Alaska's seafood industry continued its mission to ramp up its message to policymakers, especially those from rail belt regions who tend to overlook its economic significance.
How important is the seafood industry to Alaska and the nation? At a glance: 62 percent of all U.S. seafood landings come from Alaska, as does 96 percent of all U.S. wild-caught salmon. Seafood is by far Alaska's No. 1 export, valued at nearly $2 billion (next in line: zinc and lead exports at $785 million); and Alaska ranks ninth in the world in terms of global seafood production.
The industry provides more than 70,500 Alaska jobs, more than oil and gas, mining, tourism and timber combined. The seafood industry is second only to Big Oil in revenues it generates to Alaska's general fund each year.
Alaska's abundant and sustainable fishery resources are the envy of all other seafood producers, and its fishery management is regarded as a model around the world.
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