An Open Letter to Alaska's Commercial Fishermen

To alaska’s commercial fishermen,

Commercial fishing is the backbone of Alaska. But the industry is in a challenging place and leadership is lacking. A strong commercial fishing industry is critical to the future of our state, and especially our coastal communities. I know this because I was born and raised in Sitka, a community built by commercial fishing.

I also represented Sitka, Petersburg, and Southeast Alaska fishing communities for a decade in the legislature, and was endorsed by United of Fishermen of Alaska during my time in office. I am now a candidate for governor, endorsed by Kodiak Seiners Association, Cordova District Fishermen United, and Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association (among other organizations across Alaska). I am running to be a champion for the commercial fishing industry.

This letter outlines my commitment to you — and to all Alaska commercial fishermen — on five fronts.

(1) RESTORE BALANCE TO THE ALASKA BOARD OF FISHERIES

The Alaska Board of Fisheries is supposed to serve all Alaskans and all user groups — subsistence, commercial, sport alike. It is not supposed to be a political instrument for any single interest group.

Under the Dunleavy Administration, balance has been broken. Governor Dunleavy's appointments to the Board have produced an anti-commercial fishing majority heavily influenced by Kenai River Sportfishing Association. No one user group — and certainly no one organization — should so singularly dominate the Board of Fish process.

The result? A Board of Fish process that has normalized out-of-cycle re-allocations, frequent board-generated proposals, and disregard for the State's own biologists and fishery managers. It's bad process, it's bad for fishermen and it's bad for Alaska.

As governor, I will restore balance to the Board of Fish. All user groups will be fairly represented, and no one organization will dominate the process. Science, data, and reasoned testimony will guide decisions. Once again, commercial fishermen, as well as all user groups, will receive a fair hearing.

My record as a legislator reflects this commitment. In my decade as a legislator, I worked hard to support nominees such as Robert Ruffner, John Jensen, and Fritz Johnson. Since leaving the legislature, I have greatly respected Mike Wood’s and Tom Carpenter’s contributions to the Board of Fish.

(2) RESTORE INTEGRITY TO THE BOARD OF FISH CYCLE PROCESS

Alaska's Board of Fish operates on a three-year regional cycle — a structured process that gives fishermen, communities, and managers time to prepare, participate, and plan. That predictability is not some bureaucratic detail. It is the foundation on which businesses are built, permits are valued, and families make long-term decisions.

The current Board has repeatedly circumvented this cycle through out-of-cycle actions — taking up fisheries management questions for regions that are not scheduled for review, often to the detriment of commercial fishermen (e.g., BOF’s March 2026 Cook Inlet management plan rewrite, or the October 2025 decision to take up Tsiu River allocation out of cycle). The Board's own rules allow for special petitions and agenda change requests, but these tools were designed for genuine emergencies — not as a backdoor to relitigate settled allocations or impose new restrictions outside the established process.

As governor, I will appoint Board of Fish members and ADF&G leadership who respect the integrity of the Board's cycle process. Commercial fishermen should be able to count on when their fisheries will be reviewed, and not live in fear that an agenda change or out-of-cycle Board of Fish meeting might result in an action that profoundly affects their livelihood.

(3) APPOINT A FISH & GAME COMMISSIONER WHO RESPECTS SCIENCE AND PROCESS

As a legislator, I worked with three different ADF&G commissioners over 10 years. I came to know many senior agency staff, including Scott Kelley, Sam Rabung, and Glenn Haight. I developed great respect for their commitment to the sustained-yield mandate and science-based management.

As governor, I will appoint an ADF&G Commissioner similar to these exemplary ADF&G leaders — that is, I will appoint a commissioner who respects science, who respects process, and who will keep the politics out of management.

(4) FULLY EMPOWER THE DIVISION OF INVESTMENTS AND CFAB TO SUPPORT FISHERMEN

The State of Alaska's Division of Investments administers the Commercial Fishing Revolving Loan Fund, which along with CFAB is one of the most important tools to help commercial fishermen enter the industry. The Division and its staff as well as CFAB are sterling examples how the State of Alaska can help fishermen get on the water and generate economic opportunity.

Recent legislation has moved in the right direction — cutting the interest rate and doubling the maximum loan amount — but the Division must do more to help fishermen. As governor, I will ensure that the Division of Investments is fully staffed, fully funded, and fully empower the Division of Investments and CFAB to help Alaska commercial fishermen succeed.

(5) LOWER THE COST OF INSURANCE FOR COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN

Insurance costs for commercial fishing operations have skyrocketed in recent years, far outpacing inflation and squeezing margins. For many fishermen, the cost of insuring a vessel and crew has become one of the single largest line items in their annual budget. In some cases, it makes going out on the water a straight-up money loser.

This is a solvable problem. Recent legislation sponsored by my former colleague Rep. Louise Stutes (herself a terrific champion of the fishing industry, and I hope a future state senator) has created the option for Alaska commercial fishermen to create insurance pools or co-ops. This is just the first step. As governor, I will champion efforts to help capitalize these member-owned pools and co-ops to help create more options and lower insurance costs for Alaska commercial fishermen.

Alaska fishermen should not have to choose between adequate coverage and keeping their business afloat.

Alaska's commercial fishermen have survived recessions, storms, farmed fish, tariffs, consolidation, changing ocean conditions, fish prices in the toilet, and more.

What commercial fishermen cannot afford is a state government that actively works against it — through a tilted Board of Fish, disregard for the cycle process, and a relative ignorance of or even outright contempt towards commercial fishing.

I am asking for your support, and I am making a promise: As your governor, the commercial fishing industry will have an advocate in the governor and in my administration, consistent with my decade-long record as a legislator. I am someone who understands the industry, who respects its history, and who appreciates its way of life. I will be a champion for an industry that is critical to all of Alaska — and is the lifeblood of coastal Alaska.

I would appreciate your support in the August 18 primary.

Respectfully,

Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins

All photo credits: Berett Wilber (berettwilber.com)

an open letter