Fisheries of S.E. Alaska

Fisheries of S.E. Alaska. The Value of Seafood. , Many of Alaska's fishing boats are family run operations, with traditions passed down from one generation to the next. The livelihoods of more than one third of Alaska's towns are dependent on fisheries., Seafood is Alaska's top export, accounting for half of America's fish production by volume and in value. The seafood industry is the largest private employer in the State, employing more than 20,000 people year-round and double that number on a seasonal basis. The seafood industry is also Sitka's largest private sector employer. Approximately 30 million pounds of seafood is processed in Sitka each year, with a first wholesale value of up to $80 million. Sitka's fishermen are proud to supply the Nation and the world with a healthful product sustainably harvested from Alaska's cold, clear waters., Not All Fish Are Created Equal, Alaska's fisheries are carefully managed to ensure their long term viability. In September 2000 the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) awarded the sought-after eco-label on the Alaska salmon fishery, making it the only salmon fishery in the world to be certified as meeting MSC's strict standards for sustainable management. It is largest fishery to date to be certified by the MSC, and the first in the United States.