ASMI Releases Economic Value Report

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute released a report titled “Economic Value of the Alaska Seafood Industry,” measuring the impact of Alaska’s seafood industry on the U.S. economy. The Alaska seafood industry accounts for over half of all U.S. fisheries production and is a key economic driver in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. It is estimated that the Alaska seafood industry provides a total of 165,800 American jobs, including 34,000 jobs for Washington residents in 2011. Produced by Alaska-based research firm The McDowell Group, the report is the first of its kind, and finds that in 2011:

One important factor pointed out in the report is that “seafood is Alaska’s most valuable renewable resource and, with responsible stewardship, jobs created by the industry can be passed down from generation to generation.” Thanks to Alaska’s long-standing responsible fisheries management, Alaska has been able to increase the economic value of the resource over time, creating new wealth in Alaska and the region, making “the cumulative value of Alaska’s seafood resource virtually priceless.” The 104-page report is available for download in PDF format here.