How important are wild salmon and other fish and wildlife to the regional economy of Bristol Bay? That region of southwest Alaska has world-class salmon runs, as well as trout, brown bears, and dozens of other species of fish and wildlife that depend on the region's watersheds. Here are some findings from a new report, Economics of Wild Salmon Watersheds: Bristol Bay, Alaska, by researchers from the University of Montana and ISER. The report was funded by Trout Unlimited, a sport fishing organization.

The Bristol Bay region has about five times more jobs in the summer than in the winter—an estimated 17, 570, compared with 3,640. The overwhelming majority of summer jobs depend on fish and wildlife. Commercial fishing and processing alone account for 75%. Sport fishing and hunting and tourism together account for another 5%. About 10% of summer jobs are in construction, transportation, and other support industries, and many of those jobs also indirectly depend on the region's fish and wildlife.

In the winter, jobs in government and health care account for nearly 60% of all Bristol Bay jobs. Support industries and small businesses account for the rest, except for the roughly 5% that are in fish processing.

Residents and non-residents together spend about $400 million in the Bristol Bay region annually, for commercial, sport, and subsistence fishing; sport hunting; and tourism. About 60% of that total is for commercial fishing.

Of the jobs that depend on Bristol Bay's fish and wildlife, about 28% go to local residents, another 36% go to Alaskans from outside the region, and the remaining 36% go to people from outside Alaska. (Those figures are based on full-time equivalent employment.) The estimated $175 million in annual payroll from these jobs is divided in roughly the same proportions as jobs among local residents, other Alaskans, and people from outside the state.

Subsistence hunting and fishing are major sources of food for local residents and also generate about 50 jobs (on a full-time equivalent basis), because local residents spend money for equipment and supplies.

To see the full report, click here (700K PDF)