The Work of Sitka’s ASFT & ALFA

By admin | April 5, 2025

The Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust (ASFT) is a non-profit organization based in Sitka that strengthens Alaska fishing communities through research, education, and economic opportunity. ASFT and its partner organization, the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association (ALFA), promote sustainable fisheries and thriving fishing communities through initiatives which aim to:

  • Increase resident access to local fisheries
  • Promote collaborative research and stewardship
  • Foster energy efficiency and independence
  • Support workforce development
  • Increase food security

Below is a snapshot of the partnership’s recent efforts. Come visit their office or check out the website to learn more.

Access

ASFT has developed diverse partnerships to provide fishery access opportunities to Alaska fishermen. In partnership with Catch Together, The Nature Conservancy, Craft3 and the Rasmuson Foundation, ASFT launched the Local Fish Fund to provide low risk/low cost loans that entry level fishermen need to acquire initial ownership of fishery access rights. ASFT and ALFA have also developed a Quota Bank that anchors fishery access in rural communities by providing fishing quota for lease to coastal residents at lower cost and risk. The organizations are now working to expand these efforts to better serve indigenous communities that have lost most if not all access to groundfish and halibut resources.

Energy Independence

ALFA is converting local fishing and mariculture boats to hybrid or full electric propulsion, installing some of the first-in-the-nation systems on commercial fishing vessels. This project is in partnership with Alaska energy firm Kempy Energetics, Serka’s Welding and Fabrication, and Jeff Turner of F/V Mirage, and builds on over a decade of energy efficiency data collection, information sharing, and seafood industry innovation. The effort is intended to showcase the potential for more seafood sector energy conversions to reduce operating costs, explore marketing opportunities, and improve fisheries sustainability.

Food Security

Since the Covid pandemic, ALFA and ASFT have also partnered in food security work, providing over 655,000 seafood meals to residents throughout Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. Seafood is culturally and nutritionally central to the Alaska way of life, yet many residents are facing harvesting restrictions as a result of resource scarcity. The partners strive to source seafood from regionally abundant stocks and deliver that seafood in the form most valued by recipients. This effort hinges on developing the in-state infrastructure to retain more of Alaska’s seafood in Alaska, for Alaskans.