Dear Colleagues,

We are proud to introduce the Polar Institute's latest project, Empty Nets: Big Changes in a Great American Fishery. In this video and publication series, we are focusing on the fisheries crisis in Alaska. You will hear directly from the people on the frontlines of this crisis–what they are seeing on the ground and what they would like to see changed. 

The fisheries crisis in Alaska is not a simple story to tell: while some fish and crab species have nearly disappeared in the past few years, other species are thriving. Contributing factors include a complex mix of environmental changes, economic headwinds, and foreign bad actors. Similarly, there is no silver bullet. It’s clear that more scientific data and research are needed to illuminate key drivers leading to these losses, and target most effective interventions. But there is no time to waste—each year that goes by with empty nets and fisheries closures brings us closer to the ruin of a truly iconic American fishery. 

Alaska has long been regarded as one of the world’s most sustainable fisheries. Careful, locally-informed and science-backed fisheries governance has built a highly profitable fishery while preserving subsistence uses and protecting iconic species. However, in recent years, this stability has been thrown into peril. Market forces like inflation and post-pandemic shifts in customer behavior created economic headwinds, which are intersecting with environmental changes to deal a devastating one-two punch to the industry and the broader community. There are deep and uncomfortable questions about how to ensure the future of this iconic American fishery, and we hope to contribute to this important national conversation. 

According to data from NOAA, profitability in the Alaskan fishing industry dropped by half 2021-23. This translated into over 38,000 job losses across the US, and a $4.3 billion loss in total US output. Alaska is most impacted, but Washington, Oregon, and California have been hard hit as well. Species across the region are affected, including snow crab, red king crab, as well as salmon. 

Species of special concern are iconic Alaskan salmon species like Chinook and chum salmon.  Alaskan salmon are returning to spawn in fewer and fewer quantities. In 2022, the lowest return of Chinook salmon on record was documented, at 81% below historic levels. Chum salmon was 92% below average in 2021. Those that do return are the smallest in recorded history. The picture isn’t all bleak: sockeye salmon are yielding record runs in Bristol Bay. The ripple effects of these large-scale changes are being felt across the state but are most concentrated in the Alaska Native communities along the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers.

There is no single cause of these massive population changes. Changes in the physical environment, including water temperatures, salinity, parasites and disease, play a role, along with changing ecological dynamics including competition from other species, predation, and the availability of food species. Humans play a role too: the impacts of hatchery fish, trawling and bycatch, and possible illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing across the Bering Sea are not fully understood. 

These shifts come at a time when geopolitics and global competition make cooperation in the Arctic more challenging than ever before. Across the Bering Strait, Russian hatcheries operate with little to no oversight. Interbreeding and disease spread by hatchery fish are not confined to Russia’s rivers. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to complicate cross-border cooperation between the US and Russia. 

The effects of the fisheries crisis range from local to global. Alaska is a key supplier in the global seafood industry, so decreased productivity and profits from Alaskan seafood impact customers, suppliers, and workers across the US and beyond. At the local level, the fisheries crisis in Alaska is devastating communities and cultures. Declining catches and fisheries closures drive fishing boats and fish processing plants out of business, leading to sharp declines in communities’ tax revenues. The US Department of Commerce has declared over a dozen federal fishery disasters in Alaska in recent years. And the community and cultural impacts reach far beyond financial: fishing is an identity and way of life. For Alaska Native communities in particular, the loss of salmon represents a threat to well-being and community survival. 

Alaskan fisheries are at a critical juncture. The local populations and global supply chains that depend on these fisheries are at risk of collapse. Through our interviews and essays, we hope to amplify the voices of those navigating these shifting tides. The loss of Alaskan salmon is a loss for us all, reverberating across borders and generations. 

We are committed to working alongside our partners to drive meaningful change. Please stay tuned as this project continues to provide analysis and fresh perspectives in coming weeks. 

Thank you, 

Rebecca Pincus and Shannon O’Hare