The Disappearing King Salmon: Why Alaskan Fishermen Are Angry and the Changes Happening in the Sea

"Despite the Fishing Ban, the Salmon Aren't Returning": The Reality of Bycatch and Warming Shaking Alaska

Seward, a port town in Alaska surrounded by snow-capped mountains. The King Salmon, which has welcomed visitors attracted by the rich sea, is not being caught as much as before.

In a report by AFP published by France-Antilles on November 14, 2026, Bob Kandopoulos, who runs a recreational fishing business, stated that while he used to catch up to the daily limit 10 years ago, now he is lucky to find a few.

A decrease in fish means a decrease in income. At the same time, it also means the loss of local pride and a way of life to pass on to the next generation.

This anxiety is manifesting as anger towards large offshore trawlers. However, the mechanism of salmon decline shown by research cannot be explained simply by "large ships taking too much."

Enduring the Fishing Ban in Rivers, Yet Salmon Die Offshore

At the center of the conflict is "bycatch," which refers to catching unintended fish while targeting specific ones.

Around Alaska, salmon are bycaught in trawl fishing targeting pollock. Pollock is used in processed white fish products and surimi, reaching tables worldwide.

Meanwhile, in the Yukon and Kuskokwim river basins, King Salmon fishing by indigenous communities is strictly regulated and sometimes banned.

For those waiting for fish to return to the rivers, it seems they are sacrificing food and income while the same fish are lost in the process of other offshore fisheries. This disparity prevents the bycatch issue from ending as merely a discussion of catch volumes.

The necessity to protect salmon raises the question of who should bear the sacrifices and to what extent. The fairness of the burden of resource protection is also a point of contention.

It's Not as Simple as Eliminating All Fishing Vessels

The original article reports that many large ships are based outside Alaska, in Seattle, and about two-thirds of the pollock fishing revenue flows out of the state. This adds to the dissatisfaction that external industries are utilizing local resources.

However, local fishermen's views are not uniform.

Chance Miller, who appears in the same report, explains that he does not advocate for the elimination of all trawlers, as there are local fleets in Alaska and vessels related to coastal indigenous communities.

Moreover, without fishing vessels bringing in fish, processing plants cannot operate, potentially leading to the loss of town jobs.

The reduction of fisheries does not end on the vessels. It affects the lives of those involved in landing, processing, and transporting the fish. Therefore, it becomes a challenging issue of how to balance resource protection and employment.

Research Shows Marine Heatwaves and Increased Salmon Mortality

So, where are the salmon being lost?

A study introduced by NOAA in July 2026 analyzed the Yukon River King Salmon, combining the number of juveniles entering the sea, natural mortality during growth, targeted fishing, and bycatch.

The focus was on the increase in natural mortality of fish past the juvenile stage since around 2016. This change coincided with a period of continuous marine heatwaves in the Bering Sea.

Marine heatwaves are phenomena where sea temperatures remain abnormally high for a certain period. The impact on fish is not limited to the temperature itself. If small fish, which are their food, decrease, it becomes difficult to obtain the energy needed for growth and migration.

NOAA explains that the decrease in food resources like capelin may have made it difficult for King Salmon to survive. Even after strong heatwaves subsided, the natural mortality rate had not returned to previous low levels as of 2023.

The suggestion is that changes in the sea do not progress as simply as fish returning as soon as temperatures stabilize.

"Bycatch Is Not the Main Cause" Is Different from "Bycatch Can Be Ignored"

Here, it is necessary to carefully examine the scope of the research.

The analysis focused on King Salmon originating from Canada in the upper Yukon River. The study found that the impact of removal by fishing and bycatch was limited compared to changes in juvenile recruitment and natural mortality.

This does not prove that there is no impact from any fishery on all salmon in Alaska. Also, the natural mortality estimated by the model may include deaths not only at sea but also during the ascent of rivers.

The mechanisms of decline can differ depending on the fish species, originating river, and growth stage. It is important not to overextend one research result to explain "all salmon."

In addition, addressing global warming and reducing bycatch are not choices between one or the other.

The Kuskokwim River Indigenous Organization argues that while addressing climate change is difficult, the impact of fisheries can be reduced through management. When resources are scarce, not only river fisheries but all fisheries affecting those fish should share the burden of protection.

There is a need to answer both the scientific question of "What is the main cause?" and the management question of "Who will reduce the losses that can be reduced now?"

On Social Media: Anger, Explanations, and Persistent Distrust

This conflict is also reflected on social media.

The following is not a direct response to the original article but a summary of opinions found in a public Reddit thread addressing the same bycatch issue. The occupations and backgrounds of the posters are self-reported and do not represent the overall public opinion of the region.

In a thread titled "From a Pollock Captain," a poster claiming to be a captain of a pollock fishing vessel explained that their fishery is monitored by cameras and observers, and bycatch fish are weighed and recorded. This was a rebuttal to the image of indiscriminately discarding bycatch fish on board.

In response, a user claiming to have engaged in subsistence and commercial fishing on the Yukon River acknowledged the industry's progress in reducing bycatch but questioned whether the measures were too late. They also expressed frustration that despite following restrictions on fishing times and gear, salmon continue to decline.

On the other hand, there were reactions that appreciated the stance of avoiding emotional conflicts and considering resource management while listening to explanations.

What emerges from this exchange is a distrust that cannot be resolved merely by showing bycatch numbers. For those who have endured long-term patience and loss of livelihood, an explanation of "we are improving" is not enough.

An Issue Connected to Japanese Dining Tables

For Japanese readers, this story is not just an event in a distant northern land.

The pollock highlighted in the original article supports surimi products and other fish-based foods. When trying to protect salmon, it is necessary to look not only at the fisheries targeting salmon but also at what happens in the process of catching other fish.

However, from this report, it cannot be concluded that salmon or surimi products sold in Japan will uniformly become scarce or increase in price. The conditions of supply differ depending on the fish species, origin, and whether they are wild or farmed.

What should be acknowledged here is that behind familiar foods, there are regions refraining from fishing to protect resources and regions supporting livelihoods through other fisheries.

Consumers seeking stable supply are not outside of this relationship.

To Bring Back Salmon, Conflict Alone Is Not Enough

Ian Laub, a fisherman mentioned in the original article, has shifted his focus from salmon to halibut and sablefish. His concern is not only large ships but also the weakening of marine surveys and research hidden under political disputes over climate change.

Resource management requires the continuous investigation of where and how much fish are decreasing. At the same time, the results must be explained in a way that local people can understand, and the burdens on their lives must be reflected in policies.

Whether thinking that regulating large ships will solve everything or that nothing can be done by the fisheries because global warming is the cause, the measures will be insufficient.

To increase the returning salmon, it is necessary to track changes in the sea, reduce avoidable bycatch, and support the livelihoods of those refraining from fishing for protection. These efforts need to be pursued in parallel.

Sources and References

1. France-Antilles/AFP: The local report that formed the basis of the article
   Published on November 14, 2026. Testimonies from Seward fishermen, dissatisfaction over bycatch, and the relationship with processing plants and the local economy.
   https://www.guadeloupe.franceantilles.fr/actualite/international/cest-terrible-lalaska-ebranle-par-la-rarefaction-des-saumons-1099654.php

2. NOAA Fisheries: Decline of Yukon River King Salmon and Marine Heatwaves
   Research explanation on increased natural mortality, changes in food resources, and recent sharp declines.NOAA Fisheries
   https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/shedding-new-light-yukon-river-chinook-salmon-declines

3. Ecological Applications: Research paper by DeFilippo et al.
   Analysis of the impact of mortality and fishing/bycatch at different growth stages of Yukon River King Salmon originating from Canada. Used for confirming the scope and interpretive considerations.Wiley Online Library
   https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/eap.70229

4. Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission: Views on Marine Environment and Fisheries Management
   Indigenous organization's advocacy for addressing climate change and reducing fisheries impact, and sharing the burden of protection.Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
   https://www.kuskosalmon.org/ocean

5. Reddit・r/alaska: "From a Pollock Captain"
   Used for summarizing the explanation by a poster claiming to be a captain, the reaction of a user claiming to be a former Yukon River fisherman, and comments appreciating dialogue. Unverified figures and causal relationships in the post are not adopted as facts in the article.reddit.com
   https://www.reddit.com/r/alaska/comments/1rpcx3f/from_a_pollock_captain/