Since Alaska achieved statehood and put its constitution on paper over fifty years ago, it was clear that the addition of the state to the union would mean a variety of benefits for the United States of America. Among them, it was clear that the natural resources would be a major asset in the further development of the nation. Not only were the oceans a terrific source for fish, they were also a place where scientific research could take place in an environment as unblemished as any in the union. More than fifty years later, considering the handling of the seafood industry by state controls, there is a strong case for defending Alaska’s fisheries and allowing them to continue as they have been doing.
You can’t make any argument without evidence and Alaska’s record is impressive. Among the basic criteria, you can look to see if overfishing is present. Alaska can boast of no salmon or groundfish being on the overfished list, as the National Marine Fisheries Service continues to report on the status of species. Forgetting about lists, you can just look at the numbers. Salmon harvests continue to reach historical levels. In the case of some fish that have disappeared off the map entirely, to boast of increases in environmentally troubled times is good reason for defending Alaska’s fisheries.
Among the many tools needed to enforce a government’s laws concerning abuses to the environment, there must be a way to make fisheries accountable for actions. There must be a system in which the vessels and their activity can be traced. Alaska jumped out to a great start by writing the conservation principles into law. Next, a system of enforcement was coordinated between different government agencies. Tracing the practices of commercial fisheries involves audits, third party confirmations and a relentless desire to stop cheating practices.
You might say that the system was set up to protect nature first and to protect the industry itself as a result. When nature wins, the seafood industry in Alaska wins, which is the maybe the biggest reason of all for defending Alaska’s fisheries and allowing a quality system to remain in place.
Alaska's fishing industry leads the world in environmental protection measures. From efforts to improve
traceability to strict
enforcement procedures, Alaska continually shows how committed it is to preserving the ocean for the next generation.
