Posted on March 20, 2025
We agree with Governor Dunleavy that focusing on food security is undoubtedly a pivotal step for Alaska. There’s no better place to start than within Alaska’s fishing industry—our state’s largest private-sector employer and a cornerstone of our identity. Our wild fisheries represent an incredible resource and a vital local lifeline, with immense untapped potential that could be unlocked through strategic investments in additional infrastructure.
If we’re serious about bolstering food security and ensuring that Alaska thrives, we must prioritize initiatives that strengthen fisheries and empower local communities. Two key areas where immediate action could create a lasting impact are community cold storage facilities and streamlined regulations for small-scale direct-to-market seafood harvesters.
Community Cold Storage: A Game-Changer for Local Resilience
In many remote Alaskan communities, a lack of cold storage facilities hinders the ability to preserve seafood for local consumption and market access. Community cold storage would combat food waste and ensure families have access to fresh, high-quality seafood year-round. These facilities would provide harvesters a critical resource, enabling them to store surplus catch while awaiting favorable market conditions—an essential step toward economic stability and food security.
Moreover, cold storage infrastructure would allow communities to create localized food systems that prioritize feeding Alaskans first. When fishermen can store and distribute their harvest efficiently, the reliance on costly imports decreases, and local diets become more robust and sustainable.
Streamlining Regulations: Supporting Small-Scale Harvesters
Small-scale seafood harvesters are an integral part of Alaska's fisheries. They deliver directly to local markets, restaurants, and even family dinner tables, but overly complex regulations can make it difficult for them to thrive. Simplifying these regulations is not about cutting corners—it’s about crafting policies that reflect the realities, challenges and benefits of operating on a small scale.
By reducing administrative burdens, offering technical assistance, and creating pathways for direct-to-market sales, we can empower harvesters to bring more local seafood to Alaskans. This approach strengthens local economies, supports independent businesses, and ensures communities benefit from their natural resources.
A Unified Vision for Alaska’s Fisheries
Together, these two initiatives—community cold storage and streamlined direct-to-market regulations—represent a starting point for aligning food security with Alaska's enduring strength in fisheries. They respect the values we hold dear: protecting wild stocks, honoring cultural heritage, and ensuring economic opportunities for future generations.
Food security is more than just filling plates—it’s about creating a resilient, connected, and self-reliant Alaska. By investing in practical solutions and rallying support from policymakers and stakeholders, we can ensure that our fisheries not only play a role in sustaining global demand but, most importantly, secure a thriving, food-secure future for Alaskans.
Let’s build on this momentum and continue to innovate in ways that honor Alaska’s unique identity and resource wealth. A stronger, more resilient Alaska begins with empowering our existing fisheries and the communities that depend on them.
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