Benefitting All Alaskans :: Facts
A new study by the state of Alaska shows that sport fishing and charter fishing is one of Alaska’s most valuable industries. In fact, sport fishing (including residents) is as big an industry as tourism, and half of all tourism spending in Alaska itself comes from non-resident anglers.
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.
More highlights from the ADF&F study:
Statewide:
- In 2007 anglers in Alaska spent $1.4 billion, creating economic activity that supported 15,879 jobs, provided $545 million of income, and resulted in $123 million in state/local tax revenues.
- Since the entire tourism industry in Alaska (not counting transportation to and from the state) generated $1.5 billion in the 2006-2007 season, the $741 million spent by nonresident sport anglers in 2007 represents approximately 50% of all visitor spending. Think about that: non-resident anglers support half of the entire Alaska tourism industry
Southeast:
- Total spending by all anglers (resident and nonresident combined) for Southeast Alaska in 2007 was estimated to be $274 million, which generated a total economic output of $295 million in the region. That supported 3,063 jobs, created $99 million in personal income, and paid $22 million in state and local taxes – just in Southeast.
- While nonresidents make up about half of all sportfishing activity statewide, in Southeast Alaska they are a much bigger influence, generating 73% of the total economic contribution of sportfishing and 83% of the fishing activity on salt-water.
- Also within Southeast Alaska, the popularity of salt-water fishing dominates the scene, accounting for about 65% of the sportfishing jobs and taxes in the region.
- Guided anglers spend more than non-guided, of course, just as nonresidents spend more than residents. Among salt-water anglers, the range of spending per day runs $163 for residents, unguided, to $744 for nonresidents, guided.
Here are some older economic impact studies, which have been superseded by the ADF&G study:
Tourism in Alaska is a $1.5 billion a year industry and charter fishing is a major reason.