Adams et. al., 1 A Proposition for an Octopus Fishery in the Aleutian Islands By: Aaron Adams, Jessica Andersen, Kevin Huynh, Valerie Sours, and Natalie Waldron. Unalaska City High School Unalaska Raiders (temporary) 55 East Broadway PO Box 570 Unalaska, AK 99685 Primary contact for the paper: Aaron Adams:
[email protected] Adams et. al., 2 Abstract With global fisheries on the decline, fishermen have been forced to diversify their fishing efforts. Cephalopod resources are on the rise and may have a potential application to supplement the fishing industry. In many countries, octopuses are underutilized and may have the potential to become a profitable market. However, one exception to this rule is the octopus market in Japan has proven to be sustainable for over 50 years. We recommend a science-based approach to researching and managing an experimental North Pacific Giant Octopus fishery in the Aleutian Chain. Our ecosystem approach to managing this fishery will likely prove profitable to small communities throughout southwestern Alaska, thus providing security for commercial fishing longevity. Adams et. al., 3 Introduction With the onset of global climate change and diminishing marine resources from overfishing, many fishermen are wondering about their future. As fishery managers attempt to conservatively manage species, fishermen are finding that each year they are bringing home less and less catch. One solution to this problem is for fishermen to diversify their fishing efforts. This could mean fishing new areas, using new gear types and possibly fishing new species. While most established fisheries are fairly competitive, there may be a potential to gain a foothold in undeveloped or underutilized fisheries.