| When Alaska first became a state in 1959, it declared | | | | and the industry has been heavily regulated by the |
| its dedication to sustainable fishing practices in its | | | | state since Alaska achieved statehood in 1959. In the |
| constitution, which mandates that "fish... be utilized, | | | | 1970s, the state began limiting licenses for fisheries |
| developed and maintained on the sustained yield | | | | and enacted a number of other initiatives. One of |
| principle." As such, Alaskan fisheries have been | | | | these initiatives was the establishment of Alaska's |
| managed with a view toward long-term sustainability | | | | first salmon hatcheries, which help to sustain the |
| for more than five decades. | | | | ocean's salmon population by controlling population |
| Alaska's fisheries are managed in such a way that | | | | change. |
| protects them against overfishing, pollution and | | | | In addition to sustainable salmon management |
| habitat damage. Alaska's sustainable salmon | | | | practices, the Alaskan government also uses a |
| management practices are particularly effective. | | | | number of fishery management methods and |
| According to the "Report on the Status of the U.S. | | | | techniques to regulate the larger fishing industry. |
| Fisheries," an annual study from the National Marine | | | | These include: stock assessment, quota |
| Fisheries Service, none of Alaska's salmon stocks are | | | | establishment, bycatch reduction and a firm Total |
| classified as overfished, nor are any of them even | | | | Allowable Catch, which is a fixed limit on the amount |
| approaching overfished status. | | | | of fish that can be captured. The government also |
| Alaska's salmon industry is managed by the state | | | | places a strong emphasis on protection, conservation |
| through three separate organizations. Conservation | | | | and restoration on populations by administering the |
| and management is under the jurisdiction of the | | | | Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Endangered |
| Alaska Department of Fish & Game, while policy | | | | Species Act, the Fur Seal Act and the |
| and allocation is under the Alaska Board of Fisheries. | | | | Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Act. |
| Regulations are enforced by the Alaska Wildlife | | | | Alaska's sustainable fishing practices have resulted in |
| Troopers. | | | | consistently large harvests for more than five |
| Alaska's sustainable salmon management practices | | | | decades. Therefore, it is fitting that fisheries |
| have a long history. Commercial salmon fishing has | | | | worldwide look to Alaska as a model for sustainability. |
| occurred in Alaska's oceans for more than 100 years, | | | | |