Bering Sea Fishermen's Association

Bering Sea Fishermen's Association is a minority-owned, non-profit organization registered in SAM.gov since 2003, located in Anchorage, Alaska. The organization serves Alaska Native tribes and focuses on marine resource research, particularly salmon conservation and restoration efforts in the Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim (AYK) region. As a corporate entity with tax-exempt status, the association has established itself as a critical partner in supporting indigenous research and ecological monitoring initiatives that address salmon population sustainability and community resilience.

The organization primarily receives federal grant awards from agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service, Denali Commission, and the Economic Development Administration. Its core work involves conducting scientific research, ecological monitoring, and restoration projects centered on Pacific salmon populations. Recent grant awards, including the Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim Tribal Research & Restoration Program (AYKTRRP), have focused on understanding factors limiting salmon productivity, monitoring climate-driven heat stress on vulnerable salmon stocks, and supporting subsistence fishing communities. The association collaborates with multiple partners including the Association of Village Council Presidents, Tanana Chiefs Conference, Kawerak Inc., Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, and has received sub-awards from organizations like the North Pacific Research Board and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Their projects range from community-based ecological monitoring and salmon return assessments to food security evaluations and resilience planning for indigenous communities dependent on salmon resources.