September 27, 2024 — As commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, I often hear concerns about the impacts of trawl gear used in Alaska’s pollock fisheries, most recently related to potential unobserved mortality of crabs and halibut in the Bering Sea. We know that pelagic trawls fishing for Alaska pollock are often operated close to, or in contact with, the seafloor. What we do not know is the extent of this contact or the potential impacts on bottom-dwelling species like crab and halibut and their habitat. These data gaps are concerning to Alaskans, and I want to highlight actions underway to understand and address the unintended consequences on seafloor ecosystems in areas that fishery managers and stakeholders have recognized as needing protection.
Alaska’s marine fisheries are universally recognized as a shining example of both bounty and sustainability. About 60% of domestically caught U.S. seafood comes from Alaska. Science-based management by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, North Pacific Fishery Management Council, and NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has proven to be the key to ensuring that Alaska’s fisheries continue to support good jobs, vibrant fishing communities and a healthy food supply for generations to come. But fishery management must be adaptive to changing biological and economic conditions, and declines in crab, halibut and other important stocks in recent years have heightened concerns about the impacts of bottom trawling.
When considering trawl fisheries, it’s important to distinguish between bottom trawls and pelagic trawls used in the pollock fishery. As the name implies, bottom trawls are specifically designed to catch fish at or near the seafloor. Pelagic trawls are designed to fish higher than bottom trawls and are typically used to target a single species. The best available information indicates that bottom trawls have a greater impact on seafloor habitat than pelagic trawls, and ADF&G, the Council and NMFS have closed large areas of the ocean off Alaska to bottom trawling to minimize these impacts. That said, some key species such as scallops can only be fished with bottom fishing gear.