"That’s a clean bag," Captain Gus Molan exclaims, with a coy lift in the corner of his grin.
Molan might not be what you would expect of a seasoned commercial fisherman, assuming your expectations are limited to outdated stereotypes and old Hollywood portrayals of the industry. But don’t let appearances fool you. Sure, Molan is a clean-cut guy with a bachelor’s degree in economics, but with more than 30 years of fishing experience, he knows and respects Alaska’s waters as well as anyone.
"We’re at the edge of the world out here," Molan said. "It’s harsh conditions, it’s a harsh environment, and we make it work."
Molan may well represent what the new school of Alaska’s fisheries looks like, but he has generations of salt in his veins, and the same deep running respect for the ocean and its future as his predecessors who toiled before him.
A Job That Demands the Most and Brings Out the Best
Out beyond the rugged shores of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, where icy swells strike the hull, a crew of six works aboard the Northern Patriot. They fish Wild Alaskan Pollock in one of the most challenging environments on earth, and they do it with a deep sense of purpose and respect for the environment.
For Molan and his crew, fishing isn’t just about pulling in a harvest. It’s about protecting and stewarding what they love: their families, the resource and the ocean itself.
Caption: Sodium lights shine down on the deck of the FV Northern Patriot, a trawl vessel fishing wild Alaska pollock in the Bering Sea.
Success aboard the Northern Patriot depends on more than skill alone. It takes grit, respect, patience and a deep commitment to teamwork.
"We work good together," says Aaron Willis, first mate aboard the Northern Patriot. "Not a lot of yelling, not a lot of chatter. Everybody’s pretty good at what they do."
Everyone on Molan’s crew echoes the same feeling. Out here at the edge of the earth, it’s not just a job. When you’re on board for a full season, out for multiple days or weeks at a time, the crew becomes a second family forged through early mornings, hard work and a shared commitment to each other’s safety and success.
That bond is something Derek Hart, chief engineer, knows especially well. Last season, his son Emory joined the crew as deckhand, launching a new chapter for their family.
"Working with my dad is the best. It’s the best feeling," Emory said, beaming. "He’s taught me everything."
Caption: Father and son duo, Derek and Emory, are all smiles after a successful trip fishing wild Alaska pollock.
For Derek, having his son at his side isn’t just a career highlight, it's the fulfillment of something deeper. It represents the hope that the traditions and values built on the water will continue through to the next generation.
"That was probably my favorite season I've ever had up here," Derek said, with unmistakable pride.
Protecting the Resource and Each Other
Above all else, safety comes first.
"To be a fisherman," Molan said, "the number one value is getting home to your family. And number two is fishing responsibly, making sure our stocks are healthy for years to come."
Those priorities are a way of life on board the Northern Patriot, with safety drills, regular checks and mutual accountability being non-negotiable parts of every trip. Each member of the crew knows that looking out for one another is the ultimate measure of success.
And when it comes to the fishery itself, the responsibility runs just as deep.
The Wild Alaska Pollock fishery is one of the most carefully managed fisheries in the world, backed by decades of science and strict quotas to ensure sustainability. But numbers alone don’t tell the full story. It's the people behind the numbers that make the difference.
"There’s a feeling that if you don’t know the pollock industry, it sounds like we’re taking way too much," explained Molan. "But we’re only harvesting a small percentage of the total biomass — and there’s actually more pollock now than there was 30 years ago."
This data is the result of constant innovation, vigilant management and a deep-rooted respect for the environment.
From salmon excluders to live-feed underwater cameras that allow captains to see what’s entering their nets in real time, modern-day pollock fishermen in Alaska have access to cutting-edge technology that helps to minimize bycatch and protect other species.
"I never want to catch a salmon," Molan said. "We try to avoid them at all costs."
When bycatch does occur, the information picked up by the camera gives fishermen the upper hand, allowing them to alert nearby vessels so that the entire fleet can adjust course and protect non-target species populations.
It’s the perfect example of how the industry leans into a continuous improvement mindset to improve the way it harvests its catch.
Caption: Aaron Willis, first mate aboard the Northern Patriot, checks the trawl net.
Stewardship at Sea
To be a fisherman is to carry a weight of responsibility few outsiders ever truly see.
It’s early mornings and late nights, working through storms and sacrificing holidays at home, physical and mental endurance, and an unwavering commitment to the ocean that provides for their livelihood.
"I would argue most fishermen are absolutely environmentalists," Molan said. "I haven’t met a single fisherman that thinks, 'I want to wipe this product out.'"
Every fish they haul aboard the Northern Patriot carries with it the weight of generations: those who came before them, those working alongside them now, and those, like Emory, who will one day take the helm.
For Emory and Derek, the future is personal.
"We gotta keep the world nice and clean," Emory said. "Keep it stable."
Emory's father, Derek, looks at it a bit more matter of fact, with the wisdom of a few extra years of storms and salt.
"If we’re not sustainable, I don’t have a job. Emory doesn’t have a job. Maybe our grandkids don’t have a job."
Caption: For deckhand Emory, his future in the fishing industry - and the future of so many others - relies on ensuring the wild Alaska pollock fishery remains one of the most sustainable fisheries in the world.
At the end of the day, the work these fishermen do is far more far reaching than many realize. It’s about the catch, food supply and security, maintaining a balance of give and take with the marine environment, and about preserving a way of life that has shaped coastal communities since time immemorial.
Their work is about far more than today’s haul. It’s about tomorrow’s promise.
Built to Last
On the Northern Patriot and other vessels operating in Alaska, the future isn’t just something to dream about. It’s something they’re building every day with hard work, innovation, heart and hope.
The true legacy and impact of Alaska’s pollock fishery goes beyond pounds landed. It’s in the immeasurable pride of a father teaching his son the ropes. In the shared humor and "holy hell!" moments of a crew that feels like family. In knowing that the ocean, and everything it holds, is being cared for.
Fishing is a hard life, but it’s a good life. For Captain Molan and the crew of the Northern Patriot, it’s one they’re proud to live — today, tomorrow and for all generations yet to come aboard.
Additional Resources
Read More: "What I Wish Alaskans Knew About Pollock Fishing"
Learn about Trident's commitment to fishing responsibly in the company's latest Sustainability Progress Report.