Nome
Area Description & History
Nome is located on the south coast of the Seward Peninsula. Historically, Malemiut, Kauweramiut, and Unalikmiut Iñupiat have occupied the area for thousands of years. Nome was a supply center for Russian whaling and trading in the mid 1800s; its population exploded during the Nome gold rush in 1898. The City of Nome was incorporated in 1901. Commercial exploitation of halibut and groundfish first extended into the Bering Sea region in 1928. King crab fisheries began in the 1950s, and Norton Sound is one of the fisheries historical centers. Nome is located in Pacific Halibut Fishery Regulatory Area 4E and the Bering Sea Sablefish Regulatory Area. Nome serves as a regional center of supply, services, and transportation in the Norton Sound and Bering Strait region, and many government offices are located there. Nome was included under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) and is federally recognized as a Native village. Four federally-recognized Tribes are located within the City of Nome: the Nome Eskimo Community, Solomon Tribal Council, King Island Native Community, and Council Traditional Council. Two Native Corporations are active in the area, including Bering Straits Native Corporation and Sitnasuak Native Corporation.
Infrastructure & Transportation
Nome is accessible by air and sea with two state operated airports. There are two health facilities: Nome Health Center and the Norton Sound Regional Hospital, both operated by the Norton Sound Health Corporation. The hospital is a qualified Acute Care facility and offers Medevac Service. Additional facilities include: state and local government, US Coast Guard facilities, Northwest Campus-UA, Fairbanks, the Katirvik Cultural Center, public library, and maritime support services. A recent major infrastructural development in Nome was the announcement of a port expansion project in 2023. As the Arctic gateway, Nome plans to develop a deep water port that has substantial implications for Nome and the broader nation, including national security, emergency preparedness, and employment.1 Nome has three schools; enrollment has remained fairly stable over the past decade, with a 3% decrease in school enrollment between 2022 and 2023.
Nome was the most populous city in Alaska at the turn of the century but the community shrunk after the conclusion of the Nome gold rush in 1909. More recently, Nome’s population has been steadily declining since 2011 and reached a 20-year low of 3,469 in 2022. The population in Nome is majority Native and Nome is considered a hub community for Alaska Native villages. Longer range population forecasts estimate that Nome’s population will continue decreasing over the next 30 years. Local government has argued that the announced port expansion may help stabilize this population decline.
Demographics
Nome was the most populous city in Alaska at the turn of the century but the community shrunk after the conclusion of its gold rush in 1909. More recently, Nome’s population has been steadily declining since 2011 and reached a 20-year low of 3,506 in 2023. The population in Nome is majority Native and Nome is considered a hub community for Alaska Native villages. Longer range population forecasts estimate that Nome’s population will continue decreasing over the next 30 years. Local government has argued that the announced port expansion may help stabilize this population decline.2 Recent changes in fisheries participation due to crab fisheries closures in particular have greatly affected community members and may be linked to recent lows in population levels.
| Demographics | |
| Population | 3,506 |
| Population in group housing | 227 |
| Median household income | $103,542 |
| Housing units | 1,495 |
| Percentages | |
| Male | 50.1% |
| Female | 49.9% |
| White | 26.8% |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 53.6% |
| Black or African American | 1.8% |
| Asian | 3.0% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 0.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1.9% |
| Below poverty line | 6.1% |
| High school diploma or higher | 92.5% |
| Population under 5 | 9.1% |
| Population over 18 | 69.6% |
| Population over 65 | 6.3% |
| Source: US Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2018-2022) | |
| Population and group housing estimates sourced from Alaska Department of Labor, 2023 | |
Current Economy
Nome’s economy is based on public administration, fishing, and other public sector jobs. Nome is home to Kawerak, Inc., the Native non-profit organization serving the Bering Strait region and the Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation. Many residents engage in commercial fishing and subsistence activities. In 2023, Nome reported $29,630 in total fishery related taxes (including shared and municipal). 2 This represents a return of total fish tax value to historically comparable levels. By contrast, fishery related tax revenue was $0 in 2022 and $1,977 in 2021. In 2022, per capita income in Nome was estimated to be $41,722 (up 17% since 2019), and the median household income was $103,542 (up 22% since 2019).3 The percentage of the population living below the poverty line has decreased by 1.4% since 2019.4
Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptive Capacity
Exposure to Biophysical Effects of Climate Change
A community’s exposure to the biophysical effects of climate change, which include effects to the biological organisms and physical landscape surrounding them, aids in determining their vulnerability. Observed climate change impacts in the city of Nome include warmer temperatures, increased storminess, changes in sea ice, less snow and more rain in the winter, rainier summers, shallower creeks, and permafrost thaw. These changes pose several risks relating to public health and safety, subsistence, infrastructure, and have led to increased shipping in the area.5 Due to the remoteness of this community and its vulnerable location, it has a relatively high risk of exposure to the biophysical effects of climate change. This was further evidenced by the impacts of Typhoon Merbok on Nome in September 2022, which caused near-record high water levels and extreme flooding.6 Amid increasingly volatile conditions,Nome residents are grappling with the complex impacts of climate change, highlighted by the combination of infrastructural damage caused by Typhoon Merbok and the ongoing port expansion project aimed at maximizing benefits from changes in Arctic maritime traffic and commerce.
Dependence on Fisheries Affected by Climate Change
Reliance on fisheries resources which are being impacted by climate change can determine how vulnerable a community is to disruption from climate change. Overall, the city of Nome is moderately engaged in harvesting within the crab fishery, but highly engaged in processing. In addition, while recreational fishing is not as important to the economy or lifestyle of residents, this is offset by its particularly high reliance on subsistence fishing. The majority of the Alaska Native population in Nome depends heavily on local wild food resources as important nutritional sources in their diets, particularly salmon, tomcod, crab, and seal. In addition, the subsistence way of life plays an integral role in the cultural and traditional values of tribal members living in the Nome area.7 They rely heavily on salmon in particular for subsistence purposes. Their ability to harvest and preserve salmon and other subsistence species has been negatively impacted by climate-induced changes in recent years, particularly warming trends which often make it harder to preserve salmon, and changes in sea ice, which may make it harder to access subsistence harvesting areas.8 Considering all three of these measures, Nome overall is moderately dependent on fisheries resources which will be impacted by climate change.
Subsistence fishing is an important part of Nome’s fisheries, particularly salmon and crab fisheries.9 While many residents have economic alternatives to subsistence fish harvests, subsistence foods offer residents cultural benefits, increased fishery options, and are often cited as one of the main attractions to living in the area. One recent example of these impacts is the dramatic decline of BSAI snow crab fisheries and resulting closures. Federal and state fisheries closures have affected Nome residents: in 2020, both the summer and winter Norton Sound Red King Crab (RKC) fisheries were closed due to low stock. In 2021, the Norton Sound Seafood Products ceased purchasing Norton Sound RKC in an effort to bolster the stock.10 In 2022, subsistence salmon fishing was closed in the southern Norton Sound.11 These closures and others have adversely affected subsistence fishers in Nome.12
Local Adaptive Capacity
Nome has moderate limitations on its adaptive capacity. This rating takes into account factors in the community which can make it harder to adapt when disruptions occur. Nome received a moderate rating due to social indicators such as their population composition, which comprises individuals with medium to higher levels of vulnerability, and moderate levels of personal disruption. In addition, according to the National Risk Index, Nome has a very high susceptibility to the adverse impacts of natural hazards and a very low ability to prepare for or adapt to changing conditions.13 This is important to consider when designing management policies for the fisheries resources this community depends on because drastic shifts may hinder their ability to stay highly engaged in a particular fishery. For example, there are indications that Nome residents shifted from targeting Norton Sound red king crab to Pacific cod in response to fisheries closures in 2020, although further research is needed to examine this potential shift in target species.
| Social Indicators for Fishing Communities* | |
| Labor Force | LOW |
| Housing Characteristics | MED |
| Poverty | LOW |
| Population Composition | MED-HIGH |
| Personal Disruption | MED |
| *Source: NOAA Fisheries Office of Science and Technology. 2019. NOAA Fisheries Community Social Vulnerability Indicators (CSVIs). Version 3 (Last updated December 21, 2020). https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/socioeconomics/social-indicators-fishing-communities-0 | |
Groundfish Harvesting Engagement - LOW
Among commercial fisheries in Nome, groundfish engagement has changed significantly over the 5-year period. In 2020 and 2021, Pacific cod accounted for a much higher percentage of pounds harvested (40% in 2020, 74% in 2021) and harvest revenue (17% in 2020, 34% in 2021) than in previous years. During these years, the same metrics fell significantly for crab and halibut, a likely consequence of the Red King Crab fishery closure in 2020. In 2022 and 2023, this trend reversed, and Pacific cod production dropped significantly, accounting for a much smaller percentage of pounds harvested (just 1% in 2022, 0.4% in 2023) and harvest revenue (0.08% in 2022, 0.05% in 2023). The associated figure of harvest revenue by species has been aggregated for confidentiality reasons.
Nome king crab fishermen hold both state-issued king crab permits, as well as permits in the Community Development Quota fishery. Norton Sound Seafood Products was established in 1995 and processes red king crab, salmon, and halibut.
Crab Harvesting Engagement - HIGH
Alaska FMP crab fisheries have struggled with extreme volatility in recent years: hitting a peak in 2016 in both harvested volume and associated ex-vessel value, then beginning a steep decline. Bering Sea snow crab, Bristol Bay and Norton Sound Red King Crab have faced closures, late starts to the season, and reduced catch limits. This has affected Nome’s engagement in these fisheries. In 2021, crab vessels registered in Nome harvested just 684 pounds of BSAI crab, a 98% decrease from 2019. The associated ex-vessel value in 2019 was $286,858, then down to $15,267 in 2021 (a decrease of 95%). Opposite to the trend in groundfish engagement, drastic increases in crab harvesting engagement occurred in 2022 and 2023. In 2022, the number of crab vessels registered in Nome returned to levels seen in previous years and increased both pounds harvested and ex-vessel value by 99% compared to 2021. In 2023, this upward trend continued, with crab vessels harvesting with crab vessels harvesting 280 thousand pounds of BSAI crab with an associated ex-vessel value of $1.8 million.
Due to confidentiality concerns, only select data are available.
In 2020, both the summer and winter Norton Sound red king crab (RKC) fisheries were closed due to low stock. To support rebuilding the stock, the Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation initially ceased purchasing RKC in 2020 and 2021. This is reflected in the data which shows crab harvests and ex-vessel value decreasing to zero in 2020 and 2021, as well as lack of active vessels and permits. Given simultaneous increases in harvests of Pacific cod during these two years, it is possible Nome fishermen attempted to compensate for the crab declines by engaging more in the groundfish fishery. Crab landings and permits in Nome have recently increased to historical levels in 2022 and 2023. Additional social science research with commercial fishing fleets could illuminate decision-making processes under the dynamic conditions and stressors observed since 2020.
Due to confidentiality concerns, only select data are available.
In 2020, both the summer and winter Norton Sound red king crab (RKC) fisheries were closed due to low stock. To support rebuilding the stock, the Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation ceased purchasing RKC. This is reflected in the data which shows crab harvests and ex-vessel value decreased to zero in 2020, as well as lack of vessels and permits. Given simultaneous increases in harvests of Pacific cod during these two years, it is possible Nome fishermen attempted to compensate for the crab declines by engaging more in the groundfish fishery. Additional social science research with commercial fishing fleets could illuminate decision-making processes under such stressors.
Subsistence Harvesting Engagement
The majority of the Alaska Native population in Nome depends heavily on local wild food resources such as salmon, tomcod, crab, and seal as important nutritional sources in their diets. The subsistence way of life plays an integral role in the cultural and traditional values of tribal members living in the Nome area.14 While groundfish and crab subsistence harvesting data were not available for Nome through CSIS as they were for other communities, Nome residents’ extensive use of other resources, particularly salmon, indicate that they likely rely on these fisheries as well. This also highlights the severe need for subsistence harvesting data for this community so we can better understand to what extent they engage with and rely on subsistence fishing of different species.
According to ADF&G data, subsistence harvests of halibut have fluctuated since 2008 while subsistence harvests of salmon have remained relatively constant at a high level. In recent years however, all-time lows in subsistence harvests for both species were observed in 2021 for salmon and in 2022 for halibut.1516 Declines in salmon stocks have been found to affect Nome residents, who have often turned to less regulated areas to subsistence fish when severe salmon fishing restrictions have been instituted.9 The importance of this species in particular to their culture and livelihood cannot be overstated. Recent data from the Norton Sound show that from 2016-2020 there was an overall average of 2,873 pounds of red king crab caught for subsistence during the summer season and 8,844 pounds in the winter season. In the summer, an average of 40 subsistence harvesting permits were issued, and in the winter 121. These numbers decreased in 2021 to just 1,723 pounds harvested in the summer and 6,941 pounds in the winter. Summer permits increased to 42, but winter permits decreased to just 103.17
Groundfish Processing Engagement - LOW
In 2021, significantly more pounds of Pacific cod were landed than in previous years (an increase of 584% since 2019). There was also a corresponding 230% increase in landed value. In 2022 and 2023, landings of Pacific cod returned to historically average levels. During this time period, groundfish processing engagement remained low. The associated figure of landed revenue has been aggregated for confidentiality reasons.
Crab Processing Engagement - HIGH
Nome is highly engaged in the crab processing sector, although processors have been affected by uncertainty in crab production over the 5-year period. The number of crab buyers in the region dropped from 8 to 3 in 2019, remaining low until 2022, when buyers returned to pre-closure levels (28 in 2022 and 25 in 2023). In 2023, Nome processed 424 thousand net pounds of crab with an associated value of $2.8 million.
Port of Nome. (2024). Strategic Development Plan Update - Phase A Background & Engagement. https://www.nomealaska.org/sites/default/files/fileattachments/port_of_nome/page/12402/2024-05-13_pon_strategic_plan_update_-_phase_a_final.pdf↩︎
Port of Nome. (2024). Strategic Development Plan Update - Phase A Background & Engagement. https://www.nomealaska.org/sites/default/files/fileattachments/port_of_nome/page/12402/2024-05-13_pon_strategic_plan_update_-_phase_a_final.pdf↩︎
U.S. Census Bureau. (2023). *American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2018-2022*. U.S. Department of Commerce. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/data↩︎
U.S. Census Bureau. (2023). *American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2018-2022*. U.S. Department of Commerce. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/data↩︎
Federal Emergency Management Agency. (n.d.). *National Risk Index: Nome Census Area, Alaska.* Retrieved November 13, 2024, from https://hazards.fema.gov/nri/report/viewer?dataLOD=Counties&dataIDs=C02180↩︎
Flood waters receding after storm batters western Alaska. (2022). CTV News. https://www.ctvnews.ca/climate-and-environment/flood-waters-receding-after-storm-batters-western-alaska-1.6074038?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery↩︎
Wolfe, R.J., J.A. Fall, V. Fay, S. Georgette, J. Magdanz, S. Pedersen, M. Pete and J. Schichnes. 1986. The role of fish and wildlife in the economies of Barrow, Bethel, Dillingham, Kotzebue, and Nome. ADF&G, Div. of Subsistence Tech. Paper No. 154. Juneau, AK.↩︎
Federal Emergency Management Agency. (n.d.). *National Risk Index: Nome Census Area, Alaska.* Retrieved November 13, 2024, from https://hazards.fema.gov/nri/report/viewer?dataLOD=Counties&dataIDs=C02180↩︎
Menard, J., J. M. Leon, J. Bell, L. Neff, and K. Clark. 2022. 2021 Annual management report Norton Sound Sound–Port Clarence Area and Arctic –Kotzebue management area s. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Management Report No. 22 22-27, Anchorage.↩︎
Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation. (2022). NSEDC TO RESUME PURCHASING RED KING CRAB THIS SUMMER. https://www.nsedc.com/nsedc-to-resume-purchasing-red-king-crab-this-summer/↩︎
Alaska Department of Fish & BGame. SOUTHERN NORTON SOUND SUBSISTENCE SALMON FISHING TO CLOSE. (2022). https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/applications/dcfnewsrelease/1387559806.pdf↩︎
Warren, C. A. (2024, July 25). First ever subsistence fishery closure at Port Clarence causes hardship at Teller, Brevig. The Nome Nugget. http://nomenugget.com/news/first-ever-subsistence-fishery-closure-port-clarence-causes-hardship-teller-brevig↩︎
Federal Emergency Management Agency. (n.d.). *National Risk Index: Nome Census Area, Alaska.* Retrieved November 13, 2024, from https://hazards.fema.gov/nri/report/viewer?dataLOD=Counties&dataIDs=C02180↩︎
Kettle, N., J. Martin, and M. Sloan. 2017. Nome Tribal Climate Center for Climate Assessment and Policy. Fairbanks, AK. https://adaptalaska.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Nome-Tribal-Climate-Adaptation-Plan-Final-LowRes.pdf↩︎
Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Subsistence. 2021. Alaska Subsistence Fisheries Database. Data compiled by Alaska Fisheries Information Network in the Alaska Community Profiling Dataset.↩︎
Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Subsistence. 2011. Pacific Halibut Subsistence Data. Data compiled by Alaska Fisheries Information Network in Alaska Community Profiling Dataset.↩︎
Menard, J., J. M. Leon, J. Bell, L. Neff, and K. Clark. 2022. 2021 Annual management report Norton Sound Sound–Port Clarence Area and Arctic –Kotzebue management area s. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Management Report No. 22 22-27, Anchorage.↩︎