Laine Welch
Laine Welch has covered the Alaska fish beat for print and radio since 1988. She also has worked “behind the counter” at retail and wholesale seafood companies in Kodiak and on Cape Cod. She retired in April 2022 from her Fish Factor reports, but now produces a blog at alaskafish.news.
Fish Factor: Dunleavy budget poses threat to shellfish growers
Alaska shellfish farmers and divers fear they won’t be ‘open for business’ much longer if they’re forced to pick up the tab for federally required lab tests as outlined in Gov. Dunleavy’s budget, writes Laine Welch.
Fish Factor: Coronavirus starts to take toll on seafood industry
Seafood coming from and going to China is piling up in freezer vans and cold storages indefinitely as the coronavirus continues to cause commerce chaos around the world.
Fish Factor: Dutch Harbor is top fishing port for 22nd year
Kodiak's dried kelp is poised to make a splash in stores across the U.S., writes Laine Welch.
Fish Factor: Still no ban on Russian seafood imports
Lost in the headlines about the hits to seafood sales from the Trump administration’s trade war with China is another international barrier with Russia that’s been going on far longer.
Fish Factor: Lawmakers making fast work of fish bills
Legislators have gutted several bills widely supported by Alaska fishermen, writes Laine Welch.
Fish Factor: Commercial fisheries aid subsistence, personal use harvesters
Strong science is necessary to keep Alaska's fisheries bringing in abundant revenues, writes Laine Welch.
Fish Factor: ASMI report has myriad of fish facts
A new report draws a vivid and easy-to-understand picture of the state of Alaska fisheries, writes Laine Welch.
Fish Factor: Payments coming for pink salmon run failure
t’s been a long time coming, but payments should soon be in hand for Alaska fishermen, processors and coastal communities hurt by the 2016 pink salmon run failure, the worst in 40 years.
Fish Factor: Unknowns remain on OA threat to salmon
Alaskans saw salmon die offs last summer across the state when water temperatures soared into the mid-70s to above 80 degrees in some regions. But what about threats to salmon from the accompanying global gorilla - increased acidity?
Fish Factor: Picks and pans for 2019
Every year since 1991 Fish Factor has selected “picks and pans” for Alaska’s seafood industry — a no-holds-barred look back at some of the year’s best and worst fishing highlights.
