ECONOMY

INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE

GROWING STATE AND NATIONAL ECONOMIES

A LONGSTANDING

 INDUSTRY

The seafood industry is one of the largest employment drivers in Alaska, directly employing 58,700 people and creating an additional 10,900 secondary jobs.

The seafood industry directly employs more workers than any other private sector industry in Alaska, with rural areas the most economically dependent.

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Harvesting 5 to 6 billion pounds of seafood each year produces significant economic benefits for Alaska coastal communities, hundreds of support businesses, and thousands of Alaskans.

BRINGING JOBS TO ALASKA 

Produced by McDowell Group 2020

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IMPACTS

AND INVESTMENT

Investment by fishermen, processors, and the state is necessary to sustain the industry, increase the value of Alaska’s fisheries, remain competitive globally, and preserve the thousands of jobs, hundreds of local businesses, and millions in tax revenue that are tied to the seafood industry.

Some forces affecting the value of Alaska’s seafood resource are outside of state and industry control. On-going investment in infrastructure, marketing, and management are essential in growing the value of Alaska and Pacific Northwest seafood.

GENERATING

LONG-TERM VALUE

Alaska’s commercial fisheries have produced over 181 69 billion pounds since statehood. The industry produces enough seafood each year to feed everybody in the world at least one serving of Alaska seafood (12.9 billion servings annually). 

This is worth an estimated $170 billion in today’s dollars, and is a testament to Alaska’s sustainable approach to fisheries management.

Managing sustainable fisheries in-season to optimize harvest requires a commitment to data collection and analysis. Stock assessments, surveys, and at-sea and shoreside monitoring provide valuable data for fisheries managers, which enable more precision in setting sustainable harvest levels and optimizing economic value of the fisheries.