Sitka Community Profile 2006-2007

Natural Resources

Commercial Fishing: The commercial fishing fleet in Sitka harvest thousands of tons of a variety of seafoods likes salmon, halibut, black cod, lingcod, crab, shrimp, herring, sea cucumbers and more. Fish processing industry in Sitka has been and continues to be a major component of Sitka's economic base. These plants take the raw seafoods of the bountiful Alaska waters and process it into consumer-sized portions for both the frozen and fresh seafood markets.

In recent years, Sitka's broad seafood industry has begun to specialize in the fresh fish markets of the world's finest restaurants. It is not uncommon for Sitka salmon to be featured at many backyard barbeques across the nation.

Bulk Water Export: The City and Borough of Sitka accepts proposals and/or bids from companies or individuals wishing to purchase any amount of raw water for bulk export. The total water available per year is 29,000 acre feet or 9.5 billion gallons. The source of the water is Blue Lake, a body of water fed by glacier, snowmelt and rain precipitation. The waters of Blue Lake are known for its pure qualities. The City supplies drinking water from the same lake and is able to meet surface water treatment rules without filtration. To learn more about Sitka water and source, click HERE.

Sitka and the Tongass National Forest: Sitka is surrounded by the Tongass National Forest, a 17-million acre forest unit - the world's largest temperate forest. Over 90% of the lands in the City and Borough of Sitka are in the Tongass, with large wilderness areas and almost no developed lands.

Subsistence: Sitka maintains rural status that allows its residents to hunt, fish, and gather food on Federal public lands. Commonly-harvested food for subsistence/personal use are:

  • fish (salmon, halibut, lingcod, rockfish & herring)
  • land mammals (deer, mountain goat, bear)
  • shellfish, mushrooms, berries, seaweeds
Seafood Harvest
  • Sitka ranks 9th largest port by value, 26th largest port by volume in US.
  • Sitka processed +25% of total Southeast region landing by value in 2004.
Total Pounds Landed & Gross Earnings
from Commercial Fisheries For Sitka Residents, 2004
     
Major Products Total Pounds Landed* Gross Earnings*
Salmon 24.5 million $11.7 million
Halibut 3.3 million $9.5 million
Sablefish 4.8 million $9.5 million
Herring 3.2 million $1.2 million
Other Shellfish 379,819 $867,172
Other Groundfish 656,917 $615,253
Crab 228,297 $426,600
All fisheries combined 37 million $33.8 million
     
*Totals excludes confidential fisheries where 3 or less people or permits are involved
Source: AK Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission

Sitka Land-based Processor Production  
  Pounds Value
Ex-vessel    
Salmon 27.5 million $18.8 million
Non-salmon 11.4 million $26.2 million
Total 38.9 million $45.0 million
     
First Wholesale:    
Salmon 19.6 million $35.1 million
Non-salmon 10.9 million $34.8 million
Total 30.5 million $69.9 million
     
Source: SEDA's 2006 State of Sitka's Economy Report, McDowell Group