B&J Sporting Goods Open Letter in Response to Midwater Trawlers Cooperative Statement Defending the Industrial Trawl Industry

B&J Sporting Goods Open Letter in Response to Midwater Trawlers Cooperative Statement Defending the Industrial Trawl Industry

How Industrial Trawling Endangers Alaska’s Economy, Ecosystems, and Communities

We write this letter in response to the recent statement defending the industrial trawl industry in Alaska’s waters. While we respect the importance of open dialogue, we believe it is critical to address and clarify several claims made in the statement to ensure an informed and balanced discussion.

The Importance of Alaska’s Fisheries

Alaska’s fisheries are more than an economic engine—they are a lifeline for communities, ecosystems, and cultural traditions. It is essential that fisheries management prioritizes long-term sustainability and ecological health over short-term industrial gains. The claims in defense of trawl fisheries raise valid points but fall short of acknowledging the substantial ecological and social impacts of these operations.

A Message to the Industrial Trawl Industry

This statement is tone deaf and fails to understand the perspective of Alaskans who are “getting wound around the axle” because fisheries managers and politicians are not shutting down trawlers operating in federal fisheries off Alaska.

We are raising our voices precisely because we are Alaskans, and the corporations driving the industrial trawl fishing complex do not represent our best interests. The current situation is contrary to the long-term prosperity of our state, and we have had enough of outside entities exploiting Alaska’s resources for their own gain.

Our message is simple: Alaska first. We are committed to preserving our fisheries for the benefit of Alaskans—today and for future generations. It may take time, but Alaskans are known for their resilience, determination, and unity when protecting what matters most.

To those who refuse to respect our voices and continue to exploit our resources, the message is clear: we reserve the right to deny you access to Alaska’s wealth if you do not act in the interest of the people who live here.

The Myth of "Midwater Trawling"

The statement defends midwater trawling as a sustainable practice, claiming it avoids contact with the ocean floor. However, this is far from the truth.

• Observer data from the Gulf of Alaska shows midwater trawl nets can touch the seabed up to 40% of the time during operations.
• This seabed contact disrupts critical habitats for species like halibut, crab, and rockfish, further compounding the environmental toll of trawling operations.
• Sensitive ecosystems, such as coral reefs and seagrass beds, are destroyed by these interactions, with long-term consequences for marine biodiversity.

While industrial trawling proponents may argue that impacts are minimal, the cumulative damage from widespread and poorly enforced midwater trawling is undeniable.

Rebuttal of Claims

1. "All fisheries have bycatch."

While true, the scale of bycatch in industrial trawl fisheries is disproportionately high. Alaska’s Prince William Sound pollock trawl fishery discards tens of thousands of pounds of non-target species annually, including protected and endangered species, halibut, rockfish, Chinook salmon, and more. This wastage undermines both subsistence and commercial fisheries vital to Alaskan communities.

2. "Trawl catcher vessels are the most monitored."

While observer programs exist, their efficacy is often compromised by conflicts of interest and logistical limitations. The upcoming implementation of electronic monitoring systems in 2025 is a positive step but insufficient given the current ecological crises. Other gear types do not require this level of oversight because their bycatch rates are inherently lower.

3. "Trawlers haven’t come to Alaska because they fished out their own areas."

Historical evidence suggests otherwise. Overfishing and habitat degradation along the West Coast have driven fleets to seek new grounds in Alaska, intensifying pressures on our marine ecosystems. This raises an important question: If your own areas are not overfished or degraded, why are you expanding operations into Alaska’s waters? The presence of out-of-state fleets in Alaska's fisheries underscores the need to protect our resources and ensure that management prioritizes the long-term interests of Alaskans over those of external entities.

4. "The North Pacific trawl industry leads in innovation."

While gear innovations have reduced bycatch in some cases, these improvements are incremental and fail to address the root issue: the indiscriminate nature of trawl fishing. True innovation should align economic viability with ecological sustainability.

5. "Trawl fisheries are not responsible for crab and salmon declines."

This claim oversimplifies a multifaceted issue. Bycatch from trawl fisheries contributes to declining stocks of salmon and crab. Genetic analyses have shown intercepted salmon often originate from already-depleted stocks, exacerbating recovery challenges.

6. "Seabed impacts from midwater trawls are minimal."

Even occasional seabed contact by trawl gear causes lasting damage to sensitive habitats. Comparing trawl gear impacts to crab pots or longlines is misleading; trawls disturb far larger areas, with significant and long-term effects.

"Allowable by Law" Is Not the Same as "Good for Alaska"

The statement argues that industrial trawling is allowable under current laws. However, the fact that something is permissible by law does not make it beneficial, sustainable, or even just. This is precisely why we are collectively working toward changing these laws—to ensure they protect, defend, and represent the best interests of Alaskans who live and earn their livelihoods from our own resources.

We refuse to accept laws that prioritize the profit margins of out-of-state corporations over the health of Alaska’s ecosystems and communities. As Alaskans, we are demanding laws that reflect Alaska’s priorities and secure the future of our fisheries for generations to come.

Global Context: Measures Taken by Other Nations

Alaska is not alone in recognizing the dangers of industrial trawling. Around the world, countries are taking action to protect their fisheries and marine ecosystems:

• Belize and Venezuela have implemented outright bans on bottom trawling.
• Norway has closed sensitive coral reef areas to trawling after recognizing the damage caused to critical ecosystems.
• The European Union is phasing out bottom trawling in marine protected areas, aiming for full enforcement by 2030.
• The United States has enacted significant restrictions on bottom trawling along the West Coast, protecting over 40,000 square kilometers of sensitive marine habitats.

These measures demonstrate that sustainable fisheries management is possible and necessary to balance economic and ecological interests.

A Call for Responsible Action

We urge policymakers, industry leaders, and concerned citizens to consider the broader impacts of trawl fisheries on Alaska’s communities and ecosystems. Proposals before the Alaska Board of Fisheries, such as closing the Prince William Sound pollock trawl fishery and limiting bycatch, represent necessary steps toward safeguarding our waters for future generations.

Alaska’s fisheries are a shared resource, and their protection requires collaboration, transparency, and a commitment to sustainability. Let us move beyond defensiveness and work together for a balanced solution that benefits ALL Alaskans.

Sincerely,

Troy Arnold

Owner
B&J Sporting Goods, Anchorage, AK
B&J’s Tackle Repair Center, Anchorage, AK
B&J’s Tackle Box, Whittier, AK

Reference & Resources

Original post to the Midwater Trawlers Cooperative Facebook Page

• Direct Link: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17y3SxwT9U/
• Facebook Page Link: https://www.facebook.com/EatTrawlCaughtFish

STOP Trawler Bycatch Facebook Group

• Direct Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/181111123119023

Alaska Department of Fish & Game Prince William Sound Proposals

• Meeting Proposals > Prince William Sound Finfish > Groundfish > Show Proposals > Proposal 14, 15, 16, 17
• Direct Link: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fisheriesboard.meetinginfo&date=12-10-2024&meeting=cordova#,fixed,,2,

Salmon State Stop Wasteful Bycatch Campaign

• Direct Link: https://salmonstate.org/bycatch