National Fisherman

Erik Velsko was born and raised in Homer, Alaska, and has spent his career as a commercial fisherman and industry advocate. From his early days fishing Cook Inlet for salmon and halibut on a modest 36’ family operation to his current vessel, Kaia, Erik has always embraced risk and innovation.

He spent much of his early career fishing for cod, crab, and sablefish in the Bering Sea, primarily in the catcher-processor sector, and has been a Bristol Bay gillnetter for 20 years—spending summers aboard the Vestige with his daughter. He is also part owner of the Dangerous Cape, a 58’ combination vessel longlining for halibut and black cod. In the fall of 2019, Erik and his wife, Lacey, purchased the Kaia from a longtime industry participant.

The Kaia is the focus of these articles, highlighting quality improvements in the shoreside Pacific cod sector. Erik and Lacey have three children (Britta, Estelle, and Leo), all of whom have spent countless hours either at sea with their father or bored to death waiting in harbors while he speaks at length about the challenges facing Alaska’s seafood industry.

Check out Kaia Fisheries.