WILD ALASKA POLLOCK A SEASON OPENS

Wild Alaska pollock a season opens, powering Alaska’s coastal economy. From Unalaska to Kodiak, a season fuels jobs, wages and coastal livelihoods across the state.

The “A” Season for wild Alaska pollock officially opens this month, marking a critical period for Alaska’s seafood industry and the coastal communities that depend on it. One of the largest and most carefully managed fisheries in the world, the Alaska pollock fishery continues to serve as a cornerstone of the state’s economy while setting the global standard for sustainable, science-based fisheries management.

For Unalaska, Kodiak, and dozens of coastal communities across Alaska, A Season represents months of preparation coming to fruition. Crews head to sea, processors ramp up operations, and local businesses – from fuel docks to gear suppliers – work around the clock to support the fleet. The success of this season will ripple across Alaska’s working waterfront, sustaining jobs, families, and regional economies.

New economic analyses released in 2025 by Alaska-based Northern Economics and McKinley Research Group help illustrate the Alaska pollock fishery’s role in Alaska’s economy. According to the studies, the fishery supported more than 6,300 Alaska jobs in 2023 and generated nearly $337 million in wages and benefits for Alaskans. Total economic activity from the fishery exceeded $830 million state-wide, underscoring pollock’s important role in Alaska’s resource development economy.

“The Alaska pollock fishery is truly Alaska’s fishery,” said Sam Murphy, Director of Communications for the Alaska Pollock Fishery Alliance. “From fuelling jobs and wages, to helping to offset the shipping and transportation costs for some of Alaska’s most remote communities, this fishery is intertwined with Alaska’s resource-rich future.”

The economic impact of a successful A Season extends well beyond fishing and processing. In 2023 alone, Alaska pollock harvesters landed 1.43 million metric tons, generating more than $455 million in ex-vessel value, while processing facilities across coastal Alaska delivered $1.7 billion in pollock products to global markets. The fishery also contributed $21 million in state and local tax revenues, helping fund essential public services across Alaska.

“I’m proud to be part of a fishery that proves you can have both strong harvests and strong conservation outcomes,” said Captain Maverick Blake, skipper of the F/V Progress. “The Alaska pollock fishery is managed the right way, and that gives us confidence heading into A Season and pride in the work we do on the water every day.”

Decades of careful management have allowed the Alaska pollock fishery to deliver both economic stability and conservation outcomes. Annual catch limits are set using the best available science, and the pollock biomass has remained relatively stable over time – a clear indicator of the fishery’s disciplined, precautionary approach.

The fishery’s benefits are especially pronounced in Western Alaska through the Community Development Quota (CDQ) programme. In 2023, CDQ groups invested $52 million directly into community programs, including workforce development, scholarships, training, and infrastructure projects. More than 30 percent of the Bering Sea pollock fishery is owned by CDQ groups, tying the success of A Season directly to the long-term economic health of 65 Western Alaska communities.

“The CDQ programme, and the modern pollock fishery that supports it, has endured for 30 years, serving as one of the most important economic pillars of self-sufficiency in Western Alaska,” said Eric Deakin, CEO of Coastal Villages Region Fund. “Our captains & crews head to sea knowing that their fishing is directly tied to the well-being of our residents. Proceeds from operations – primarily clean pollock fishing – fund critical community needs and support subsistence lifestyles. Our boats set the standard for bycatch avoidance, knowing that every salmon counts to our rural communities. We are proud to continue the tradition of Alaska-based ownership and governance of a growing share of one of the largest and cleanest seafood harvests in the U.S.”

Research from McKinley Research Group also highlights the pollock fishery’s critical role in sustaining Alaska’s freight and fuel systems. Without the volume and consistency of pollock shipments, marine freight service to ports such as Dutch Harbor would decline – raising the cost of groceries, building materials, and essential fuel in some of Alaska’s most remote communities.

Fleet operators enter the 2026 A Season with a continued focus on safety, efficiency, and responsible fishing practices. Ongoing investments in technology, real-time data sharing, and voluntary fleetwide agreements are designed to minimise salmon bycatch and ensure adherence to some of the strictest operational guidelines in the world.

“Accountability on the water is taken seriously by every crew I work alongside,” said Blake. “We share real-time data, adjust fishing plans quickly, and collaborate across the fleet to avoid salmon and meet some of the strictest standards anywhere in the world. That level of coordination doesn’t happen by accident – it’s a choice this fleet makes every day.”

As vessels set out for the start of A Season, the Alaska pollock fishery once again stands as both an economic and cultural cornerstone for coastal Alaska – supporting thousands of jobs, sustaining communities, and ensuring Alaska remains a global leader in responsible fisheries management.

Image: Alaska Pollock Fishery Alliance