Linda Behnken

Linda Behnken
Born
Connecticut
Education
Occupation(s)Commercial fisher, executive director
AwardsHeinz Award

Linda Behnken is an American commercial fisher who promotes sustainable fishing and conservation policies. Based in Sitka, Alaska, she has founded multiple organizations focused on the needs of small-scale fishers.

Early life and education

Behnken was born and raised in Connecticut.[1] Growing up, she played ice hockey in both high school and college.[2] During her first summer off from Dartmouth College, Behnken landed a job as a commercial fisher in Sitka, Alaska, eventually dedicating herself to the trade.[3] She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth[4] followed by a Master of Science from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.[3] She cites her early exposure to water issues such as plastic bags in the ocean and "large-scale fishing operations" as her motivation to pursue her Masters at Yale.[5]

Career

Behnken became the executive director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association (ALFA) in 1991.[6] As executive director, she advocates for both sustainable fisheries and small-scale fishing operations.[5] In 1998, ALFA helped pass a ban on trawling in southeast Alaska, the largest ban of its kind at the time.[7] Behnken was a member of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council from 1992 to 2001.[8]

In 2016, Behnken was appointed to the International Pacific Halibut Commission.[9] Behnken is also a founding member of the Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust,[10] an organization dedicated to promoting commercial fishing to the younger generation.[5] During the COVID-19 pandemic, both ALFA and the Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust delivered over 400,000 pounds of Alaskan seafood to families in need.[1] She also helped found Alaskans Own, a community-supported fishery that sells seafood directly to the consumer.[11]

Behnken runs a crew training program aimed at younger fishers in the industry, and has called for the older generation to advocate for the industry as a whole.[12]

Awards and honors

References

  1. ^ a b Sullivan, Dan (December 19, 2020). "Sullivan Honors Linda Behnken as "Alaskan of the Week"". United States Senate. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  2. ^ Gibbs, Tony (July 2000). "The Mariner". Islands Magazine. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Saverin, Diana (December 27, 2011). "Linda Behnken: Mixing love and advocacy on the ocean". KCAW. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  4. ^ "President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts" (Press release). National Archives and Records Administration. November 3, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c McKinstry, Erin (October 16, 2020). "Sitka's Linda Behnken honored with national award for work on sustainable fisheries". KCAW. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  6. ^ a b Deedy, Alexander (April 12, 2021). "Voices of Alaska: Linda Behnken". Alaska. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  7. ^ a b Jones, Abigail (May 2021). "Sea Changer". Dartmouth Alumni Magazine. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  8. ^ "President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts" (Press release). White House Office of the Press Secretary. November 3, 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  9. ^ Woolsey, Robert (June 30, 2016). "Linda Behnken to represent Alaska on halibut commission". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  10. ^ "Linda Behnken". Heinz Awards. 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  11. ^ Wilber, Berett (October 22, 2021). "The wild life of Alaska's small-boat salmon fishers". Daily Journal. Retrieved July 31, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Stewart, Carli (November 25, 2024). "Building the next generation of commercial fishermen". NationalFisherman.com. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
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