JUNEAU – Fishermen in Alaska represent the state's largest group of small business owners. But there is some graying going on – the median age of Alaska's commercial fishermen is now close to 50.
Add to that the flight of limited entry permits from coastal residents to people outside the region and even outside the state, and the general consolidation of the state's pollock, crab and salmon fishing fleets that has occurred in recent years, and people like Glenn Haight begin to think there might be fewer fishing jobs for people in Alaska's coastal communities in the future. Haight is a fisheries business specialist with the Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program.
"Yet, the jobs that remain have become more valuable and profitable for fishermen," Haight said.
But who will get those better paying jobs? Haight said it likely would be the people best prepared to do them. To help Alaska coastal communities prepare their residents for the fishing jobs of the future, the Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program is floating the idea of a professional fisherman's training program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Capital City Weekly (Juneau, AK).