Congressional Candidate Bill Hill Meets Sitka Fishermen on Oct 28

On October 28, 2026, independent candidate Bill Hill met with commercial fishermen at the Seafood Producers Cooperative in Sitka to discuss the economic and environmental pressures facing Southeast Alaska’s fishing industry. Hill, who is running to unseat incumbent Republican Nick Begich for Alaska’s sole seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, focused his visit on the specific local concerns of the region’s seafood producers, KCAW reported.

For the fishermen in Sitka, the conversation centered on rising fuel costs, the loss of working waterfronts to the tourism industry, and the destruction of habitats and natural resources.

The Battle for the Working Waterfront

A primary point of contention for the Sitka fishing community is the loss of physical space.

Fishermen cited rising fuel costs as a significant burden.

Roadless Rule Protects Tongass National Forest Stream Health

The discussion turned toward the Tongass National Forest, specifically the maintenance of the Roadless Rule. This policy is described by fishing advocates as crucial for the fishing industry.

“Anything that compromises stream health — cutting trees down, building roads — is a direct threat to the health of our fisheries in Southeast,” said Linda Behnken, director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association.

For Behnken and her colleagues, the Roadless Rule is a matter of economic security.

Hill’s Bid for Common Ground

Bill Hill noted that he has been commercial fishing since he was eight years old. Hill argued that his background allows him to understand the importance of harvesting natural resources sustainably.

Hill emphasized that the concerns voiced in Sitka are often not heard in other rooms in the state. He stated that a representative in Congress needs to be out talking to all people across Alaska because there are very specific concerns in this room that are not heard in other rooms in our state.