Alaska’s Coast: A Call to Keep Fisheries Wild

The federal agency is preparing maps that label places for aquaculture, claiming it’s only for clams and seaweed. Yet this planning step could pave the way for large fish farms that have harmed other regions. When open‑net pens appear, they can spread parasites, transmit viruses, and create dead zones under the nets. Alaska has avoided these problems by banning finfish farms for decades, learning from other states’ mistakes. Now, under the name “planning tools, ” NOAA seeks to chart new zones where future administrations might decide to grow salmon or other finfish. This isn’t a random suggestion; it follows a familiar pattern that has damaged coastal communities elsewhere.The state’s wild salmon industry is celebrated worldwide because it remains untouched by industrial fishing methods. These waters feed families, preserve traditions, and support local economies. They are not a laboratory experiment but a living resource that deserves protection. If NOAA wants to help with aquaculture, it can do so without designating federal zones that could later be used for finfish farms. Rejecting the proposed areas now would prevent them from becoming a hidden pathway to industrial fishing. The decision matters for future generations, who rely on clean, thriving oceans. Alaska must act decisively to keep its fisheries wild and free from the threats that open‑net farms bring.