Next generation of Alaska fishermen gather for summit

The first time Noah Swenson attended the Alaska Young Fishermen’s Summit (AYFS), he found a boat. The second time, he found his voice.

In 2024, the then-27-year-old Homer fisherman spent much of his time at AYFS meeting with a representative of AgWest Farm Credit to successfully arrange a loan to buy a 36-foot sternpicker. This year, he returned with a different goal: to get more comfortable speaking on his own behalf. 

“The second time around, in Juneau, I got to go into the Capitol and meet with representatives and just talk with them one-on-one,” said Swenson, who would go on to testify before the North Pacific Fishery Management Council just a few days after the event. “AYFS helped me gain perspective and confidence in stepping into that space … It was a good warm-up for actually getting involved in my own fishery.”

Swenson’s experiences at AYFS illustrate one of the strengths of the event: it is many things to many people. For those starting out on a fishing crew, it’s a chance to learn some basics and to hear about the promise and perils of a fishing career. For more seasoned fishermen, it’s an opportunity to absorb more of the nuances of Alaskan fisheries, and to learn to advocate for their interests. And for everyone, it’s a window to share experiences and knowledge with compatriots from across Alaska.

“We had good representation across our state from attendees who are new or aspiring commercial fishing business owners,” noted Alaska Sea Grant fisheries specialist Gabe Dunham, lead organizer of the summit. “AYFS attendees are knowledgeable and passionate about fisheries, and that brings a strong desire to know how to be successful.”

Alaska Sea Grant has held AYFS every other year since 2007, alternating between Anchorage and Juneau. This year’s event took place January 20–22 in Juneau’s Andrew Hope Building, which is owned by the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, and drew a crowd of about 20 commercial fishers from roughly 15 different communities. Attendees learned the ropes of their profession through panels ranging from financing and taxes, to fishing regulations and insurance, to salmon science. 

In one session, Julie Matweyou of Alaska Sea Grant’s Marine Advisory Program offered a primer on the history of Alaska fisheries management, and helped attendees populate a timeline of the state’s fisheries beginning with Indigenous management and extending to possible future trends.

Another panel, entitled “End of the Screaming Skipper,” helped these new fishing business owners develop leadership skills and learn how to avoid a hostile or toxic workplace. 

“The big takeaway from the session was to show that physical safety combined with mental safety allows for operational safety onboard,” said Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program agent Tav Ammu, who co-facilitated the session. “We wanted to give fishermen a chance to practice skills of communication and engagement with their crew or skipper that would encourage a safe and professional work environment.” 

As shown by Swenson’s experience, AYFS is effectively training young fishermen how to advocate for themselves to legislators and other decision-makers. The event included panels on presenting yourself to public officials and on engaging with the legislature, and included a roundtable at the Alaska State Capitol with Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, and Speaker of the House Rep. Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham.

Other highlights included field trips to the Douglas Island Pink and Chum, Inc. salmon hatchery and to the Marine Exchange of Alaska maritime safety organization. Evening receptions provided opportunities for participants to network with each other and with experienced fishermen, and to connect with Alaska’s coastal leaders and policymakers.

“The state really came together this year to show support,” noted Dunham. “This was reflected at the  reception that was jointly hosted by Sea Grant, the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute and United Fishermen of Alaska—it was a celebration of the industry, and the men and women who support it both on the water and on land.”