Benefitting All Alaskans :: Facts
Economic studies show just how valuable sport fishing and charter fishing is.
Charter fishing has an extra benefit to Alaskans – most of the money comes from people outside our state. They come here to experience our beauty, leave money, and go home. It’s sustainable. And it creates extremely high value for Alaskans for the use of a small portion of our sustainable natural bounty.
Here are some economic impact studies:
- Sportfishing contributed $800 million to the Alaskan economy in 2006
- Over 8,000 Alaskans are employed through sportfishing
- Sportfishing generates almost $60 million in state and local taxes in Alaska
- If fishing were considered a corporation it would rank 47th on the Fortune 500 – larger than Microsoft or Time Warner
- 350 to 400 jobs in Sitka were supported by charter fishing in 2005
- Sitka charter fishing businesses purchased $17 million in local goods and services
- Charter fishing contributes over $30 million a year to the Sitka economy
- The state of Alaska is conducting a study on the economic benefits of sportfishing to Alaska. The study is expected to be complete in December of 2008 and will be updated every 3-5 years.
- Track the progress here: Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Tourism in Alaska is a $2 billion a year industry and charter fishing is a major reason.