Interior Alaska News

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA—U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski (both R-Alaska), and Representative Mary Sattler Peltola (D-Alaska), today celebrated a ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in favor of Southeast Alaska troll fishermen whose ability to fish has been challenged in a lawsuit brought forward by the Washington-based Wild Fish Conservancy (WFC). The WFC attempted to shut down the fishery due to allegations regarding fishery impacts. This ruling is a legal victory for the Southeast fishermen at the Ninth Circuit. The Alaska congressional delegation has filed two amicus briefs with the Ninth Circuit in support of the fishermen, one in June 2023 urging the court to grant a stay so that the fishermen could proceed with their summer season, and a second in October 2023 on the merits of the case.

“Today, we secured a major victory at the Ninth Circuit for the hundreds of hard-working Alaskans who rely on the Southeast Alaska troll salmon fishery to feed their families and support their communities,” said Sen. Sullivan. “The court ruled against the radical Washington environmental group on the merits of their outrageous lawsuit, which claimed that our small boat, hook-and-line troll Southeast salmon fishery hundreds of miles away is having more of an impact on the viability of Puget Sound orca whales than the toxins, pollution, noise, and vessel traffic in their own backyard. It was a ridiculous claim, and the court thankfully recognized it as such. My team and I have been working shoulder-to-shoulder with our fishermen, Southeast communities and tribes, and the State of Alaska on this important battle since this lawsuit was filed in 2020. This ruling gives our Southeast fishermen greater peace of mind and also demonstrates that when Alaskans unite and speak with one voice, there is so much we can accomplish in defense of our economy, our unique cultures, and our people.”

“Although we’re not home yet, the most important thing right now is that Southeast Alaska’s troll fishery can continue,” said Sen. Murkowski. “This is a critical industry for Southeast Alaska that has minimal impact on the ecosystem, and the congressional delegation, state, tribal groups, and local environmental groups are all united in their advocacy to allow the fishery to resume. I look forward to the National Marine Fisheries Service’s new biological opinion, which I’m hopeful will help put this issue to rest for good.”

“We're not in the clear yet, but this is a big sigh of relief for our fisherman, our fishing families, and our Alaskan economy,” said Rep. Peltola. “Trolling is low-impact, and advocacy groups from state level all way to environmentalists agree. Let's protect our troll fishermen and industry for good.”

The plaintiff in case WFC argued that Southeast Alaska salmon harvest is primary contributor population decline Southern resident killer whales hundreds miles south Puget Sound WFC same organization petitioning list King salmon Gulf Alaska “threatened endangered” under Endangered Species Act.

In their amicus brief congressional delegation noted Congress allocated millions dollars recent years support survival Southern Resident killer whales.

State Alaska Alaska Trollers Association interveners lawsuit.

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