October 18, 2024 — The Alaska commercial seafood sector’s profitability declined 50 percent from 2022 to 2023, with the industry suffering a USD 1.8 billion (EUR 1.7 billion) loss in the period according to an economic snapshot produced by NOAA Fisheries.
“Commercial fisheries have flourished in Alaska for generations, shaping social structures, cultural identity, and robust local economies. Beyond the economic impacts, the decline of fisheries in the region threatens a way of life, sense of place, community, and identity,” Alaska Fisheries Science Center Economist and lead author of the economic snapshot Steve Kasperski said.