Tongass National Forest

Tongass » Visitor Centers » Mendenhall Glacier » Steep Creek SalmonCam

Salmon - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

There are five species of Pacific salmon in North America, and two additional species that can only be found in Asia. The five North American species are Chinook (king, spring, black mouth), coho (silver), chum (dog, calico), sockeye (red, blue back), and pink (humpy). Those that can only be found in Asia are masu and amago.

Salmon Life Pattern
The five species of Pacific salmon belong to the family salmonidae. They spawn and spend early portions of their lives in fresh water and then migrate to open ocean to mature. This life pattern is known as anadromy. Pacific salmon are a critical component of ecosystems throughout their range. Salmon spawn only once in their lifetime. After spawning they die. This may seem like a dismal reality, but the thousands of salmon carcasses that blanket streambeds and forest floors during the spawning season are key to maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Salmon carcasses provide nutrients for the forest as their bodies decay and decompose into the soil. They provide food for many different plants and animals.

Effect on the Economy
The harvest of Pacific salmon in Alaska plays a crucial role in the state's economy. Salmon play a major role in the overall commercial fishing industry in Alaska. According to the 2004- Overview, Division of Commercial Fisheries, State of Alaska, the ex-vessel value (what the processors pay the fishermen) of the 2003 commercial salmon harvest in Alaska was about $195 million. The ex-vessel value of all Alaska fisheries combined was almost $1.1 billion. The Alaska fishing industry generated total in 2003 of $50.4 million and employed approximately 54,760 people.

Sport fishing also provides important benefits to the Alaska economy. Salmon are the most sought after fish when it comes to sport fishing in Alaska. A national survey estimated that US residents spent approximately $537 million on fishing trips and equipment in Alaska in 2001. The American Sportfishing Association used this information to estimate that sport fishing in Alaska generated 11,064 jobs worth $235 million in wages. This income rippled through the economy to generate an estimated total of $960 million in spending. Although subsistence and personal use accounts for less than four percent of the annual salmon harvest in Alaska, it is extremely important to many families throughout Alaska who depend on it as a source of food and a way of life, especially in rural areas. Salmon harvest is also valued for cultural, customary, and traditional purposes by rural and Native Alaskan communities.

Okay, so there's no bad. Wild Pacific salmon feed people, animals, ecosystems, and economies.