| In Alaska, salmon come first. Alaska has | | | | leaders attached. At the end of each |
| a long and successful track record of | | | | leader there is a lure or baited hook. |
| managing and conserving its abundant | | | | Boat size varies from small skiffs to |
| salmon resources. Record salmon runs | | | | vessels of 50 feet or more with most |
| with a recent average annual catch of | | | | ranging between 25 to 40 feet. |
| 165 million salmon is the proof of this | | | | Trollers primarily target king, coho, |
| successful approach. | | | | and pink salmon as they enter Alaskan |
| Nearly 95% of all commercially caught | | | | waters on their way to the spawning |
| salmon in the US are harvested in | | | | grounds. Trollers catch a relatively low |
| Alaska. Alaska is the top producer of | | | | volume of high-quality fish. The fish |
| wild, high-value salmon, producing | | | | they catch are bright and vigorous from |
| nearly 80 percent of the world supply of | | | | fresh ocean waters. They are oftensold |
| king, sockeye, and coho. Alaska's | | | | dressed, or filleted in the fresh or |
| commercial salmon fishery is vital to | | | | fresh frozen market. |
| the Alaskan economy and the Alaskan way | | | | Gillnetters set curtain-like nets in the |
| of life. | | | | water suspended from a float line at the |
| Each year, the salmon industry provides | | | | surface and a weighted lead line along |
| thousands of jobs and hundreds of | | | | the submerged bottom edge. Nets vary in |
| millions of dollars to the state's | | | | length from 900 to 1800 feet long. The |
| economy. Commercial fishing is critical | | | | net's mesh openings are just large |
| to communities and fishingfamilies | | | | enough to allow an adult fish head to |
| throughout the state. | | | | get through and become entangled at the |
| Alaska's fishing industry leads the | | | | gills. |
| state in providing 47% of private sector | | | | There are two types of gillnets; |
| jobs, and is second only to the oil | | | | driftnets that are free floating from |
| industry in providing revenue to the | | | | boats, and setnets that have one end |
| state. In 2002, the exvessel value for | | | | attached to the shoreline. Boat size is |
| combined fisheries totaled $955 million | | | | limited to 32 feet or less in Bristol |
| with $162 million from salmon. | | | | Bay; otherwise, the average range is 30 |
| Salmon fishing permits are issued to | | | | to 40 feet. Gillnetters primarily |
| individuals, not corporations, through | | | | harvest sockeye, chum and coho. |
| the "limited entry permit system". The | | | | Purse Seiners use a large floating net, |
| total number of available permits for | | | | pulled and set in circle by a power |
| each fishery is strictly limited. | | | | skiff, to surround schooling salmon. The |
| Fishermen may not own more than one | | | | weighted "purse line" at bottom of the |
| salmon permit for the same gear type and | | | | net is drawn closed to contain the fish. |
| area. This creates a fishery made up of | | | | The net full of fish is then gathered to |
| many individuals and families. | | | | the boat through a highpowered hydraulic |
| Three main gear types catch Alaska | | | | block. |
| salmon: trolling, gillnetting, and purse | | | | Purse seiners are not allowed north of |
| seining. All commercial salmon fishing | | | | the Alaska Peninsula; boat size is |
| boats are relatively small vessels; | | | | limited to 58 feet. Purse Seiners |
| averaging 30 to 50 feet. | | | | harvest mainly pink salmon near the |
| Trollers use long trolling poles to pull | | | | shoreline and close to fresh water |
| or troll 2 to 4 deep weighted lines | | | | spawning grounds where runs are highly |
| through the water, each with 8 - 12 | | | | concentrated. |