Empty Nets: Big Changes in a Great American Fishery

Helpful Links

• Alaska Fisheries Science Center

  The Alaska Fisheries Science Center is a division of NOAA Fisheries dedicated to the study and management of marine resources in the waters off Alaska. Its mission is to provide scientific research and data to support sustainable fisheries, conserve marine ecosystems, and ensure the health of species like fish, marine mammals, and seabirds.

  The center conducts research on a wide range of topics, including stock assessments, habitat studies, and the impacts of climate change on marine life. It plays a critical role in helping manage some of the most productive fisheries in the world, ensuring they remain viable for future generations.

• Alaska Department of Fish and Game

  The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) is responsible for managing the state’s fisheries, ensuring sustainable harvests while balancing ecological health and community needs. ADFG conducts scientific research on fish stocks and aquatic ecosystems to inform its management decisions and fishing regulations, such as seasons and catch limits, to protect fish populations and prevent overfishing. 

  In addition to regulating commercial, recreational, and subsistence fishing, ADFG works to support local communities by providing data and resources for sustainable practices. Collaborating with agencies like NOAA Fisheries and the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, the department plays a vital role in maintaining Alaska's fisheries for future generations.

• 2024 Arctic Report Card

  The 2024 Arctic Report Card highlights the rapid and dramatic changes occurring in the Arctic, which is warming faster than the global average. Featuring contributions from 97 scientists across 11 countries and independently reviewed by the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme, ARC2024 reports record-breaking observations, including tundra shifts from carbon sink to source, declining caribou herds, and rising winter precipitation. The report emphasizes regional variability in environmental impacts, the growing need for adaptation, and the critical role of Indigenous Knowledge and community-led research. 

• North Pacific Fishery Management Council

  North Pacific Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional councils established by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act in 1976 to manage fisheries in the 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone, 3 miles off the coast of Alaska.

  The people serving on the Council or other Council-sponsored groups are made of up appointees from Alaska, Washington, and Oregon. The Council and advisory bodies were formed so federal fishery management decisions could be made at a local level, emphasizing public input.