SEATTLE’S ALASKA POLLOCK INDUSTRY REUNITES FOR ANNUAL NET RECYCLING DAY

More than 100 volunteers from Seattle’s Wild Alaska Pollock catcher-processor fleet gathered at Terminal 91 for the industry’s annual Net Recycling Day, transforming retired fishing nets into reusable materials through a collaborative, hands-on recycling effort that underscores the sector’s continued commitment to responsible fisheries management.

The event brought together volunteers from five leading fishing companies – American Seafoods, Arctic Storm Management Group, Coastal Villages Region Fund, Glacier Fish Company and Trident Seafoods – all members of the At-Sea Processors Association – working pre-competitively to dismantle and prepare end-of-life fishing nets previously used in the harvest of Wild Alaska Pollock, the world’s most sustainable whitefish.

Throughout the day, participants worked side-by-side with vessel captains, crew members and gear experts to cut, sort and process retired nets for recycling. The effort provided hands-on insight into the lifecycle of fishing gear while reinforcing the operational innovation and collaboration that define the Wild Alaska Pollock industry.

The recovered net material will be sent to specialised recycling facilities, where it will be repurposed into durable consumer and industrial products such as composite decking, outdoor furniture, sports equipment, and other long-life materials – extending the value of gear that has already played a critical role at sea.

“Responsible stewardship doesn’t end when our vessels return to port,” said Doug Christensen, President/CEO of Arctic Storm Management Group. “Net Recycling Day reflects the shared commitment across our fleet to continuously improve how we operate – from harvest practices at sea to responsible gear management on shore. It’s a practical example of our industry working together to create lasting solutions.”

Now in its second year as a unified fleet-wide initiative, Net Recycling Day builds on longstanding recycling efforts led individually by wild Alaska pollock companies and reflects the sector’s broader investment in circularity, innovation and responsible resource management.

The Alaska pollock fishery has long been recognised as a global leader in sustainability, with companies continuously investing in gear innovation, bycatch reduction technology, real-time monitoring systems and collaborative research designed to improve fishing practices and reduce environmental impact.

“Sustainability is built through continuous improvement,” said Matt Tinning, CEO of the At-sea Processors Association. “Events like this demonstrate that innovation in our industry extends well beyond the vessel deck – it includes how we rethink materials, reduce waste, and work collectively to strengthen the future of responsible fisheries.”

“Net Recycling Day demonstrates how collaboration across the industry can turn operational challenges into practical solutions,” said Tim Fitzgerald, Chief Sustainability Officer at American Seafoods. “By working together to responsibly recycle retired fishing gear instead of sending them to landfill, our fleet is reinforcing its commitment to innovation, stewardship and the long-term health of our marine and environmental resources.”