Unalaska, AK – The United Fishermen of Alaska instated a new president Tuesday. Arni Thomson will be replacing Joe Childers, who led the trade group for three years. Thomson says that his major goals for UFA are educational outreach and continuing its work on marketing Alaska seafood products.

Thomson has served as executive director of the Alaska Crab Coalition since 1986. He is also serves on the advisory panel of the North Pacific Research Board, and he was an advocate for crab rationalization. His election breaks the decade-old UFA trend of electing finfish harvesters.

"In terms of my being a shellfish harvester, I don't think it's going to make any difference," says Thomson. "The salmon fisheries and the whitefish fisheries are the major fisheries of Alaska and I know that, and our members know I know that."

Before becoming UFA president, Thomson was based in Seattle, Washington. He has moved to Anchorage as "part of his commitment to being available to Alaska fishermen and state and federal officials" according to UFA. Approximately a quarter of UFA organizations are based outside of the state. Thomson doesn't think that his residency marks any real change.

"The member groups of UFA have known me for a long time, and they know my perspective," says Thomson. "They know that I care about the importance of fisheries to Alaska. And that's the way our presidents have always been."

UFA is the biggest commercial fishing trade association in the state, and it represents 37 commercial fishing organizations. In addition to naming Thomson president, UFA also instated new statewide, national, and administrative chairs and made a number of changes to its executive committee.