Gulf of Alaska - Fishing and Human Dimensions Trends

Executive summary

Full Report - Last updated 2018

• Since 1993 discard rates of groundfish species in federally-managed Alaskan groundfish fisheries have generally declined in both pollock and non-pollock trawl fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska. Rates in the fixed gear (hook-and-line and pot) sector have varied over time. Due to a significant reduction in the 2018 GOA Pacific cod TAC, total discard biomass in the fixed gear sector declined (p. 121).
• In 2017, non-target catch of scyphozoan jellyfish, structural epifauna, and assorted invertebrates declined from those in 2015–2016 in trawl fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska (p. 124).
• Stock composition of Chinook salmon bycatch in Gulf of Alaska trawl fisheries was relatively stable from 2010–2016, with British Columbia stocks dominating the bycatch, and West Coast U.S. stocks either similar to British Columbia stocks, or less, in most years (p. 125).
• The numbers of seabirds estimated to be caught incidentally in Gulf of Alaska fisheries in 2017 increased from that in 2016 by 138%, and was 41% above the 2007–2016 average of 1,066 birds, primarily due to increases in black-footed albatross, northern fulmar, and gulls (p. 128).
• With the Arctic FMP closure included, almost 65% of the U.S. EEZ of Alaska is closed to bottom trawling (p. 132).
• The percent of area disturbed due to commercial fishing interactions (pelagic and non-pelagic trawl, longline, and pot) has decreased slightly or remained steady in the Gulf of Alaska (p. 134).
• No Gulf of Alaska groundfish stock or stock complex were subjected to overfishing, known to be overfished, or known to be approaching an overfished condition (p. 138)
• Annual surplus production for groundfish has been variable over time, with peak associated with large recruitment events. When computed without pollock included, annual surplus production shows a significant, long-term decline with the lowest (negative) value in 2017 (p. 143).
• Total exploitation rates for the groundfish complex have ranged from 2.5–7.2% over the past few decades. Peak rates occurred during 1984–1985 and 2015–2017 (p. 143). 15
• Landings (pounds) are used to characterize commercial seafood production. Landings decreased from 2016 to 2017 primarily due to a reduction in salmonid landings, then apex predators, and motile epifauna. Increases in landing occurred in pelagic and benthic foragers (p. 146).
• The Western GOA represented 47% of the total subsistence salmon harvest statewide in 2016, including Anchorage; whereas the Eastern GOA represented 5%. Western GOA subsistence use decreased slightly for halibut, and 30% for salmon with decreased in pink salmon, coho salmon, chum salmon, and sockeye salmon, and increased slightly for Chinook salmon in 2016 relative to 2015 (p. 147).
• There has been a statewide decline in halibut subsistence harvest through 2016, but this trend may be due to subsistence survey methodology (p. 147).
• Economic values of 5 functional groups (apex predators, benthic foragers, motile epifauna, pelagic foragers, and salmonids) show an increase in real ex-vessel value, primarily due to salmon and pelagic foragers ; an increase in real first-wholesale value in all groups except benthic foragers and motile epifauna; and an increase for the second year in a row in ratio of first-wholesale to total catch unit value for groups combined from 2016 to 2017 (p. 152).
• Saltwater recreational fishing participation included approximately 850,000 million days fished and 370,000 saltwater anglers in 2016, representing a decrease from 2015 that was possibly due to economics, fish levels, and harvest allocations (p. 156).
• A new indicator tracks recreational saltwater fishing harvest in Gulf of Alaska by ecological functional group. Pacific halibut (apex predator) and salmonids are the most common targets. Sport harvest decreased for salmon and apex predators (mostly halibut) and increased for pelagic fish (rockfish and smelt) from 2015 to 2016 (p. 158).
• Unemployment rates in fishing communities were lower than statewide and national rates in the eastern GOA but increased over 50% from 1990 to 2017, while rates were higher than statewide and national rates in the western GOA but decreased 13% from 1990 to 2017 (p. 162).
• Since the 1990s, human populations in Gulf of Alaska fishing communities have increased in both small and large communities in the western GOA and large communities in the eastern GOA, but decreased in small eastern GOA between 1990 and 2017. The majority of population increases occurred in urban areas and were due to migration (p. 166).
• Western GOA school enrollment decreased in 1 (Homer) of 8 schools with enrollment over 500 and in 5of 7 schools in the Kodiak Island Borough. School enrollment has remained fairly stable recently, showing a slight decrease for larger schools with 500–4,500 students. Smaller schools have had more variable enrollment year-to-year and an overall downward trend. As of 2017, 27 schools have enrollment under 30 students, and 12 schools have enrollments under 15 students, and 7 schools were closed. Dropout rates vary but typically stay below 6% (p. 170).
• Eastern GOA school enrollment decreased in 1 (Juneau) of 8 schools with enrollment over 500 and in 3 of 11 schools in smaller schools (100-500 enrolled). As of 2017, there have been 9 school closures, 3 of which were consolidations of Junior/Senior High schools into one K–12 school. Dropout rates typically stay below 10% (p. 170).