Fisheries

fishing boat in a bay

Alaska’s fisheries are critical to its livelihood

Alaska is home to several of the largest and most valuable commercial, subsistence, and sport fisheries in the nation. Commercial fisheries in the federally managed waters of the Bering Sea and the Gulf of Alaska produce the highest volumes of groundfish (pollock, cod, rockfish, sablefish, and flatfish) in the country, close to 2 million metric tons per year, valued in 2013 in excess of $2 billion.

Wild salmon fisheries range from Ketchikan in the south to Kotzebue, north of the Arctic Circle. In 2014, the commercial catch of salmon in Alaska totaled more than 717 million fish worth $576 million.

Crab fisheries in the Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska and Southeastern are annually valued at over $280 million with halibut fisheries contributing over $140 million.

Subsistence fishing is critical to the cultural as well as economic well-being of the more than 100,000 Alaska Natives and non-Natives living in rural Alaska. Four percent of fish harvested in Alaska is used for subsistence purposes.

Sport fishing is also important, occurring in saltwater and freshwater regions of Alaska.

How Alaska Sea Grant helps fisheries

The Marine Advisory Program provides information and technical assistance to Alaskans involved in commercial, subsistence and sport fishing. We coordinate workshops, carry out applied research, and publish materials of interest to fishermen.

Fisheries Explorer map

Map showing Alaska fishing regions and species fished in each region.
Visit the interactive Fisheries Explorer map to learn about various commercial fisheries around the state, including harvest seasons, commercial access, gear types, and links to more in-depth information. The results can be filtered by region, species, gear types, and more.

News

Hat with Alaska Young Fishermen's Summit drying on a camp stove. Words say registration now open for the Alaska Young Fishermen's Summit. December 5–7, 2023. Anchorage, AK

Young fishermen event coming to Anchorage

November 7, 2023

Sponsored by Alaska Sea Grant, the tenth Alaska Young Fishermen’s Summit (AYFS) provides a broad range of business and policy training specific to owning and operating a commercial fishing business…

Man smiling on a dock giving a thumbs-up after exiting a float plane.

Alaska and Greenland collaborate on sustainable fisheries

October 25, 2023

This summer, Alaska Sea Grant participated in exchange visits with Greenland partners through the U.S. State Department’s Arctic Education Alliance. The two trips were part of a growing collaboration between…

fishing boat with forest behind

National Sea Grant awards funding for training new Alaska fishermen

October 23, 2023

Alaska Sea Grant and partners were recently awarded over $240,000 from NOAA Sea Grant for a project to train and support new commercial fishermen in Alaska. The two-year project AK…

wakefield fisheries symposium logo

Lowell Wakefield Fisheries Symposium coming to Sitka April 16–18, 2024

October 20, 2023

Fishery managers, researchers, and seafood-industry professionals are invited to mark their calendars for the 33rd Lowell Wakefield Fisheries Symposium to be held in Sitka next spring.  The theme for the…

Alaska Sea Grant is hiring graphic. Seafood Safety Specialist and Fisheries Workforce Specialist.

Wanted: seafood safety and fisheries workforce specialists

September 21, 2023

We invite enthusiastic and qualified individuals to apply to join our team at Alaska Sea Grant. We are hiring two new full-time term faculty (9 months guaranteed support) with the…

student holding hands in air wears an immersion/survival suit on edge of water

Combining fishing safety and crew skills training in Bristol Bay

June 14, 2023

Bristol Bay, on Alaska’s remote western coast, is the most productive salmon ecosystem in North America and home to a multi-billion-dollar fishery. To meet the needs of the Bristol Bay…

large squid in a cooler

A squid plays a shark at Kodiak’s ComFish

May 22, 2023

Alaska Sea Grant participated in the planning and administration of ComFish Alaska 2023, Alaska’s annual commercial fisheries trade show held in Kodiak. The spring event draws fishermen and companies involved…

Workshop participants activity. Participants sort pieces of paper to different categories laid out on a table.

Business of Fishing workshop launched in Kodiak

April 19, 2023

A team from the Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program (MAP) recently led the first Business of Fishing workshop in Kodiak, prior to the island’s annual ComFish trade show. The…

Business assistance through FishBiz

FishBiz includes financial and business tools for Alaska commercial seafood harvesters. Find information on starting and managing your business, growing and diversifying, and planning an exit strategy. Go to Fishbiz

Gabe Dunham

MAP Leader, Fisheries Specialist, Juneau

(907) 474-6982

Contact Gabe

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Sunny Rice

Marine Advisory Program Agent, Petersburg

(907) 772-3381

Contact Sunny

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Julie Matweyou

Marine Advisory Program Agent, Kodiak

(907) 486-1514

Contact Julie

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Tav Ammu

Marine Advisory Program Agent, Dillingham

(907) 631-8361

Contact Tav

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