About This Project
The Bycatch Report exists because the people of the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers deserve to know what's happening to their salmon in the open ocean.
The Problem
Every year, industrial pollock trawlers operating in the Bering Sea accidentally catch and kill hundreds of thousands of salmon. These aren't random ocean fish — genetic testing proves a significant percentage originate from Western Alaska rivers, the same rivers that Alaska Native communities depend on for subsistence.
While our communities face fishing closures and restrictions, the bycatch data remains buried in dense federal reports that most people will never read. The regulatory bodies (NOAA, NMFS, NPFMC) publish the numbers, but they don't make them accessible.
What We Do
- Track salmon bycatch numbers across Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska reporting areas
- Monitor trawler positions in real time
- Identify vessel ownership — who profits from killing our salmon
- Present it all in a format anyone can understand
Data Accuracy Notice
All data presented on this site is derived from publicly available federal records. Numbers are updated regularly and represent the best available information at time of publication. Bycatch totals may be revised as observer data is finalized. We make every effort to ensure accuracy but cannot guarantee completeness of reported catches.
For the river. For the people.