ALFA Launches 2025 Crew Training Program
Crew training opportunities for the 2025 fishing season are being offered by the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association (ALFA) in an effort to match the needs of skippers with young people interested in a career in commercial fisheries.
ALFA is partnering with the Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust (ASFT) in the Young Fishermen Initiative, which dates back to 2015. The objective of this crew training program is to attract younger entrants into an industry where the average fisherman's age in Alaska is over 50.
To date, over 100 apprentices have been trained and placed on local fishing vessels in Southeast Alaska, according to the two organizations.
“There are always skippers looking for crew and crew looking for skippers,” ALFA communications and program director Natalie Sattler ...