Protecting Alaska’s King Salmon: A Cornerstone of Our Future

Alaska’s King Salmon fishery is not just another resource—it's a cornerstone of our economy and a key part of our cultural identity. Anything found to be detrimental to this fishery must be curtailed.

No other candidate running for governor possesses a biology degree with the background to tackle this critical issue. James William Parkin IV (JP4) does.

A Legacy at Risk

For generations, these majestic fish have sustained our communities and brought Alaskans together, serving as an enduring symbol of abundance and resilience.

As we look toward the future, it is critical that we embrace truly sustainable fishing practices to safeguard this invaluable resource.

"I do not want to negatively affect anyone's livelihood, and I will protect the livelihoods of Alaskans that will be impacted, but we must stop trawler bycatch. No one should need a scientific study or biologist to tell them that wasting millions of pounds of fish each year is not good or sustainable... I cannot in good conscience allow this practice to continue!"

— James William Parkin IV (JP4)

Action Plan: Fighting Fish Waste on Every Front

To protect our wild stocks and restore balance to Alaska's waters, JP4 will take bold, uncompromising action:

Launch Public Awareness Campaigns: Initiate targeted campaigns against industrial trawl waste and the fast-food chains purchasing fish tied to destructive practices, including organized public demonstrations.

Defend State Sovereignty: File charges against the federal government for preventing Alaska from fulfilling its state constitutional mandate to manage fisheries sustainably.

Reform the Magnuson-Stevens Act: Direct state federal legislators to champion amendments returning state sovereignty over all waters impacting our fisheries, extending beyond the three-mile limit.

Support Impacted Alaskans: Provide state funding, alternative business development programs, and transition support to help ease short-term financial adjustments for local Alaskans.

International & Transboundary Cooperation

Partner with Canadian Neighbors: Transboundary rivers like the Yukon flow across borders, carrying salmon that are vital to both Alaskan and Canadian communities. JP4 will establish direct, active partnerships with Canadian officials, First Nations, and local river stewards to coordinate habitat restoration, stream monitoring, and joint escapement strategies.

Shared Conservation Goals: By working hand-in-hand with Canadian partners on their impacted rivers and spawning tributaries, we can ensure that salmon returning to upper river systems are protected along every mile of their migration.

Restoration Beyond Bycatch: Advanced Salmon Enhancement

Ending bycatch alone will not be enough to reverse decades of decline. To bring King Salmon back from near-extinction, we must employ modern, wild-first enhancement technologies and habitat support:

Streamside In-Stream Incubators (SISIs): Deploy low-impact incubators engineered for groundwater upwellings to bolster wild reproduction without compromising genetic integrity.

Spawning Channel & Habitat Optimization: Support managed alluvial spawning channels and localized nutrient enrichment to increase wild stock returns.

Stakeholder Collaboration: Gather commercial, Tribal, local, and transboundary partners to draft an actionable plan that preserves, protects, and enhances our State Fish.

Historical Context: Ending Foreign & Outside Exploitation

This is not the first time Alaska’s waters have been threatened by outside corporate interests:

The Herring Collapse: Repeatedly damaged years ago by outside commercial fleets.

The 1950s Salmon Crisis: Foreign trawlers nearly collapsed Alaska’s salmon runs. While foreign vessels were eventually halted, domestic out-of-state trawlers were allowed to continue—a historical misstep that has resulted in decades of continued fish waste.

It is time to put Fish First and Party Second.

Join the Movement

Together, we can safeguard the integrity of Alaska's pristine waters and ensure future generations enjoy the legacy of King Salmon.

Platform Priorities: Eliminate Trawl Bycatch, Transition to High-Value Catch, Restore Rural Infrastructure