Background Articles

To reduce their unintended take of halibut, vessels in the bottom trawl fleet have an escape hatch in their nets that allows some of the larger halibut to swim free.

Researchers have relocated 20 Atlantic catfish to artificial kelp forest units in Melkøy Sound, Northern Norway, to test if reintroducing sea urchin predators can help restore kelp forests overgrazed by booming sea urchin populations.

Reisa Elvelag has installed the country’s largest floating grate trap across the Reisa River in Nordreisa, blocking the river on July 26 and capturing 30 pink salmon within hours.

Shrimp biomass in Greenland has declined significantly over the past two years, prompting major fishing companies and the fisheries organization QAK to call for industry adaptations.

Hundreds of cod were found dead near Iqaluit’s deepsea port after likely being trapped at low tide, according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Sockeye salmon, the primary target species, came in at under half a million fish last month. That's less than a third of the 10-year average. Meanwhile, Fish and Game is putting more restrictions on the fishery.

The Norwegian Veterinary Institute begins building a trap at Seida to sort out invasive pink salmon migrating up the Tana River.

On June 11, 2025, a Norilsk fish incubation plant delivered more than 60,000 nelma juveniles to be released into Lake Keta as part of Nornickel’s ongoing efforts to replenish regional fish stocks.

Sitka had an early bloom that led to high shellfish toxins in April, and there is currently a paralytic shellfish toxin advisory across Southeast for recreational and subsistence harvest.

A new study reports that Atlantic salmon exposed to the anti-anxiety drug clobazam during migration became bolder, passing through hydropower dams faster, though this behavior might increase predation risk later.

Salmon advocates have raised concerns over declining salmon numbers, blaming an oversupply of hatchery-reared fish that overwhelms natural stocks and disrupts ocean ecosystems.

A new study from Kodiak’s NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center links ocean acidification to a significant decline in red king crab populations in the Bering Sea, challenging the view that warming is the primary stressor.

Long-term data from eight coastal stations over the past 90 years shows that Norwegian coastal waters have warmed by up to 2°C, impacting local fisheries and marine life.

Data collected over 90 years shows that Norwegian coastal water temperatures have increased by up to 2°C, a shift that is impacting marine ecosystems and local fishing practices.

Proposals have been submitted to the Alaska Board of Fisheries to establish a commercial jig fishery for magister squid in Southeast Alaska, potentially benefiting local fishermen and affecting marine ecosystems.

A study identifies shrinking salmon size as a factor affecting Chinook salmon productivity in Alaska's Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers, impacted by conditions like extreme temperatures and high runoff.

The 2024 Pacific halibut fishing season has ended with below-average catches and fish sizes across Alaska's fisheries. The decreasing size of halibut poses a threat to their population, as smaller females produce significantly fewer eggs, raising concerns for future stock sustainability.

The Bristol Bay sockeye salmon run exceeded forecasts in 2024, but fishermen earned lower-than-expected profits due to smaller fish sizes and poor market conditions.