The Decline of Sustainable Fish Stocks in Alaska

 

      Alaska has long been the destination sought for adventure, sightseeing, hunting, and great fishing opportunities.  We have twice ourselves visited with another possibly scheduled for 2026.  We were initially lured by the prospect of catching a huge 200+ lb. halibut, big as a barn door.  We did end up with 4 fish, all being pretty small, the largest perhaps 25 lbs.  The limit at this time was 2 halibut apiece, one being under 29".       

      Our second trip in 2019 we went salmon, rockfish, and cod fishing out of Seward.  We easily caught our limit of coho with an additional bounty of rockfish and lingcod.  By this time the halibut was shortened by 2 days a week.  This trip proved to us that rockfish and lingcod are the best eating fish out there. 

      When researching this year's limits on fish I discovered the seasons have once again been drastically shortened and catch/possession limits reduced as well.  Everything is cyclic they say. 

      For several years there was even a closure on King Crab as Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologists have decided to close the Southeast Alaska commercial red king crab and blue king crab fishery for the 2023-2025 seasons.  This does not, however affect the larger fishing areas near the Bering Straits. This year’s harvest limit for red king crab from that part of the Bering Sea was set by the state at 2.31 million pounds, up from last year’s 2.15-million-pound quota.  That follows an unprecedented two-year harvest closure in the winters of 2021-2022 and 2022-2023.  The largest forecasting problem here is a migrating biomass.      

     In 2019, Bristol Bay saw a sockeye return of 56.3 million fish, which was 33% higher than the preseason forecast of 40.2 million. Fishermen caught 43 million sockeye out of this total return.  However, Sockeye salmon populations in Alaska, particularly in Bristol Bay, have shown declines in recent years.  In Cook Inlet however, the 2024 commercial harvest of sockeye salmon was 1.87 million fish. In 2025, a run of approximately 6.93 million sockeye salmon is forecast to return to with an estimate of 4.93 million available for harvest.  

      Copper River with perhaps the most famous sockeye run is expected to be strong, with a forecast of 1.965 million fish, 8% above the 10-year average. This forecast includes a wild run of 1.965 million and a hatchery production of 36,000, resulting in a total run of 2.001 million fish.  These fish are renowned for their rich red color resulting from the generous river shed nutrients resulting in exceptional flavor. 

      Bottom fish are another matter.  Let me first say that these fish are the best tasting of all the fish.  With Alaskan Halibut the "harvest down" of halibut refers to a reduction in the number of halibut that can be caught or harvested, either through a decrease in the total allowable catch (TAC) or a change in recreational regulations. This can be due to various factors, including stock assessments showing a decline in the halibut population, in-season actions, or changes in fishing regulations. Folks flock to Alaska, most notably Homer to catch a 200lb+ 'barndoor' for the experience.  The larger fish are nearly always females and each one harvested result in a loss of millions of eggs for future generations.   In actually all halibut is very tasty, however the smaller 'chickens' are most definitely the best. 

      Rockfish, true cod, and Ling Cod limits have to be strictly managed to provide a sustainable resource.  There are growing concerns about declining rockfish and ling cod harvests, leading to management actions like reduced catch limits and seasonal closures in certain areas.  

      Perhaps the most desirable, delicious catch is the Yelloweye rockfish.  Although they look like a large, gaudy goldfish, their flesh is some of the best eating seafood in the world.  Yelloweye rockfish populations in Southeast Alaska experienced a significant decline, leading to the closure of the fishery in 2020, and a subsequent recovery. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game initially reported a 60% decline in yelloweye biomass since the mid-1990s before the closure.  These fish can live 114 to 120 years, so a recovery can take much longer and is more crucial.  Additionally, these fish are taken from DEEP DEPTHS and are less likely to survive if released due to their air bladders.  

      Several factors are credited to the decline of fishing in Alaska, including climate change, overfishing, illegal fishing, increased competition, and economic pressures.  Climate change, particularly warming waters, impacts fish populations and ecosystems, while overfishing strains resources and undermines sustainability. 

      The current limits, days, and guidelines are different for commercial, recreational, and even nonresident fishing.  In Seward, AK fishing regulations generally involve a daily bag limit of two Pacific halibut of any size, but charter vessels may have specific limits. There are also size limits, with charter vessels often having a maximum size limit of 28 inches for one fish. There is no halibut fishing on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.  Salmon fishing is open year-round, with specific limits for king salmon and other species. Lingcod fishing is closed year-round, and any caught must be released. Additionally, certain areas within Resurrection Bay have specific regulations, such as restrictions on fishing for salmon. 

      In Homer, AK halibut fishing on charter vessels have a two-fish daily limit, with one fish being any size and the other being 27 inches or less. There is no halibut fishing on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.  Lingcod fishing is closed until July 1st, with a limit of up to 2 per person, depending on the area. King salmon retention is prohibited in some areas, and anglers may not remove a king salmon 20 inches or longer from the water before releasing it.  In the Lower Cook Inlet area, including Homer, Alaska, the daily rockfish limit is 3 fish per person, with only 1 of those being a non-pelagic rockfish like yelloweye. The possession limit is 6 rockfish per person, with only 2 being non-pelagic. 

      These results, although disappointing are indicative of the type of aggressive management necessary to keep this a sustainable resource.  Sometimes, unfortunately, the balance between commercial and recreational fishing becomes a bit blurred.  What is the current definition of a sustainable resource?  Alaska Fish and Wildlife Services officials have acknowledged concerns about declining fish stocks, attributing some declines to factors like marine heatwaves and changing ocean conditions, as well as overfishing and other management challenges. They emphasize the need for collective efforts, including collaboration between scientists, managers, industry stakeholders, and local communities, to address these issues.  If not addressed now, in the future this exceptional resource may no longer exist.   The United Nations assessment of fisheries estimates that around one-third of the world’s fish stocks are overexploited: these populations are declining because we’re catching more fish than can reproduce.  Of course, with reduced supply will result in increased prices.  

      Of course we want to go again, and of course we want to catch lots of fish, but reality at times dictates differently.  At this point we are still undecided about a trip north in 2026. 

 

"Across all regions we are still seeing a troubling trend of increasing stock collapse"

Dr Boris Worm