Akutan/King Cove/Sand Point Fishery Engagement

Due to the low number of processors in Akutan, King Cove, and Sand Point, we present groundfish and crab fishery engagement data aggregated across all three communities.

Groundfish Harvesting Engagement - LOW

Due to the small number of participants, some data are considered confidential. For this reason, data were aggregated to include adjacent communities within the Aleutians East Borough (AEB): Akutan, Sand Point, and King Cove communities. With the closure of the Peter Pan facility in King Cove in 2024, this may require a different community aggregation going forward to maintain confidentiality.

Commercial salmon harvest dominates the area’s fisheries; however groundfish harvest accounted for an average of 20% of the total value landed over the past five years for these three communities. In 2023, groundfish harvests were 22% of the total ex-vessel value landed in these communities, landing 17.8.2 million whole pounds, with an ex-vessel value of $3.96 million.  The number of groundfish vessels owned by residents in 2023 was 39 (up from 31 the previous year). The number of resident owned vessels in all fisheries has increased to 90 vessels (up 22%).

Crab Harvesting Engagement - LOW

In 2023, 1,968,178 whole pounds of BSAI crab were harvested across Akutan, Sand Point, and King Cove, with an ex-vessel value of $4.8 million.

A number of hired crew resides in these communities and residents continue to own crab licenses and quota shares, although participation has fluctuated. In 2023, there were 4 crew members working in the BSAI crab industry (down from 7 in the previous year), and 4 BSAI crab QS holders.

Groundfish Processing Engagement - HIGH

Over the last five years, pollock and Pacific cod have accounted for a slightly higher percentage of the average community catch, 40.6% and 16.1% respectively, of the landed value within the processing sector in Akutan, King Cove, and Sand Point. Meanwhile, the 5-year average share of landed salmon  has decreased slightly to 11%. 

In 2023, the number of processing facilities decreased to 4 , processing 606 million pounds of groundfish with an ex-vessel value of $125 million in 2023. Compared to 2022, the landings volume showed a slight increase in pounds landed (up 6%); however the ex-vessel value dropped by 25% illustrating the drop in market value for most species, particularly salmon. In 2023, although the Pacific cod fishery decreased by 4.5% in volume and 22% in ex-vessel value compared to 2022,  the portion of total landings held by Pacific cod in the three communities increased slightly. Pollock showed an 8% increase in pounds , with a 22% decrease in landed value since 2022. Despite the fall in value, the portion of total landings held by pollock increased to 44%.

Crab Processing Engagement - HIGH

Due to confidentiality concerns, Akutan, King Cove, and Sand Point processing activities are aggregated. These communities have been highly engaged in the crab processing sector; however the  declines in crab fisheries have affected these communities.In 2023, these communities processed 887,209 thousand net pounds of crab with an associated ex-vessel value of $10.8 million - a substantial decrease from previous years. Compared to the previous year, the volume decreased by 54% and ex-vessel value by 22%.The amount of BSAI crab processed in the region reached a peak of 24.5 million pounds in 2015, quickly dropping to 16.3 million pounds the following year (down 33%), and continuing to fall. Comparatively, the associated value dropped from $77 million in 2015, to $43.4 million in 2017. Both volume and landed value have continued to decline since.