Should Alaska have a formal commercial fishing training program? That is the question being asked by the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program (MAP). MAP is seeking advice from the fishing fleet, service providers, related businesses and interested individuals on this subject. They are considering whether it makes sense for the University of Alaska to develop a formal training program for jobs in commercial fishing. If you have any interest or input on this issue, take a few moments to fill out this survey.  

Affirming what many in Southwest Alaska already know, a new report commissioned by the Marine Conservation Alliance verified that the seafood industry in Alaska remains a leader among the state's employment and economic indicators. Northern Economics, Inc. updated their 2009 publication, "The Seafood Industry in Alaska's Economy," with new data and analysis. The seafood sector continues to be the number one private sector employer in the state, and the report noted that through direct, indirect and induced effects, contributed a total of $4.6 billion to Alaska's economic output in 2009. In addition, three of Southwest's ports - Dutch Harbor-Unalaska, Kodiak, and Naknek-King Salmon - continue to rank near the top of US fishing ports in terms of volume and ex-vessel values. The fishing industry is alive and well in Alaska, and it's good to see our friends at MCA help prove this point. The 2011 Executive Summary update of the NEI report can be found here.   

   

At our Annual Conference a few weeks back, a couple of knowledgeable people on the subject of broadband highlighted the importance this technology and how it relates to contemporary economic and community development, particularly in rural settings. Last week, the State of Alaska's Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development announced the formation of a 20-person broadband task force to work with DCCED as they "plan to accelerate the deployment and availability of affordable broadband technology throughout the state." According to DCCED Commissioner Susan Bell, this task force "will be a big part of our effort to radically improve the lives of rural residents and remote towns." She continued, "The administration is working to develop greater opportunities, and a new throughway to economic empowerment, a valuable lifeline to the outside world and all the opportunity that brings." You can read the press release of the announcement here, including the full list of the task force members.

Southwest Alaska Permit Ownership

Comparison of All Fisheries Ownership

In Southwest Alaska fishing is big business, and as evidenced in the updated MCA document referenced above, fishing is big business for all residents of Alaska and the country. By aggregating data on ownership of harvesting rights, this month's Economic Indicator displays ownership of various fisheries resources, broken down by residents of Southwest Alaska districts, Alaska residents, and total allocation to all US citizens. 

Residents of Kodiak catch about 66% of all landed pounds in the SWAMC region, but control only 34% of the total permits. The Bristol Bay region controls the bulk of the permits, 80% of which are salmon, for a total of 790, or 43% of all permit ownership in the region. Compared to all other Alaskans, Southwest catches 44% of total landed pounds. A comparison to all holdings of Alaska's fisheries resources shows that Southwest Alaska controls 13% of the total landed pounds, as well as 13% of all licenses to harvest fish. The vast majority of all fish harvested in Alaska is groundfish, harvested by trawl vessels in the Bering Sea.