National Fisherman

April Spotlight:

Working Waterfront

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To protect whales, Maine lobstermen have increased their trawl size, added weak links in buoy lines, switched to sinking groundlines, switched to purple rope for buoy lines to identify Maine gear, and honored seasonal closures. Paul Molyneaux photo.

Paul Molyneaux

May 11, 2026

More than one way to save a whale

Featured

A Southeast Alaska commercial fisherman has been sentenced for conspiring to illegally harvest halibut. Shutterstock photo.

NF Staff

May 11, 2026

Alaska halibut fisherman convicted in ghost fishing scheme

Featured

Pollock trawlers operate under strict bycatch limits designed to protect Pacific salmon stocks. Shuttertsock photo.

Margaret Bauman

May 11, 2026

Research continues toward automated bycatch monitoring

To protect whales, Maine lobstermen have increased their trawl size, added weak links in buoy lines, switched to sinking groundlines, switched to purple rope for buoy lines to identify Maine gear, and honored seasonal closures. Paul Molyneaux photo.

More than one way to save a whale

May 11, 2026

Paul Molyneaux

A Southeast Alaska commercial fisherman has been sentenced for conspiring to illegally harvest halibut. Shutterstock photo.

Alaska halibut fisherman convicted in ghost fishing scheme

May 11, 2026

NF Staff

News
Alaska

Pollock trawlers operate under strict bycatch limits designed to protect Pacific salmon stocks. Shuttertsock photo.

Research continues toward automated bycatch monitoring

May 11, 2026

Margaret Bauman

West Coast groundfish rebuilding has long been celebrated as a fisheries success story, but new research from the University of Washington highlights the economic toll many fishermen say came with that recovery. Photo courtesy of Ian Dewar Photography / S

The missing secret behind West Coast groundfish recovery

May 8, 2026

Carli Stewart

University of Washington researchers are forecasting a 2026 total Bristol Bay sockeye salmon run of 41.5 million fish, with slightly larger fish than in 2025. Photo courtesy of theautumnonempire

Bristol Bay sockeye forecast drops below recent average for 2026

May 8, 2026

Margaret Bauman

News
Alaska

A Kodiak fisherman has agreed to plead guilty after federal prosecutors said he illegally cut and transported 16 yellow cedar trees from the Tongass National Forest. Photo courtesy of Paul Hennon / Alaska Coastal Rainforest Center

Kodiak fisherman to plead guilty in yellow cedar theft case

May 8, 2026

NF Staff

News
Alaska

Federal budget cuts to NOAA are drawing attention across the commercial fishing and marine conservation sectors as lawmakers debate funding priorities for the fiscal year 2027. Photo courtesy of NOAA

Proposed NOAA cuts raise questions

May 8, 2026

NF Staff

In 2025, no mainstream Alaska media even mentioned the start of the 2025 salmon season, nor did Alaska Airlines participate. Photo courtesy of Alaska Fish News / Laine Welch

Copper River opener will launch Alaska’s 2026 salmon season

May 7, 2026

Laine Welch

ASMFC has delayed action on potential new protections for Atlantic menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay. Photo courtesy of Jerry Prezioso / NOAA

Commission delays Chesapeake menhaden protections amid growing Bay concerns

May 7, 2026

Carli Stewart

Turning the former tuna boat Anela into a salmon tender turned out to be a much bigger undertaking than Kris Mullan expected. But for Mullan, who saw the boat launched in Tacoma in 1971, it’s been a labor of love. Angel Marine photo.

Boat of the Month: Anela

Crew Shots

F/V Faith Crew Ready to Shrimp

Handstand on the Deck of F/V Defiant

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