As the fishing industry embraces cleaner energy solutions, hybrid electric vessels are emerging as a potential game-changer for some owners, particularly in Alaska’s challenging maritime environment.
According to Linda Behnken, executive director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association (ALFA), the adoption of hybrid-electric technologies could provide significant benefits, but challenges remain, especially in remote ports and with the logistics of upgrading existing fleets.
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council wrapped up a LONG meeting on October 8th, working their way through most agenda items despite the government shut down.
The Council compiled recommendations on modernizing US fisheries to submit to NOAA in response to the administration’s call for comments. You can find the Council comments here. ALFA testified to the Council on the topic and submitted comments to both the Council and NOAA. ALFA called for renewed commitment to sustainable science-based fisheries management, policy that promotes and sustains opportunity for community-based fishermen (including bycatch caps and habitat protection), reduced observer and logbook burdens, and greater investment in US fisheries infrastructure, training, and marketing.
The Council also took action to reduce the complexity of Maximum Retainable (Bycatch) Amounts and canceled requirements for Economic Data Reporting in the BSAI trawl and crab fisheries. These changes reduce regulatory complexity and burdens on the trawl industry—which seems to be a Council priority right now—but continue to allow discards once Annual Catch Limits are reached. ALFA requested that the Council schedule a review of MRA percentages and initiate comprehensive collection of socioeconomic data. Although the MRA review has not yet been scheduled, the Council did request that their Social Science Plan Team complete a social science gap analysis and advise on further data collection.
Proposed changes to the IFQ and CQE programs
The Council requested an expanded discussion paper on requested changes to the CQE or IFQ programs that includes the following topics:
Ability of CQE to assign and manage quota in-season (e.g., explore processes similar to CDQ permitting for halibut or hired masters permits)
Allow time tendering in any federal or state commercial fishery off Alaska to count toward the 150-day transfer eligibility certificate (TEC) requirement to receive annual IFQ
Consider waiving the TEC requirement for individuals fishing annual IFQ derived from CQE-held quota share
Replace the existing NMFS interim policy with a regulation to establish a minimum age to be eligible to receive IFQ or QS by transfer (e.g., 12, 16, 18)
Potential to increase or remove the 50,000 lb sablefish vessel use cap for the Aleutian Islands CQE Program
Expansion of the designated unload areas for tenders receiving IFQ or CQE halibut or sablefish
Potential to waive the prior notice of landing requirement and restricted unload hours for small IFQ/CQE deliveries (e.g., ≤2,000 lbs)
Potential to increase the amount of quota an individual Gulf of Alaska CQE can hold. (No change to the overall cap for the entire program: 21% of the total halibut QS and 21% of the total sablefish QS in each IFQ regulatory area in which CQEs are eligible to hold QS)
At ALFA’s request, during staff tasking the Council initiated analysis of an amendment to suspend the 2% deduction for sablefish delivered bled, a deduction that currently disincentivizes the extra effort to deliver the highest quality sablefish. The Council has recommended suspending the deduction in the past, but that recommendation was refused by the Secretary of Commerce. The current administration has invited comment on regulations that discourage the competitiveness of American seafood, which seems aligned with suspending the 2% deduction. ALFA will work with the Council to advance this amendment. Stay tuned!
In December and again in June 2026, the Council will revisit spatial closures and pelagic trawl gear management after receiving a research report from Trident and other trawl sector representatives. Watch for action alerts and get ready to call for Council action that eliminates or severely curtails “pelagic” trawl contact with the sea floor.
Finally, the Council and public were noticed that the duration of the government shut down may disrupt the stock assessment process, which informs Council recommendations for catch limits or quotas. As many of you have noticed, the Restricted Access Management Division is also shut down, preventing quota transfers. ALFA has advised Alaska’s Congressional delegation of these impacts and will continue to advocate for budget resolution.
The president has set his sights on Alaska as a test case for his “National Energy Dominance” agenda. Alaskans are resisting.
On Sept. 3, the House Natural Resources Committee has advanced H.R. 3692, a bill to reauthorize the Young Fishermen’s Development Act (YFDA). The legislation, first passed in 2020, is aimed at addressing workforce challenges in the commercial fishing industry by providing training and business development support for new entrants.
Fishing season is winding down in many ports, and with boats tied up, attention turns to the other half of the work—what happens off the water. This is the time when policy meetings, comment periods, and agency hearings start filling the calendar. And right now, two major federal comment opportunities are open that deserve the full attention of independent fishermen.
If you want a future where small boats still have a place on the water, where independent hands can make a living without being swallowed by consolidation, then it’s time to speak up.
Two opportunities are open right now:
1. NOAA Fisheries on the Executive Order for Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness
Public comment open until Tuesday, October 14, 2025
Two virtual listening sessions: Thursday, September 25 and Wednesday, October 1 from 4:30–5:30 PM EST
Submit written comments to nmfs.seafoodstrategy@noaa.gov
2. USDA on Department Reorganization
Public comment open until Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Submit comments to reorganization@usda.gov
Details at usda.gov
These may sound like bureaucratic exercises. But the rules written today will shape tomorrow’s docks, processors, and markets. Independent fishermen have every reason to weigh in.
The Boat Company
August 8th, 2025
By Marisa Marulli
The Roadless Rule’s creation in 2001 drew an astonishing 1.6 million public comments, the most ever for any U.S. government regulatory matter, as documented in the Federal Register (January 11, 2001).
This overwhelming support, shaped by grassroots efforts including The Boat Company’s pivotal role in its adoption into federal policy, forged a shield protecting 58.5 million acres of pristine wilderness across the United States.
With the recent June 23, 2025, announcement by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to rescind this Rule, these lands are at risk—and that includes 9.34 million acres of the 16.7 million-acre Tongass National Forest.
The Boat Company’s Conservation Director and environmental attorney, Paul Olson, alongside partners like Earthjustice and Natural Resources Defense Council, have defended Roadless Rule repeal attempts in the past—victoriously.
Today, we ask you to make history again: add your name to our sign-on letter supporting the Roadless Rule. Paul Olson will submit it along with a legal letter likely to be one of the largest, most detailed messages going to officials in defense of the Roadless Rule.
Sign at act.theboatcompany.org, and when the public comment period officially opens, we will guide you to regulations.gov to amplify your impact.
Together, we can outmatch history and preserve this natural treasure for generations to come.
Read the full newsletter here
SeafoodSource
July 30th, 2025
By Erin Spampinato
Sitka, Alaska, U.S.A.-based fisher advocacy organization The Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association (ALFA) has won a USD 485,000 (EUR 422,719) National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant to support AI-driven electronic monitoring (EM) efforts for Alaska fixed gear fishers.
The project will involve utilizing the FishVue AI tool created by British Columbia, Canada-based Archipelago Marine Research, as well as a partnership with the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC), to monitor Alaska sablefish and halibut in fixed gear fisheries.
ALFA Policy Coordinator Lauren Howard said that the “project aims to increase efficiency and lower the fleet’s overall observer costs.”
It also addresses fisher ffedback gathered by the organization, she said..
“Many small-boat fishermen prefer EM systems over human observers, so increasing the usefulness and effectiveness of EM should have direct benefits to our members and Alaska’s fixed gear fleet in general,” Howard said.
Archipelago President and CEO Gord Snell added that the project marks a "major step forward" in the relationship between his firm and ALFA.
Read full article here
Fishing Communities Coalition
July 23rd, 2025
By FCC Staff
The Fishing Communities Coalition issues the following statement in response to the introduction of legislation to reauthorize the Young Fishermen’s Development Program for another five years:
The Fishing Communities Coalition (FCC) applauds today’s introduction of bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Young Fishermen’s Development Act (YFDA) led by Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK). The legislation, which would extend the program for five years beyond its current expiration after Fiscal Year 2026, is a sound investment in the future of America’s fishing industry and a response to the demographic challenge known as the “graying of the fleet.”
The FCC is also deeply grateful for the leadership of Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) and a bipartisan group of colleagues, including Reps. Nick Begich (R-AK), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Jared Golden (D-ME), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Delegate Amata Radewagen (R-AS) for the introduction of H.R. 3692 last month. This unified, bicameral effort underscores the support for the Young Fishermen’s Development Program (YFDP), which provides workforce development and safety training for early-career commercial fishermen.
The original Young Fishermen’s Development Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump in 2021. If passed, this reauthorization bill would also be signed by President Trump, continuing his support for the YFDP, consistent with his executive orders on strengthening the U.S. seafood industry, workforce development, and U.S. maritime industry.
Read full article here
National Fisherman
July 22nd 2025
By NF Staff
Of $31.2 billion in grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s marketing service during 2018 to 2023, $261.7 million went to seafood-related projects – just 0.5 percent of all USDA funding for food supply investments.
A research team recently published those findings in the journal Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, titled Fish, funding, and food systems: a review of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s recent history of grant funding in support of the seafood sector (2018-2023). The authors call the study “the first empirical study looking at the USDA’s investment in American seafood since President Trump issued Executive Order 14276, ‘Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness.’”
The authors wrote that they found is no single explanation for why seafood projects gets such a small fraction of USDA grant funding, compared to other U.S. food production sectors. But they did find “numerous opportunities for increasing the USDA’s investment in American seafood.”
The research was funded by the Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust (ASFT), as part of a larger project to identify ways USDA grant funding could be made more accessible for the fishing and seafood industry.
“Alaska’s fishermen harvest some of the healthiest and highest quality food on the planet and supply 60 percent of our country’s seafood production. Yet, our fishing organizations have struggled to secure USDA grant funding for a variety of projects despite being aligned with the USDA’s goals. Seafood is generally a square peg in a round hole when it comes to USDA funding opportunities,” said Linda Behnken, a commercial fisherman, board president of the Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust and executive director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association.
Read full article here
National Fisherman
July 16th, 2025
By Carli Stewart
As the fishing industry looks to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, wind and solar power have become an increasingly discussed option for commercial fishing vessels.
Linda Behnken, executive director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association (ALFA), sees potential in both energy sources but stresses that careful consideration of each vessel’s needs is necessary for successful integration.
Solar energy is often viewed as a straightforward solution to renewable energy. Solar panels can power non-propulsion systems on vessels such as refrigeration, lighting, and electronics, potentially reducing fuel consumption. Many Alaskan vessel owners have begun adopting renewable energy technologies.
“Solar seems promising for the seafood processing sector, but I am not aware of workable technology for our small-scale commercial fishing boats at this time,” said Behnken.
Despite the clear benefits of solar, Behnken noted that solar panels cannot replace the need for a fuel-powered engine on most fishing vessels. Instead, they serve as a supplement. “It’s especially effective on boats with limited space for large engines or battery systems,” she added.
Wind power is another renewable energy source that has garnered some interest among fishermen. Small wind turbines installed on vessels could help reduce fuel consumption, especially on longer trips. Behnken pointed out that wind turbines can be a valuable supplement to traditional power sources but may not be suitable for all types of vessels.
“Not all vessels are built for wind power,” said Behnken. “But for some boats, especially those with larger superstructures or those that fish offshore, adding a small wind turbine could make a lot of sense.”
For those vessels that could benefit, wind turbines could help offset some of the energy demands, especially in favorable wind conditions.
Read full article here
