Isn’t Alaska a world leader in sustainability when it comes to fishing?
Answer
No. Interception fisheries in Alaska would be illegal under their state constitution. In 2023, bycatch from their groundfish trawl fisheries included at least 10 orcas. Many communities in Alaska, especially up-river indigenous communities, have been threatened with legal action by the State for attempting to harvest even small portions of returning salmon runs. Meanwhile, large-scale commercial fisheries like the bottom-trawl are exceeding their bycatch.