Study shows impact Alaska Pollock Fishery has on economy

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – There few fish that can challenge the mighty salmon’s necessity to Alaska, but if one fish could, it might be the Alaska pollock.

Alaska’s pollock fishery is in U.S. water in the eastern Bering Sea and the Gulf of Alaska primarily.

Now, a new pair of studies is shining a light on how important the fish is to the state.

In terms of economic output, the findings point toward the industry impacting around 6,000 jobs for the Last Frontier, Ron Rogness, Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers director of industry relations, partnerships and fishery analysis, explained.

“What the analysis found is that in Alaska, there were 2,869 jobs associated with the fishery, that’s directly employed in either the harvesting or processing sector,” Rogness started. “Then another 3,450 jobs are associated with the fishery based on the purchases that Alaska Pollock companies make within the state of Alaska.”

For the residents of Alaska, according to the study, those jobs generated around $337 million in income in 2023.

And when looking at the economic impact as a whole for the state, including indirect impacts, that number more than doubles.

“I was certainly impressed about the sheer numbers. And in terms of economic output, $832 million of economic activity in the state of Alaska is attributable to the Alaskan Pollock Fishery,” Rogness said.

That number includes things like the cost of work being done on vessels, things bought for crew members and fishing supplies.

See a spelling or grammar error? Report it to web@ktuu.com

Copyright 2025 KTUU. All rights reserved.