Alaska Fisherman Warns Against Calls to End Trawling

Veteran pollock trawl captain says a ban would devastate coastal communities and thousands of Alaskan jobs.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 8:49pm

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A serene, photorealistic painting of a fishing trawler boat docked in a harbor, with warm sunlight casting long shadows across the scene, conveying a sense of nostalgia and the importance of the fishing industry to Alaska's coastal communities.A veteran trawl captain reflects on the decades-long evolution of Alaska's sustainable and highly regulated pollock fishery, as political rhetoric threatens to upend the industry.Anchorage Today

A 45-year veteran of the Alaska seafood industry and pollock trawl captain is speaking out against recent political rhetoric calling for an end to trawling in the Bering Sea. The author argues that Alaska's trawl fisheries are the most sustainable in the world, and a ban would cause massive economic disruption, job losses, and harm coastal communities that rely on the industry.

Why it matters

The Bering Sea pollock fishery is a critical economic driver for Alaska, supporting thousands of jobs and coastal communities. Calls to ban trawling, if enacted, would have severe socioeconomic consequences across the state.

The details

The author, Dan Carney, has worked in Alaska's seafood industry for 45 years, including 30 years as a pollock trawl captain. He argues that Alaska's trawl fisheries are highly regulated and sustainable, harvesting 80% of the state's seafood. A ban on trawling would devastate coastal communities, end thousands of Alaskan jobs, and increase costs for consumers by undermining the economic model that maintains cargo services to the state.

  • The author has worked in the Alaska seafood sector for 45 years.
  • He has captained a catcher vessel in the Eastern Bering Sea Alaska pollock fishery for the last 30 years.

The players

Dan Carney

A lifelong Alaskan who has worked in the Alaska seafood sector for 45 years, including 30 years as a captain of a catcher vessel operating in the Eastern Bering Sea Alaska pollock fishery.

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What they’re saying

“To me, that's just nuts. And it's personal.”

— Dan Carney, Pollock Trawl Captain

“Alaskans deserve leaders who understand what's at stake and who are willing to stand up for the people and industries that make this state work. Because from where I stand, calling for a total shutdown of trawling isn't just misguided. It's reckless.”

— Dan Carney, Pollock Trawl Captain

The takeaway

This case highlights the critical role that Alaska's trawl fishing industry plays in the state's economy and coastal communities. Calls to ban trawling, if enacted, would have severe consequences that go beyond just the fishing industry, impacting jobs, costs, and the overall economic well-being of the state.