United Catcher Boats

06/06/2026

This week, the NPFMC Advisory Panel advanced a motion to the Council reaffirming that ongoing research and scientific review should continue before considering changes to the pelagic trawl performance standard.

The motion highlights the importance of completing current research efforts, including gear innovation studies, crab habitat and distribution work, and continued refinement of the Fishing Effects model. It also recognizes the value of collaboration among industry participants, scientists and managers as this work progresses.

UCB appreciates the Advisory Panel's focus on science-based decision making and continued investment in research that improves our understanding of the Bering Sea ecosystem. As we noted in our testimony, significant research is currently underway regarding pelagic trawl gear, seafloor interaction, and crab habitat and distribution. UCB supports completing this work and ensuring future decisions are informed by the best available science.

The Council is expected to begin discussion of this issue on Sunday.

Read more about it in this Intrafish article Alaska po***ck industry’s pelagic trawl gear comes under scrutiny by Rachel Sapin.

The NPFMC has taken the agenda item up this month, as it analyzes updates on ongoing pelagic trawl gear and crab research.

06/05/2026

Pelagic trawl gear is receiving increased attention in Alaska fisheries discussions, but many of the questions being asked are complex and deserve thoughtful consideration.

In this blog post, Matt Tinning explores pelagic trawl gear within the broader discussion surrounding pelagic trawl fisheries in Alaska. From gear design and habitat science to fisheries management and public perception, the article examines several of the questions driving today's debate and encourages readers to look beyond headlines to better understand the complexities of modern fisheries.

Understanding the full picture starts with understanding the details. Explore the article below.

The Alaska po***ck catcher-processor fleet that I’m proud to represent has been at the global forefront of sustainability and innovation for decades. Recently, however, it has been attacked for operating fishing gear that makes contact with the seafloor. For those interested in learning more about...

06/04/2026

Today, the North Pacific Fisheries Research Foundation (NPFRF) shared an update with the North Pacific Fishery Management Council on its Chum Salmon Excluder Experimental Fishing Permit (EFP), an ongoing effort to test innovative chum salmon escapement concepts in the Bering Sea po***ck fishery.

The project brings together fishermen, gear experts, scientists, and managers to test new concepts, learn from real-world conditions, and build on what the 2025 field season taught them. While the 2025 season presented some unexpected challenges, it also generated valuable insights that are helping shape the next phase of research and innovation.

Improving selective fishing practices is a long-term effort, and every step forward helps expand the understanding and inform future work.

Listen to the presentation to Council starting at 1:02:07, or view the presentation slides linked in the comments.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

06/02/2026

Fishing for Words | Maturity

Just like people, fish go through different stages of life.

Before a fish can contribute to the next generation, it first has to reach maturity.

In fisheries science, maturity refers to the age or size when a fish is able to reproduce.

Not all species mature at the same rate. Some reach maturity relatively quickly, while others may take many years.

Understanding when fish mature lets scientists better understand how populations grow, replenish themselves, and respond to changing conditions over time.

It is one of many biological factors considered in stock assessments.

06/01/2026

Around the world, fisheries are continually looking for ways to improve how they operate.

This video comes from Australia and focuses on how the country's prawn fishery approaches habitat protection, bottom contact, and ongoing gear innovation. Like many fisheries around the globe, fishers, scientists, and managers continue working to better understand interactions with the seafloor and identify opportunities for improvement.

Here in Alaska, trawl fisheries also operate within a system that encourages continuous improvement. From gear innovations to monitoring programs to ongoing research, fisheries management is not static. It evolves as new information becomes available.

While the details may differ from region to region, the commitment to learning, adapting, and improving is a common thread.

05/29/2026

Tools of the Trade | The Human Element

For this edition of Tools of the Trade, we're highlighting something a little different.

The people.

In this clip, a chief engineer shares some of the many factors that can go into planning a single tow. While the gear itself often gets the spotlight, every tow is supported by the experience, preparation, and problem-solving of the people on board.

Fishing is often discussed in terms of vessels, nets, technology, and regulations. But there is also a very human element behind every operation. No two boats do things exactly the same way. Each captain, engineer, and crew brings their own experience, perspective, and approach to the job.

That doesn't mean they're working toward different goals. It means that, like many professions, there is more than one way to apply knowledge and experience to a complex task.

From equipment and vessel performance to weather, ocean conditions, and countless other considerations, there is often much more going into a tow than most people realize.

The tools matter.

But so do the people who spend years learning how to use them.

05/29/2026

Today is World Hunger Day, a reminder that food insecurity is not a distant problem. It exists in communities across the United States, including here in Alaska and Washington.

According to Washington OSPI, roughly half of Washington public school students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. According to the Food Bank of Alaska, more than half of Alaska public school students qualify.

For many children, school lunch is one of the most dependable meals they receive all day.

That matters when we talk about seafood.

Alaska po***ck is one of the most accessible and affordable proteins in the country. It is purchased through USDA nutrition programs and served in schools across America because feeding people at scale matters.

This is not luxury seafood reserved for special occasions.

It is fish sticks at lunch.
A quick dinner after work.
A meal that helps a parent make the budget work one more week.

Seafood harvested by UCB member vessels helps provide healthy, nutritious protein to families here at home and around the world, and we are proud to be part of an industry that helps feed people.

05/28/2026

The June 2026 North Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting is next week, and one of the most important parts of the Council process is public engagement.

Over the last few weeks, we have highlighted agenda items for the upcoming Council meeting and how federal fisheries management relies on scientific research, monitoring programs, operational data, and public input.

One agenda item receiving significant attention is D1 – Pelagic Trawl Gear Research Updates and consideration of whether future performance standards may be appropriate.

The agenda includes multiple ongoing research efforts and reports, including:
• Gear Innovation Initiative (GII) research
• Dynamic closure reporting from the 2026 A season
• Ongoing Bering Sea Fisheries Research Foundation crab research
• Experimental fishing and gear innovation updates
• Fishing Effects model development and EFH-related work

As part of this process, United Catcher Boats will submit a public comment letter regarding Agenda Item D1. In our letter, we support continuing the ongoing scientific research process already underway before additional regulatory measures or revised performance standards are considered.

Our comments emphasize several key points:
• The fleet implemented the Council requested dynamic closure measures during the 2026 A season.
• Ongoing Gear Innovation Initiative and Fishing Effects model work are still actively developing the scientific foundation needed to evaluate future management options.
• Existing scientific reviews have not concluded that pelagic trawl operations are causing habitat impacts that warrant additional regulatory measures at this time.
• Continued adaptive, science-based management remains important as research continues to evolve.

Council engagement is an important part of the fisheries management process. Public comments, advisory panel discussions, SSC review, and scientific research and reports all help inform how management decisions are evaluated.

We encourage anyone interested in North Pacific fisheries management to follow the June Council meeting and participate in the public process.

You can read UCB’s full comment letter here
https://www.ucba.org/uploads/5/4/3/8/5438141/ucb_comment_letter_pelagic_trawl_gear_research_updates_june_2026.pdf

05/27/2026

Different ocean. Different accents. A lot of the same goals.

This video from South Africa’s hake trawl fishery feels surprisingly familiar to those of us in Alaska.

Like Alaska’s po***ck fishery, these fishermen operate under science-based management with monitoring, vessel tracking, catch limits, and government oversight. They use modern technology, fish primarily on sandy and muddy seafloor habitats, and are MSC certified sustainable.

Bottom trawling in South Africa takes place across about 4.8% of the country’s 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). In Alaska’s Eastern Bering Sea, scientists estimate that 94.4% of the continental shelf’s benthic habitat remains undisturbed by fishing activity over decades of operation.

Across the world, responsible trawl fisheries are working toward many of the same things: producing healthy food efficiently, supporting coastal communities, following the science, and helping ensure fisheries remain productive for future generations.

Different waters. Shared responsibility.

In this video we present the facts about bottom trawling in South Africa: where it occurs, how it is regulated and the work that is done to minimise impacts ...

05/26/2026

The June 2026 North Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting begins in less than a week in Vancouver, WA, and briefing materials continue to be released. Preparing for Council meetings often means methodically working through hundreds of pages of scientific analyses, monitoring reports, and operational updates as they become available.

Over the last two weeks, we have highlighted reports that are part of the discussion at the June Council meeting, including topics focused on observer coverage, electronic monitoring, and dynamic spatial management tools in the Bering Sea po***ck fishery.

This week, we are looking at the 2024 and 2025 Inshore Salmon Savings Incentive Plan (ISSIP) Annual Report. The report highlights how the inshore po***ck fleet monitored salmon bycatch conditions, implemented rolling hotspot closures, and adapted fishing activity throughout the season.

One of the clearest takeaways from the report is that fisheries management is rarely static. Fishing locations, salmon distribution, weather, ocean conditions, and seasonal timing can all shift throughout the year, requiring fleets and managers to adapt in real time.

Some highlights from the ISSIP report include:

• Rolling hotspot salmon closures during both A and B seasons
• Continued use of salmon excluders throughout the fishery
• 100% observer or electronic monitoring coverage requirements
• In-season chum salmon genetic testing projects
• Long-term reductions in Chinook salmon bycatch compared to earlier years
• Continued collaboration between industry, managers, scientists, and monitoring programs

We are linking the ISSIP report in this post and will share the related 2025 AFA Catcher Vessel Intercoop Report and 2025 Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative (PCTC) Intercoop Report in the comments for anyone interested in exploring the broader Council materials further.

https://meetings.npfmc.org/CommentReview/DownloadFile?p=32a75e47-2976-4dae-a06c-6e3d11ad104f.pdf&fileName=PPT%20B9%20ISSIP%20Report.pdf