Fisheries Entity Cites Southeast Alaska as Climate Change Resistant

Image: Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust.

Research by Oregon scientist Dominic A. DellaSala showing Southeast Alaska to be a climate stronghold in the midst of global warming is being hailed by an educational partner of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association.

“Rainforest scientists such as Dominick DellaSala say we’re warming more slowly than nearby regions,” Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust (ASFT) Board President Linda Behnken said.

“They believe there is potential for our region to become a stronghold where everything from wild salmon to big conifers can still find habitat,” she added.

This information and more is part of the Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust’s SeaBank initiative, a multi-disciplinary approach to identify, assess and communicate the value of the Southeast Alaska ecosystem.

“Our goal is to empower residents, visitors and policymakers to make sound long-term decisions that promote stewardship and sustainable economics,” said Behnken, who’s also a veteran commercial fisheries harvester and ALFA’s executive director.

DellaSala was the keynote speaker at the SeaBank Summit fundraiser in Sitka on Nov. 13. 

ASFT’s Paul Olson, a commercial fisherman and environmental attorney, has also drawn on the research of DellaSala and other scientists, and was scheduled to unveil the 2024 edition of his popular SeaBank Report at the event.

A data-based advocacy tool for policymakers and citizens, the 260-page report captures the economic benefits resulting from Southeast Alaska’s unique geography and climate.

“Fisheries and tourism are mainstays of the region’s economy,” he said, “and we owe them entirely to the huge ecological wealth stored in the lands and waters around us. That’s why we call this place the SeaBank.” 

ASFT is a non-profit dedicated to strengthening fishing communities and marine resources through research, education and economic opportunity.