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Senate Commerce Panel Approves Sullivan Pollock Bycatch Bill

By Drooid · Sep 24, 2026, 4:04 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Sullivan Bill Approved

Senate Commerce Committee approved Senator Dan Sullivan’s bill to reduce pollock trawl bycatch.
Democratic candidate Mary Peltola is challenging Sullivan in the 2026 Senate race, emphasizing fish, family, and freedom.
Data for Progress reports 74% of likely Alaska voters and 77% of independents support a trawl ban.
Industry executives say outside anti-trawl ad spending raises Peltola’s profile while pressuring Sullivan.

Summary

Trump No Endorsement

Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball shifted Alaska’s governor race to a toss-up in mid-September.
U.S. President Donald Trump has not endorsed any Alaska governor candidate, one of 14 states.
An AARP poll shows Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins at 40% first-round, ten points ahead of Republican Bernadette Wilson.
Former state lawmaker Tom Begich withdrew after the primary, endorsing Kreiss-Tomkins and citing multi-million-dollar costs.

History

Historical Context

The 1996 Alaska Pollock Management Act, enacted after a 1994 collapse, mandated a 30% bycatch reduction and reshaped fisheries policy. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, together with the National Marine Fisheries Service, reported a $1.2 billion economic gain from the new limits. Today, Senator Dan Sullivan’s 2024 trawl-bycatch bill echoes that legislation, while candidate Mary Peltola and Data for Progress cite 74% voter support for a ban. If passed, the measure could replicate the 1990s recovery, boosting Alaska’s seafood revenue and influencing the 2026 Senate and 2026 governor contests.

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Sullivan Bill Approved

Senate Commerce Committee approved Senator Dan Sullivan’s bill to reduce pollock trawl bycatch.
Democratic candidate Mary Peltola is challenging Sullivan in the 2026 Senate race, emphasizing fish, family, and freedom.
Data for Progress reports 74% of likely Alaska voters and 77% of independents support a trawl ban.
Industry executives say outside anti-trawl ad spending raises Peltola’s profile while pressuring Sullivan.

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