Alaska's longtime Republican Congressman Don Young recently opined at a US Congressional hearing that the state's residents are opposed to what he described as "hatchery fisheries" in the state.
That's in spite of state itself being home to 30 hatcheries operated mostly by private non-profit (PNP) corporations made up of commercial salmon fishermen in southeast Alaska, Prince William Sound, Cook Inlet and Kodiak.
But Zack Brown, a communications director for Congressman Young, told IntraFish that comment was not entirely accurate, although those are the words the congressman used while virtually attending the hearing in July.
"The Congressman was condemning fish farming in or near Alaska, but this does not include Alaska’s hatchery programs, which he has always supported," Brown told IntraFish.
"He has enjoyed decades of collaboration with the Alaska Department of Fish & Game and other nonprofit hatchery associations across the state. These hatcheries help keep wild salmon stocks strong for commercial, sport, and subsistence use, and the Congressman continues to support their operations."
In 2019, hatchery-produced salmon accounted for 25 percent of Alaska's total salmon harvest. Roughly 50 million hatchery salmon were caught and were worth an estimated $118 million (€99 million), or 18 percent of the state's total salmon harvest value.
Fish farming is banned in Alaska, but the state's jurisdiction extends only to waters three miles offshore. Beyond that limit is federal waters, and the state ban does not apply.
Young recently introduced the "Keep Fin Fish Free Act," legislation prohibiting the Secretary of Interior and the Secretary of Commerce from authorizing commercial finfish aquaculture operations in the Federal Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) unless specifically authorized by Congress.
Offshore aquaculture, farming beyond the nearshore and inshore coastal zone, in waters greater than 65 feet in depth, is the most promising option for expanded sustainable seafood production, accord to several industry seafood groups.
In July he also introduced legislation prohibiting the "shipping, transporting, offering for sale, selling, or purchasing a genetically altered finfish," outside of its use for scientific purposes.
The measure is aimed at US land-based AquaBounty, which in May went to market with its first harvest of genetically modified salmon for US consumers.
Watch the congressman speak about his legislation around 21 minutes in.
