Those are just a few of the findings revealed by the state Labor Department in the November issue of it "Alaska Economic Trends," which tracks employment in the fishing industry from 1988 through 2007.
Fish harvesting jobs are tough to track because they don't generate payroll records and other documents usually used to calculate employment. The state has projects under way to compile more information on the working profiles of the "boots on deck" fishermen, and their economic importance to coastal communities.
A sketch of the findings shows that Alaska's fish harvesting employment decreased slightly in 2007, losing 54 jobs, a 0.7 percent drop. Fish harvesting jobs have fallen by 17 percent, or 1,446 jobs, since 2000, with half of that occurring in 2001-02 amid depressed salmon markets.
Salmon provided the most fishing jobs, and 30 percent of those jobs were in Bristol Bay, where 2,303 permits were fished last year.
Ground-fish landings in Alaska waters topped 4 billion pounds and generated 1,182 jobs in 2007; the halibut fishery put 1,246 fishermen to work.
Alaska's largest crab fisheries in the Bering Sea generated 418 jobs in 2007 -- down 40 percent from 2002. The crab fleet declined from 252 boats in 2003 to about 75 boats for king and snow crab last year.
That's due to the 2005 change in how the crab fishery is managed -- with boats and processors each getting a share of the catch, ending their direct competition.
In all, Alaska's fishing industry contributed $770 million to the gross state product last year -- the contribution would be higher if a big portion didn't go south with nonresident workers and seafood companies. Seafood accounted for fully half of Alaska's total exports in 2006 and 2007, valued at $2 billion. Find the fishing industry employment report at labor.alaska.gov/trends/nov08.pdf.
KIDS PICK ALASKA POLLOCK
Trendy lunch entrees made from Alaska pollock got "kid approved" at schools in Fairbanks and Kenai. The selections, which were taste tested in November, include po' boy sandwiches, fish strips with dips, salads and a FBLT.
"Many people think that getting fish into Alaska schools should be easy because it is a fish producing state," said Pat Shanahan, program director for the Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers trade group. "But the schools have the same challenges that any in the Lower 48 face -- getting a product that kids really like at an affordable price. It's not a slam dunk."
For three years the group has been working with national school nutrition programs to provide seafood buying tips, and it has developed six snazzy recipes.
The Baja salad -- made with spicy, cornmeal crusted fish strips and served in a taco-shell bowl -- was the favorite at North Star High School, said Amy Rouse, nutrition services director for the Fairbanks School District.
"The kids want something a little more adult. When the fish is cooking the whole place smells like Doritos. The kids love it," Rouse said.
The pollock entrees are the first fish items ever used in Fairbanks schools. Rouse said the mild taste and affordability of Alaska pollock make it especially appealing.
"We plan to permanently add at least two of the fish items to our menu next year," Rouse said.
Alaska pollock entrees are on school menus in Seattle and Houston. Shanahan said his group is also getting nibbles from several other school districts, in and outside of Alaska. The group also is preparing a seminar called Making Fish Affordable for a national conference to address spiraling food costs.
PAY UP TIME
Alaska fishermen who hold quota shares of halibut, black cod and crab pay an annual fee to the federal government to cover the costs of managing and enforcing those fisheries. The fee is based on the dock prices throughout each fishery and averaged across the state. Bills are in the mail to 2,302 Alaska longliners, down 80 from last year, said Troie Zuniga, fee coordinator at NOAA Fisheries in Juneau.
The overall value of both the halibut catch, $175 million, and the black-cod catch, $69 million, were up slightly, and so is the fee. In all the fisheries will be covering $3.4 million in managing and enforcing costs.
Laine Welch is a Kodiak-based fisheries journalist. Her information column appears every other Sunday. This material is protected by copyright. For information on reprinting or placing on your Web site or newsletter, contact msfish@alaska.com.
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