Myth Buster: How does commercial fishing support Alaskans?

Myth:

Commercial fishing money does not serve Alaskan communities.

Fact:

At every level in the industry, from individual fishermen to canneries to taxes, money from commercial fishing is always making its way into Alaskan communities.

Fishermen:

In 2018 there were 6,319 Alaskans employed as commercial fishermen. Their earnings from each year are funneled back into their communities through the purchase of everything from groceries and school supplies to a new house or car. Commercial Fishermen also support local businesses such as marine engine mechanics who then are able to work on cars and other vehicles in the off season in communities where those services would otherwise not be available. Learn more about how commercial fishermen give back to their communities in our earlier blog post here. 

Seafood Processing Employees:

7,300 Alaskan residents were employed in fish processing in 2018. These people have jobs ranging from working on the production line, actively processing seafood, to regional managers who oversee multiple canneries. Each of these people play an important role in getting seafood from the ocean to our plates while also making sure our communities are the strongest they can be. They support local businesses, participate in community events, and make valuable contributions to towns and cities across Alaska.

Regional Fishermen’s Organizations:

There are many local and regional fishermen’s organizations across the state that each give fishermen the opportunity to give back to their communities in unique ways. Many of these organizations allow fishermen to support their community through outreach. One such event is Senior Salmon Day in Cordova. Annually the salmon fleet donates a portion of their catch to elders and senior citizens that reside in Cordova. In Sitka they are feeding salmon to their youth through a program called “Fish To Schools.” It serves fresh locally caught salmon to K-12 students every wednesday. The fish is donated by Sitka’s commercial fishing fleet and prepared by local cooks serving baked salmon, salmon nuggets, and more.

Fish processing companies:

According to the Anchorage Daily News larger fishing industry businesses such as cannerries pay for a majority of the utilities in fishing towns. This provides lower cost water and electricity to community residents. Processing companies also pay a Fishery Resource Landing tax that is given partially to the state and partially to the communities in which they operate. This tax brought in nearly $10 million in 2018. That money pays for important services such as city fire departments that would otherwise need to be covered through a sales or income tax.

Here in Alaska we all hold the values of caring for our neighbors and our communities. Alaskan fishermen are no different. Fishermen love to catch fish, they love to sell fish, and they love to give fish away. If your neighbor is a fisherman you know that your freezer will never be empty. As Alaskans sharing our catch with our family, friends, and neighbors is just what we do.