{
  "id": 13120984,
  "title": "Takeaways from AP’s report on Alaska’s growing fight over trawling and bycatch",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/takeaways-from-aps-report-on-alaskas-growing-fight-over-trawling-and",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-09T13:07:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/greenpage/2026/10/09/takeaways-from-aps-report-on-alaskas-growing-fight-over-trawling-and-bycatch"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Alaska's pollock fishery, the second-largest in the world, has faced growing contention over its trawling practices and bycatch of other marine life. The nets used to catch pollock often unintentionally capture salmon, leading to a seven-year ban on Chinook fishing in the Yukon River where many Alaska Native communities depend on salmon. Scientists attribute the salmon declines primarily to warming waters and changing ocean conditions, but bycatch is a controllable factor that critics argue can still impact depleted runs. The pollock fishery has invested significantly in reducing bycatch, using devices like salmon excluders and sharing information about salmon concentrations with other vessels. However, the debate extends to the design of the trawling gear itself, with pelagic trawls (midwater nets) potentially coming into contact with the seafloor, while bottom trawls are banned in certain areas to protect marine life. This issue has become a major factor in Alaska's elections, with at least 10 gubernatorial candidates and one U.S. Senate candidate taking positions critical of trawling or bycatch.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Alaska's pollock fishery faces contention over trawling practices and bycatch.",
    "Chinook fishing banned for seven years due to salmon declines.",
    "Bycatch reduction efforts include salmon excluders and shared data."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "The fish behind America’s fish sticks is fueling a fight over trawling in Alaska",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/the-fish-behind-americas-fish-sticks-is-fueling-a-fight-over-trawling",
        "published": "2026-10-09T13:06:46.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}