Governor Dunleavy Wants To Bring Finfish Farming To Alaska

The term “fish farming” has seemingly been taboo for Alaska’s fishing community over the years. And while the state has been reluctant to follow neighboring British Columbia, Canada, which has extensive farmed salmon areas – farmed salmon operations are not part of this proposal – Governor Mike Dunleavy wants the state to wade into those waters now when it comes to finish.

Here’s Friday’s press release from the Governor’s office:

Governor Mike Dunleavy Introduces Legislation to Allow Fish Farming in Closed Systems in Alaska

Feb 21, 2025

Today Governor Mike Dunleavy introduced legislation to boost food security and economic opportunity in Alaska by allowing finfish farming.

Currently, Alaska law prohibits finfish farming except for private nonprofit salmon hatcheries.

HB 111 would authorize the Commissioner of the Department of Fish and Game, in consultation with the Commissioner of the Department of Conservation, to permit the cultivation and sale of certain finish in inland, closed system bodies of water.

The legislation:

• Requires all finfish acquired with a finfish farm permit to be sterilized triploids which are unable to reproduce
• Prohibits cultivating pink, chum, sockeye, coho, chinook and Atlantic salmon
• Requires finfish farms to be enclosed within a natural or artificial escape proof barrier
• Authorizes stocking a lake on private property with finfish for personal consumption without a permit if the lake is enclosed with a natural or artificial escape-proof barrier

“This legislation is a continuation of my administration’s efforts to grow Alaska’s food security by creating a new fish farming industry,” said Governor Mike Dunleavy. “Alaska can join other regions of the world by raising fish that can be sold and consumed here in Alaska and be available for export. This legislation will yield new jobs, economic growth, and a new food source for all Alaskans.”

In 2023, food fish aquaculture sales amounted to $819.6 million nationwide according to the USDA Aquaculture Census. While catfish accounted for more than half of that value, the second most sold farm-raised fish was trout, followed tilapia.

Expect lots of pushback on this salvo fired by Dunleavy, who is also eager to work with President Donald Trump to re-establish oil and natural gas drilling in areas marked for protection by the previous Presidential administration.

Here’s some reaction from Dunleavy’s legislation: