Fisheries and FishBiz
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
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
Alaska Sea Grant serves, in part, as a convener, bringing people together for important and productive conversations on a broad range of topics relevant to coastal life in Alaska. The…
The first workshop in a series focused on understanding and addressing the societal impacts of oil spills was recently held in Anchorage, Alaska, with participation from the Alaska and Mississippi-Alabama…
Alaska Sea Grant and Bristol Bay Regional Career and Technical Education (BBRCTE) teamed up to lead a new two-week hands-on training program for high school-aged prospective commercial fishers. The Commercial…
The 33rd Lowell Wakefield Fisheries Symposium was held in Sitka last month. The three-day conference, hosted by Alaska Sea Grant, brought together more than 60 fishery researchers, managers and community…
Climate change has dramatically impacted Gulf of Alaska fisheries. The global phenomenon has led to fisheries disasters over the last several years, including declines in Chinook and other salmon as…
Alaska Sea Grant welcomes John Williams as our new fisheries workforce specialist, based in Cordova, Alaska. He will coordinate statewide commercial fishing training and events as well as provide extension,…
A resilient seafood industry is crucial to many Alaskan coastal communities, contributing to the local economy, cultural identity and food security. Current seafood market conditions have motivated many harvesters to…
When considering health and self-care onboard commercial fishing boats, mental health is frequently overlooked. Fishing seasons are demanding, the working conditions can be grueling and support systems may be limited,…
FishBiz includes financial and business tools, resources, and training for Alaska commercial seafood harvesters. Find information on starting and managing your business, growing and diversifying, and planning an exit strategy.
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