to support healthy and vibrant fishing communities by fostering greater social, financial, and political capacity to access, sustainably develop and protect fisheries in the Arctic, Yukon, Kuskokwim, and Bristol Bay regions of Alaska.

In 1979, western Alaska commercial fisheries leaders established the Bering Sea Fishermen’s Association to give the subsistence and commercial fishermen a voice in the sustainability and development of Bering Sea and western Alaska fishery resources. And what a voice it has become.

Looking back on the days of the initial organizational meeting, it is hard to believe all that BSFA has accomplished. There have been many challenges and BSFA has been there to respond to them. But, BSFA has done more than respond; it has played a leading and critical role in ensuring that western Alaska fishermen are in control of their own future.