Sand Point
Area Description & History
Sand Point, also known as Qagun Tayagungin, is situated on Popof Island, off the southern coast of the Alaska Peninsula. Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the population of Aleuts in the region is estimated to have ranged between 12,000-20,000 people. Historically, the Aleut people harvested salmon, cod, herring, and other species around Sand Point. Following arrival, the population of Aleuts declined by 80-90% as a result of disease, warfare, malnutrition, and forced labor as sea otter hunters. The Aleut people traditionally spoke Unangam tunuu; however today fewer than 100 individuals speak this language.1 The settlement of Sand Point was founded in 1898 as a cod fishing outpost and incorporated in 1946. Sand Point is home to one of the largest fishing fleets in the Aleutian Chain. Fisheries employs a number of seasonal workers each year. Included under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), Sand Point has three native tribes: The Qagan Tayagungin Tribe of Sand Point Village, the Native Village of Unga, and Pauloff Harbor Village. The main Native Associations and Corporations active in the area include: Qagan Tayagungin Tribe, Unga Tribe, Pauloff Harbor Tribe, Shumagin Corporation, Unga Corp., and Sanak Corp.
Infrastructure & Transportation
Sand Point has an airport with a 5,200 feet paved runway and daily flights to Anchorage. Marine facilities include a 25-acre boat harbor with four docks, 134 boat slips, a harbormaster office, barge off-loading area, and a 150-ton lift. Regular barge services supply the community. The state ferry operates between Sand Point and Unalaska, Akutan, False Pass, Cold Bay, and King Cove between May and October. Medical services are provided by the Sand Point Community Health Clinic. In August 2024, RavnAir suspended services to the Sand Point, Unalaska, and Cold Bay leaving only one passenger airline to service those communities.
At the Aleutians East Borough Schools located in Sand Point, student enrollment decreased by 21% since 2008, with a peak in 2010 of 114 students. Since 2019, enrollment has declined with 83 students in 2023.2
Demographics
| Demographics | |
| Population | 607 |
| Population in group housing | 128 |
| Median household income | $79,922 |
| Housing units | 396 |
| Percentages | |
| Male | 55.3% |
| Female | 44.7% |
| White | 12.9% |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 40.0% |
| Black or African American | 2.8% |
| Asian | 20.6% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 0.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 11.9% |
| Below poverty line | 8.9% |
| High school diploma or higher | 81.0% |
| Population under 5 | 2.2% |
| Population over 18 | 88.1% |
| Population over 65 | 17.0% |
| 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
Sand Point’s economy is primarily based on commercial fishing and processing, with Trident Seafoods being a top employer. In February, 2024 there was a major fire at the Peter Pan seafoods stockroom. There were no injuries; however the building was destroyed. The Aleutians East Borough communities, including Sand Point have been deeply affected by fluctuations in the seafood industry resulting from low prices and higher costs. In addition to the seafood industry, local employers in Sand Point include the Aleutians East Borough School District, local government offices, the Shumagin Corporation, Peninsula Airways, and the State of Alaska.
In 2021, Sand Point generated $422,759 in Shared Fish tax. The overall amount of total fish taxes collected in 2021 decreased by 32.1% from 2019.3 These revenues support basic city services such as education, sanitation, transportation, etc. and are important indicators of community health and wellbeing. In 2020, per capita income in Sand Point was estimated to be $37,722,4 and the median household income was estimated to be $85,833.4 This represents a 16.9% increase and a 27% increase in these measures respectively compared to 2018.4 However, the percentage of the population living below the poverty line has decreased by 5% since 2018.4
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. The Aleutian islands are expected to experience increased temperatures and precipitation, and increased summer storminess. Similar to other Alaskan communities, they will be impacted by reduced sea ice as well.5 However, overall compared to other communities in Alaska, Sand Point is at a relatively low risk of exposure to the biophysical effects of climate change.
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. Sand Point, according to the indices in this report, is highly engaged with commercial processing within the groundfish and crab fisheries. In addition, their subsistence harvesting engagement is also high, with 61% of residents utilizing at least one groundfish species, and 53% utilizing at least one crab species. They also heavily rely on harvests of salmon for subsistence and cultural purposes. However, residents have noted how changes in the climate have recently impacted their ability to harvest salmon. This is reflected in a 84% decrease in salmon harvests in Sand Point since 2015.3
Given these measures, Sand Point is overall highly dependent on fisheries resources which will be impacted by climate change. As these fisheries continue to respond to a changing climate, Sand Point residents are vulnerable to disruptions which will affect their livelihoods and subsistence activities. For instance, in 2022, the sablefish fishery in the Aleutian Islands state waters closed early in August.4 While it is unclear to what extent this closure impacted Sand Point residents, it is important to be aware of recent closures that could cause impacts given the community’s high reliance on commercial fishing.
Local Adaptive Capacity
Sand Point overall has very high limits to its adaptive capacity. This rating takes into account factors in the community which can make it harder to adapt when disruptions occur such as: poverty level, age of the population, unemployment rates, English language proficiency, and education level. Sand Point received a high rating because housing and infrastructure are moderately to highly vulnerable to natural disasters and a population that contains many individuals who are more vulnerable to shocks and disasters, and many individuals who live or work in less stable conditions. In addition, the FEMA National Risk Index identified that the Aleutians East region has very low levels of community resilience.5 Therefore, if Sand Point residents are biophysically impacted by climate change, their capacity to adapt to these changes and recover rapidly is limited.
| Social Indicators for Fishing Communities* | |
| Labor Force | LOW |
| Housing Characteristics | MED-HIGH |
| Poverty | MED |
| Population Composition | 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 | |
Subsistence Harvesting Engagement
Residents of Sand Point rely heavily on subsistence, including salmon, cod, rockfish, and Dungeness and king crab. According to Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game data, their subsistence harvests of halibut have increased since 2012, while their harvests of salmon have decreased.67 This is concerning, given that a study conducted by the Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund in 2016 showed that the harvesting, processing, sharing and consumption of salmon, especially sockeye, was culturally essential for Sand Point residents. Many households reported meeting their subsistence needs by removing salmon from their commercial harvests for home use. This same study showed 97% of Sand Point households used salmon, with 68% of households attempting to harvest and 66% receiving salmon from others.
In recent years, changes in weather patterns, rising sea levels, and warming oceans have affected residents’ ability to harvest salmon.8 Economic and social factors, such as access to funds to buy equipment and the influence of local canneries, also affected residents’ harvest patterns.9
University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska Native Language Center. (n.d.). Aleut (Unangam Tunuu). Retrieved November 13, 2024, from https://www.uaf.edu/anlc/languages-move/aleut.php↩︎
School enrollment statistics compiled from AK. Dept. of Education & Early Development. Retrieved November 14, 2024 from http://www.eed.state.ak.us/stats/↩︎
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.↩︎
Aleutian Islands State State-Waters Sablefish Fishery Closure Emergency Order # 4 4-GF -14 -22. (2022). ADFG. https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/applications/dcfnewsrelease/1423374391.pdf↩︎
Federal Emergency Management Agency. (n.d.). National Risk Index: Aleutians East Borough, Alaska. Retrieved November 13, 2024, from https://hazards.fema.gov/nri/report/viewer?dataLOD=Counties&dataIDs=C02013↩︎
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. 2021. Pacific Halibut Subsistence Data. Data compiled by Alaska Fisheries Information Network in Alaska Community Profiling Dataset.↩︎
Hutchinson-Scarbrough, Lisa. (2019). Subsistence Salmon Fishery Harvest Monitoring in Cold Bay, King Cove, and Sand Point. Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund June 2019 Completion Report. ADF&G, Division of Subsistence. https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/akssfapm/APM_Uploads/2015/44210/.pdf/CR_6_2019.pdf↩︎
Hutchinson-Scarbrough, Lisa. (2019). Subsistence Salmon Fishery Harvest Monitoring in Cold Bay, King Cove, and Sand Point. Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund June 2019 Completion Report. ADF&G, Division of Subsistence. https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/akssfapm/APM_Uploads/2015/44210/.pdf/CR_6_2019.pdf↩︎