Alaska’s Leading Role in Reducing Marine Habitat Loss

ody">than in practically any other part of the
Commercial fishing is a major threat to theplanet’s exploited seas, and considering the
world’s marine habitats—at least whenvastness of the Alaskan fishing area is proportionally
such operations are allowed to have free reign overinsignificant compared to such places.
the tract of ocean where they prowl, completelyOf course, the fact that Alaska has fared so well in
unchecked by state, national or international controlterms of habitat protection is not a matter of mere
mechanisms. Unfortunately, a significant proportion ofcoincidence. No sir: the Alaskan state
the world’s fisheries fall under thatgovernment—in tandem with the federal
model…but not all, thanks to the stark contrastgovernment and a handful of interested, outstanding
offered by the Alaskan fisheries. In fact, habitatinternational NGOs and lobbies—has put real
damage in the Pacific marine environments under theteeth into sustainability enforcement regulations.
effective control of the Alaskan is much less significant