National Fisherman

Charlie Ess

Contributor

Charlie Ess is the North Pacific Bureau Chief for National Fisherman.

Author Archive

Alaska's Bristol Bay salmon industry on the brink. As overstuffed markets and looming high-volume harvests loom, the financial solvency of the industry hangs by a thread. Justin Del Boulter photo.

Bristol Bay salmon fishermen face uncertain 2024

Dozens of freshly caught sockeye salmon in the cooler of a commercial fishing boat. Photo by Ivan_Sabo on Shutterstock

Alaska salmon 2024: Markets still flooded as next harvest forecasts come in

2019 NF Highliner, Jack Schultheis. Photo by Andy Gulick

National Fisherman Highliner: Jack Schultheis

An Alaskan chinook salmon. Wild Fish Conservancy photo.

Chinook salmon fight escalates with Endangered Species Act petition

Alaska pollock NOAA — Alaska pollock. NOAA photo.

Alaska pollock may gain with expanded ban on Russian product

Bering Sea snow crab. NMFS photo.

Small Bering Sea red crab quota fills fast; starvation theory in opilio disappearance

Pat McBride with a deckload of blackcod from the western Aleutians during the 1980s. Photo courtesy Barb McBride.

Pat McBride, Aleutians blackcod pioneer, passes at 69

Sockeye salmon fills the drying racks in the village of Newhalen on Lake Iliamna. Scott Bartlett photo.

Battle flares anew over Alaska subsistence fisheries

Despite disappointing prices far below the record-breaking 2022 season, Bristol Bay fishermen landed 38 million fish by the end of July, surpassing the forecast of 37 million fish. BBRSDA photo.

Market Report: Alaska Salmon

Alaska pollock. NMFS photo.

North Pacific council hears calls for hard cap on chum bycatch