back to the sea and train their attention on the last few meetings before the lives of thousands of commercial fishermen and processors will revolve around […]