Sport Fisheries

Contact: Lisa Evans, Assistant Director, Sport Fish Division  (907) 267-2330  

ADF&G Releases Results of Sportfishing Economic Study

(JUNEAU) – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) today released the results of a study measuring the economic importance of sport fishing to Alaska.  The report, “Economic Impacts and Contributions of Sportfishing in Alaska”,confirms that spending associated with sportfishing in Alaska is considerable and is a significant component of the statewide and regional economies.

In 2007, anglers fishing in Alaska spent nearly $1.4 billion on fishing trips, fishing equipment, and development and maintenance of land used primarily for the pursuit of sportfishing in Alaska.  Resident spending was $733 million and nonresident spending was $652 million.  A total of 15,879 full- and part-time jobs were supported by money spent on sportfishing in 2007 and accounted for $545 million in total wages and benefits paid to employees and proprietors.   

The estimated total spending associated with sportfishing in Southcentral Alaska in 2007 was approximately $989 million.  Resident spending was $561 million and nonresident spending was $428 million.   

The estimated total spending in Southeast Alaska in 2007 was approximately $274 million.  Resident spending was $99 million and nonresident spending was $175 million. 

The estimated total spending in Interior Alaska in 2007 was approximately $101 million.  Resident spending was $67 million and nonresident spending was $34 million.  

The methodology used in the 2007 "Economic Impacts and Contributions of Sportfishing in Alaska" study is a repeatable first step toward a more comprehensive, consistent and long-term approach to collecting and reporting sportfishing-related economic information for Alaska.  A summary of the study results as well as a detailed technical report can be found on the ADF&G web site under “Economic Significance of Sportfishing in Alaska” at: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/economics/.

Further Reading

Dunaway, D. O. and S. J. Fleischman. 1996. Surveys of the sockeye salmon sport fishery in the Upper Kvichak River, Alaska, 1995. Fishery Data Series No. 96-18. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish. 54 pp. (pdf file 3.08 mb)

Dye, J. E., C. J. Schwanke, and T. A. Jaecks. 2006. Report to the Alaska Board of Fisheries for the recreational fisheries of Bristol Bay, 2004, 2005, and 2006. Special Publication No. 06-29. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Divisions of Sport Fish and Commercial Fisheries, 54 pp. (pdf file 1.27 mb)

Haley, S., M. Berman, S. Goldsmith, A. Hill, and H. Kim. 1999. Executive Summary of Economics of Sport Fishing in Alaska. University of Alaska Anchorage. (pdf file 58 kb)

Netsch, N. and R. E. Putz. 1985. Wild trout in Alaska - Now and future. Fisheries. 10(3):8-12. (pdf file 134 kb)