Community Profiles for North Pacific Fisheries - Alaska

Abstract

This document profiles 136 fishing communities in Alaska with basic information on social and economic characteristics. Various federal statutes, including the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the National Environmental Policy Act, among others, require agencies to examine the social and economic impacts of policies and regulations. These profiles can serve as a consolidated source of baseline information for assessing community impacts in Alaska. The profiles are given in a narrative format that includes three sections: People and Place, Infrastructure, and Involvement in North Pacific Fisheries. People and Place includes information on location, demographics (including age and gender structure of the population, racial and ethnic make up), education, housing, and local history. Community Infrastructure covers current economic activity, governance (including city classification, taxation, Native organizations, and proximity to fisheries management and immigration offices) and facilities (transportation options and connectivity, water, waste, electricity, schools, police, and public accommodations). Involvement in North Pacific Fisheries details community activities in commercial fishing (processing, permit holdings, and aid receipts), recreational fishing, and subsistence fishing. To define communities, we relied on Census place-level geographies where possible, grouping communities only when constrained by fisheries data, yielding 128 individual profiles. Regional characteristics and issues are briefly described in regional introductions.This project could not have been completed without the generous assistance of a number of people and institutions. The Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) provided funding, staff time, and support services for this project. Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission provided personnel, administrative support, and expertise, under a cooperative agreement with AFSC. The Alaska Fisheries Information Network (AKFIN), provided data and advice. The staff of the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council provided support and advice. The Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission, the Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game provided an extensive amount of data through both online sources and by filling special requests. These institutions also provided advice and clarification when needed. The Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference also provided data in response to a request. The University of Washington’s Ph.D. program in Environmental Anthropology provided personnel, and access to UW resources.Peer reviewe