Fisheries
Protecting Alaska's way of life and the families that make it happen.
I started commercial fishing at age nine in Cook Inlet. By fourteen, I was fishing Bristol Bay, one of the most productive and demanding wild salmon fisheries on earth. By eighteen, I was a skipper. Fisheries aren't a policy position for me. They're my heritage, my livelihood, and part of who I am as an Alaskan.
That's exactly why I take this issue so seriously. I know what's at stake, not just economically, but culturally. Alaska's fishing families, coastal communities, and the generations of Alaskans who depend on healthy fish stocks deserve a governor who has actually been on the water and understands what proper management means for real people.
Where Matt Stands
Protecting Fishing Families and Coastal Communities
Alaska's fishing industry supports tens of thousands of jobs and is the backbone of dozens of coastal communities. From Bristol Bay to Cook Inlet to Southeast Alaska, these families have built their lives on sustainable, productive fisheries. Any policy that threatens these livelihoods, whether from federal overreach, out-of-state corporate interests, or mismanaged bycatch, must be confronted head-on. As Governor, I will be a relentless advocate for Alaska's fishing families in Juneau and in Washington, D.C.
Science-Based Fisheries Management
Good fisheries management is not anti-industry, it's pro-Alaska. Healthy fish stocks mean a sustainable industry for generations to come. I believe in rigorous, science-based management that takes into account the full complexity of Alaska's marine ecosystems. That means listening to the fishermen who work these waters every day, not just the bureaucrats who manage them from afar. We need decision-making that's grounded in data, transparent in process, and accountable to Alaskans, not outside interests.
Addressing Bycatch
Bycatch, the incidental catch of non-target species, is one of the most contentious and consequential issues in Alaska fisheries management. The unnecessary waste of salmon, halibut, crab, and other species is not just an environmental problem; it's an economic one that directly harms coastal communities and commercial fishermen. I support smart policies that minimize bycatch through improved monitoring, gear requirements where appropriate, and meaningful accountability for industrial fishing operations.
Fair Access for All Alaskans
Alaska's fisheries belong to Alaskans, all of them. From the subsistence fishermen in rural communities whose families have relied on these resources for generations, to the commercial fleets operating out of Kodiak, Cordova, Dutch Harbor, and Sitka, to the sport fishing guides serving visitors from around the world, each sector has a legitimate stake in how these resources are managed. I will work to ensure fair, balanced access that respects all users while keeping Alaska's fish stocks healthy for the future.
Matt's Fisheries Commitments
Protect Alaska fishing families and coastal communities
Champion science-based, transparent fisheries management
Address bycatch with smart, effective policies
Stand up for Alaska's interests against federal overreach
Ensure fair access from Bristol Bay to Cook Inlet
Listen to fishermen, not just bureaucrats
Fight for sustainable stocks for future generations
Keep fisheries management decisions in Alaskan hands
"I've been on the water since I was nine years old. I know what healthy fisheries mean to Alaska, and I'll fight to protect them."
Matt Heilala