Institute of Social and Economic Research, University of Alaska Anchorage
Abstract
By any measure, the Bristol Bay sockeye salmon fishery is very large and valuable. It is the world’s most
valuable wild salmon fishery, and typically supplies almost half of the world’s wild sockeye salmon. In
2010, harvesting, processing, and retailing Bristol Bay salmon and the multiplier effects of these activities
created 1.5billioninoutputorsalesvalueacrosstheUnitedStates.In2010,BristolBaysalmonfishermenharvested29millionsockeyesalmonworth165 million in direct
harvest value alone. That represented 31% of the total Alaska salmon harvest value, and was greater
than the total value of fish harvests in 41 states. Salmon processing in Bristol Bay increased the value by
225million,foratotalfirstwholesalevalueafterprocessingof390 million. The total value of Bristol
Bay salmon product exports in 2010 was about 250million,orabout6seafoodexports.In2010,theBristolBaysockeyesalmonfisherysupported12,000fishingandprocessingjobsduringthesummersalmonfishingseason.Measuringtheseasyear−roundjobs,andaddingjobscreatedinotherindustries,theBristolBaysalmonfisherycreatedtheequivalentofalmost10,000year−roundAmericanjobsacrossthecountry,andbroughtAmericans500 million in income. For every dollar of direct output
value created in Bristol Bay fishing and processing, more than two additional dollars of output value are
created in other industries, as payments from the Bristol Bay fishery ripple through the economy. These
payments create almost three jobs for every direct job in Bristol Bay fishing and processing.
United States domestic consumption of Bristol Bay frozen sockeye salmon products has been growing
over time as a result of sustained and effective marketing by the industry, new product development and
other factors. This growth is likely to continue over time, which will result in even greater output value
figures for the industry’s economic impacts across the U.S.
The economic importance of the Bristol Bay salmon industry extends far beyond Alaska, particularly to
the West Coast states of Washington, Oregon and California.Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Associatio