Benefits of Fishing to Alaska

Fishing in Alaska comes in multiple flavors. Tens of thousands of people harvest and feast on salmon, halibut, crab, trout, and other varieties of finfish and shellfish under subsistence, personal use, and sport fishing regulations. Connoisseurs of the art of angling try their skills in wilderness and urban settings. Guides, lodges and charter operators provide residents and visitors with memorable fishing experiences and contribute significantly to our tourism industry and economy. Subsistence and personal use fishing support a traditional way of life for many Alaskans. Subsistence fishing provides wild harvests worth hundreds of pounds and thousands of dollars in replacement value at the supermarket.

Alaska’s commercial fisheries are the most productive and valuable in the nation, with a wholesale value of over $3 billion. Recent studies put the combined economic impact of commercial and sport fishing at $7.4 billion and 89,915 full-time-equivalent jobs.

All of Alaska’s fisheries are managed by a science-based system that is widely regarded as among the best in the world, ensuring these living resources remain available for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations.