Young fishermen event coming to Anchorage
Sponsored by Alaska Sea Grant, the tenth Alaska Young Fishermen’s Summit (AYFS) provides a broad range of business and policy training specific to owning and operating a commercial fishing business in Alaska. The conference will be held December 5–7, 2023, at the Marriott in downtown Anchorage. Early registration is open, with a discounted rate through November 17. An additional $100 discount is available to Alaskan commercial fishermen.
The three-day conference provides training, information and networking for commercial fishermen of any age early in their careers, bringing in industry leaders to mentor new fishermen and cover a range of topics including business management, seafood markets, the fisheries regulatory process and fisheries science. The event is fast-paced and interactive, and facilitates networking with peers from around the state.
The conference will include activities that take advantage of the coinciding North Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting in Anchorage.
Duncan Fields of Kodiak, a commercial fisherman and fisheries consultant, will give the keynote address. A longtime advocate for small-boat fishermen and fishery-dependent communities, Fields envisioned and helped implement the Community Quota Entity program, and has received the Denali Award from the Alaska Federation of Natives. He served as an advisor to the North Pacific Management Council and later served on the Council. Fields also serves on a variety of other boards and commissions including the recent Alaska Bycatch Review Task Force.
Established in 2007 by the Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program, AYFS helps fishermen manage and grow their businesses, provides networking and skill-building opportunities, and develops leaders in the Alaska commercial fishing industry.
For details and to register, visit the AYFS event page. Updated information is also available on the AYFS Facebook page. If you have questions or would like to become a sponsor, contact Julie Matweyou, the Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program agent based in Kodiak.
Alaska Sea Grant is a statewide marine research, education, and outreach program, and is a partnership between the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program agents provide assistance that helps Alaskans wisely use, conserve, and enjoy marine and coastal resources.