In Southeast Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, where grizzlies roam and salmon surge through pristine streams, a hidden crisis threatens this vibrant ecosystem: “bycatch” from industrial trawlers.

Trawlers are massive fishing vessels, often Seattle-based, targeting pollock and cod in the Gulf of Alaska, scooping up millions of pounds of fish for fast-food fish filet sandwiches, like McDonald’s “Filet-O-Fish,” and fish sticks sold nationwide. They fish fast and in bulk—by dragging nets, some as wide as football fields across the sea, which destroy everything in their wake.

Such nets unintentionally catch and kill thousands of king salmon, halibut, and crab—species vital to Southeast Alaska’s ecology, communities, and The Boat Company’s conservation mission. Since 1979, our nonprofit has fought for the Tongass, and today, we’re sounding the alarm on trawlers’ impact.

Bycatch, the unintended capture of non-target species, is a global issue, but its toll in Southeast Alaska is acute.

In 2024, Gulf of Alaska trawlers caught nearly 35,000 Chinook salmon and 4 million pounds of halibut as bycatch, much of it discarded dead. To be clear, these species that were unintentionally caught are thrown away. Wasted.

Since 1991, over 657,000 king salmon have been lost to Gulf trawlers, with only 15% of bycatch observed, suggesting the real toll is higher.

These salmon, critical to the Tongass’s food web, support grizzlies, eagles, and Indigenous communities. Halibut, a staple for local fishers, faces population declines, with stocks at their lowest since the 1970s.

Trawlers’ nets also snag juvenile fish and crabs, disrupting future generations.

The trawler industry, dominated by a few Washington-based firms, fuels America’s fast-food giants. McDonald’s, selling 300 million “Filet-O-Fish” sandwiches annually, relies on Alaska pollock, with 99% claimed as sustainably sourced. Yet, this “sustainability” masks bycatch’s collateral damage.

Pollock trawlers, harvesting over 2 billion pounds yearly, also supply fish sticks, surimi, and sandwiches for Burger King, Wendy’s, and Arby’s.

In 2024, two Kodiak trawlers caught 2,000 Chinook salmon in a single day, prompting a rare fishery closure. Such incidents highlight how trawlers prioritize cheap protein—often exported to China or processed for fast food—over Southeast Alaska’s ecosystems.

Southeast Alaska’s communities bear the cost. Trawlers’ bycatch competes with local fishers, who face strict quotas. In 2021, trawlers took 26,000 king salmon, about 10% of Alaska’s commercial Chinook harvest, while “trollers” caught fish one-by-one. Subsistence fishers, including Alaska Natives, face closures, threatening food security and cultural practices. The Boat Company, with over $30 million invested in Southeast Alaska conservation, sees trawlers as a direct threat to our small-ship eco-tourism, which depends on healthy fisheries for kayaking, wildlife viewing, sustainable fishing and dining.

Solutions exist, but action lags. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) has proposed bycatch caps, but trawlers resist, suing over halibut limits. Advocates like SalmonState and the STOP Alaskan Trawler Bycatch group (26,000+ members) demand lower caps, gear changes, and trawling bans in sensitive areas.

The Boat Company supports these calls, urging enforceable limits and prioritizing subsistence over industrial trawling. Our cruises fund habitat restoration, and we invite you to join us in protecting the Tongass.

Trawlers’ fast-food supply chain—feeding McDonald’s and beyond—undermines Southeast Alaska’s ecosystems. By raising awareness, supporting policy change, and choosing sustainable seafood, we can preserve the Tongass for future generations.

Stay tuned to our news for more information as this topic develops.

In the meantime, you may book a cruise or donate at the buttons below to join our mission. A portion of your cruise fare is tax-deductible.

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