ABSTRACT
Prior to Alaska statehood in 1959, Alaska’s salmon and steelhead stocks were severely depleted, primarily as a result of unsustainable fishing practices and inadequate federal fisheries management. Over the past 38 years, Alaska has focused considerable state resources on the conservation and management of its salmon stocks and associated habitats. Sustained yield management has been a cornerstone of the state’s fisheries management program. Other key elements of the program include effective habitat protection, separation of allocation and conservation decisions through the establishment of the Alaska Board of Fisheries, and strong support from the fishing industry and the communities that depend on these resources. This chapter provides a brief description of Alaska’s approach for achieving sustainable fisheries and outlines some of the recent initiatives that emphasize Alaska’s commitment to this goal.
