Commentary: Melanie Brown Lays Out Stakes in Alaska’s Finfish Farming Debate

Beautiful black and white photo of Melanie Brown smiling on her silver fishing boat. She is wearing waders, a baseball cap with fish on it, and gloves. Her gillnet sits to the right inside the boat. The partly cloudy sky appears behind her, with light streaming out from behind the clouds.

In an Alaska Beacon op-ed, fourth-generation Bristol Bay fisherman and wild salmon advocate Melanie Brown makes a compelling case for why Alaska should steer clear of industrial-scale finfish farming. Melanie affirms her support for the Keep Finfish Free Act (KFFA), which would prevent these fish farms from setting up shop in U.S. waters without congressional approval.

A group of red and green sockeye salmon prepare to spawn near outlet of Lake Brooks. Each of these salmon may represent as many as 1,000 other salmon that died in the attempt to return and spawn. Salmon face death throughout every phase of their life. We see the survivors returning to Brooks River.
A group of sockeye salmon prepare to spawn near the outlet of Lake Brooks. Each of these salmon may represent as many as 1,000 other salmon that died in the attempt to return and spawn. Salmon face death throughout every phase of their life. The survivors return to Brooks River. Public domain photo courtesy of National Park Service

Drawing from personal experience and multi-generational knowledge, Brown explains how farmed salmon has flooded the market, slashed prices for small-boat fishers, and harmed marine ecosystems.

With Alaska lawmakers considering legislation that could open the door to inland finfish farming, Melanie urges readers to protect what makes Alaska’s seafood wild, sustainable, and worth fighting for.

Check out the full commentary in the Alaska Beacon to see what’s at stake →

Afterward, take 30 sec to make your voice count!
Tell your senators to keep factory fish farms out of U.S. waters →

Photo of Melanie Brown by Joanne Teasdale