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Pacific Salmon Fisheries Economic Valuation Report
In 2009, WSC commissioned the Pacific Salmon Fisheries Economic Valuation Report to determine the impact salmon have on regional and global economies.
The results were revealing. If Pacific Rim fisheries aren't properly managed, not only will wild salmon populations suffer, regional economies will be hit hard as well.Key Highlights from the Report
The average annual catch of Pacific salmon by the NPAFC member countries between 2003 and 2007 is 432 million fish or around 1.4 million metric tons. On average Alaskan harvests represents about 35-40% of total tonnage, Russia 25% and Japan 20%.
The total ex-vessel value from the commercial fisheries in 2007 is estimated to be $USD 818 million and the value at the first wholesale level is estimated to be $USD 1.8 billion. Of the total $USD 3 billion personal income generated from the salmon fishing industry in 2007, 43% was in the U.S., 32% in Russia, and 23% in Japan.
Wild salmon fisheries directly support an estimated 35 thousand jobs in 2007 in the North Pacific countries with about half in Alaska and the rest primarily in Japan and Russia. This number does not include all the secondary jobs sich as processing, transport and retail.
In recent years, wild capture salmon only represents about 40% of production, with farmed salmon production overtaking the market share in about 1997. During 1990-2005, hatchery-origin adult salmon abundance averaged 78 million chum, 54 million pink, and 3.2 million sockeye salmon per year, or approximately 62%, 13%, and 4%, respectively, of the combined total of wild and hatchery salmon abundance. Radtke (2009) provides a review of Russian, Alaskan, and Columbia River hatcheries that are operated for fishery enhancement purposes. The conclusion of this and other reviews is that harvest value is highly influenced by ocean conditions which determine adult survival, and that in most years, the capital costs of hatchery production exceed harvest benefits.
See a full copy of the report.
Related Links
The Value of Kol River Salmon Refuge's Ecosystem Services