Anthropology and Alaskan Fisheries Management Policy

Abstract

Managing the marine resources of Alaska has been a controversial and difficult matter since scientific investigation and commercial utilization of the region's abundant fisheries resources intensified in the 1880s. Fisheries has been the economic mainstay of Alaskan populations from precontact times until oil began flowing from Prudhoe Bay in 1977, and, at present, it is still the second most important sector of the Alaskan economy in terms of employment and income. In addition, the harvesting of fish and other marine resources (whale, walrus, seals, shellfish) is a crucial element in the cultural persistence of many Alaskan native groups as well as an important recreational pursuit for many other Alaskan residents and visitors. Despite the tremendous increase in capital, personnel and species affected over the past 100 years, managing marine resources today is a similar task to that of nearly a century ago. Two fundamental issues continue to be paramount: how many are going to be harvested and who is going to harvest them?