OPINION: From the frontlines of Alaska’s coast: Protect our pollock fishery, protect our communities

As mayors of coastal communities in Alaska, we see every day how the health of our fisheries is directly tied to the well-being of the people we serve. In places like Unalaska, Akutan, Kodiak and Sand Point, the pollock industry isn’t just an economic engine — it’s an integral part of our communities. It helps to support our local economies, fund our schools, provide year-round jobs and keep our families together. That’s why we are deeply concerned about growing rhetoric that wrongly pits our community’s survival against other communities in Western Alaska. If we allow this type of zero-sum mentality to shape policy, the impact on our communities would be nothing short of devastating.

To highlight the importance of seafood to our communities, look at the devastating example of King Cove. Just a few years ago, King Cove was a thriving community with a seafood processing plant dependent on year-round trawl deliveries. This plant was more than just a business — it was the lifeblood of the town, providing nearly all the jobs and much of the local revenue. When the plant closed last winter, the impact was immediate and devastating. Families were forced to leave in search of work, schools lost students, and the town’s economy crumbled. King Cove has struggled to recover ever since, and it serves as a stark reminder of what can happen when a community loses its economic backbone.

If the pollock fishery is shut down, a similar fate could befall other coastal communities. In Unalaska and Kodiak, for example, the pollock industry supports hundreds of jobs, from the crews on the fishing vessels to the workers in the processing plants. These jobs aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet—they’re the livelihoods of our friends, neighbors, and families. The revenue generated by the pollock fishery funds our schools, maintains our infrastructure, and provides critical public services. Without it, the very fabric of our community would unravel.

We recognize the situation for salmon-dependent communities is dire. Yet, there is strong evidence — from federal, state and academic scientists — that pollock bycatch is not the cause of declines in Western Alaska salmon and that the level of bycatch is less than 1-2% of total returns to Western Alaska. The narrative that the pollock fishery is to blame for declining salmon runs is inaccurate and distracts us from addressing the real issues affecting salmon populations — issues like climate change, warming marine and freshwater habitats, and other environmental factors. If we allow these misconceptions to take root, we risk dismantling an industry vital to the survival of our coastal communities.

We urge Alaskans to protect all Alaska’s fisheries, but in a way that doesn’t sacrifice the very communities that depend on them. Alaskans are known for rallying around each other during times of crisis. The crisis in fish runs should be no different. Rather than point fingers and create animosity between us, let’s insist on real solutions that adequately address the problems we face. Our future prosperity and indeed, even our communities’ ability to exist, depend on it.

Jim Smith is the mayor of Sand Point.

Vince Tutiakoff is the mayor of Unalaska.

Joe Bereskin is the mayor of Akutan.

Alvin Osterback is the mayor of Aleutians East Borough.

Patricia Branson is the mayor of Kodiak.

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