New legislation could allow commercial fish farms in Alaska.
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy has introduced legislation that would partially lift the state’s 35-year-old ban on finfish farming, a move that could pave the way for commercial aquaculture beyond shellfish operations.
House Bill 111, introduced on Friday, has been referred to the House Fisheries Committee for further consideration, according to the Alaska Beacon. While the proposed legislation would not permit salmon farming, it would allow the farming of other bony fish, including species such as tilapia, catfish, and carp. Any farmed fish under the proposed law would be required to be sterile and contained within escape-proof barriers.
If passed, the bill would bring fish farming under the regulatory oversight of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.
In a letter accompanying the bill, Dunleavy framed the proposal as an economic opportunity for the state. “Authorizing finfish farming would introduce a new industry to Alaska, creating jobs, creating food security for residents, and contributing to economic growth,” he stated.
Alaska has maintained a ban on commercial finfish farming since 1990, when lawmakers permanently extended a prior temporary prohibition. At the time, a legislative investigation cited environmental, social, and economic risks, concluding that fish farming could undermine the state’s reputation for wild-caught seafood. Lawmakers also argued that few jobs would be created by a farmed fish industry compared to the existing wild fisheries sector.
“Avoiding harm to the state’s wild finfish, land, and water resources must take precedence over the development of a new speculative and potentially harmful commercial finfish farming industry,” the 1990 Legislature concluded.
The proposal is expected to face scrutiny, particularly from representatives of major seafood-producing regions. Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, chair of the House Fisheries Committee, said on Friday that she had not yet reviewed the bill but remained skeptical of any changes to the state’s long-standing policy on fish farming.
Alaska’s aquaculture industry is currently limited to shellfish farming, a sector that has seen growth in recent years. If passed, HB 111 would mark a significant shift in the state’s approach to aquaculture, potentially opening the door for a new segment of the industry.
Why the salmon industry will be watching:
The bill is also of interest to the global salmon farming sector, which has long faced opposition in Alaska. While HB 111 does not propose lifting the ban on salmon farming, it signals a potential softening of the state’s stance on aquaculture. If successfully implemented, the legislation could set a precedent for future discussions on farmed salmon in Alaska, a market that has remained exclusively reliant on wild-caught supply. Any move toward finfish aquaculture in the state is likely to be closely watched by salmon farming companies looking to expand operations in North America.
