2016 regional fisheries and NSSP operations provide nearly $6.5 million to Norton Sound communities
UNALAKLEET—Norton Sound Seafood Products (NSSP) paid out more than $4.7 million to 214 resident crab, halibut and salmon fishers in the 2016 commercial fishing season, and another $1.69 million to seasonal NSSP employees. This year’s payout to commercial fishers continues Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation’s (NSEDC) mission to provide opportunity and facilitate successful regional fisheries. “Our mission at NSEDC is to provide economic development in our 15 member communities,” NSEDC Board Chairman Oscar Takak, Sr. said. “While we have a number of programs to fulfill this goal, NSSP remains our organization’s strongest contributor. Through the hard working men and women who make deliveries, and the seasonal employees who receive and process their catch, NSSP continues to positively contribute to the economies of our region.”
The Norton Sound red king crab fishery had another strong year with a 2016 harvest of 476,927 pounds and an ex-vessel value of $3.1 million paid to 53 participating resident fishers. The Norton Sound salmon fishery remains vital to the 142 fishers who harvested 1.8 million pounds with an ex-vessel value of more than $1.2 million. “Without the committed development of processing plants, buying stations and a fleet of tender vessels, regional fishers would not have the opportunity they have today,” Chairman Takak said. “We are very proud that the men and women who make deliveries live just miles from where their nets are set. Individuals hired for NSSP operations are directly from the region. This is not typical in Alaska, where many communities become ghost towns when the fishing season comes to an end. NSEDC is committed to protecting our fisheries resources while facilitating sustainable commercial fisheries operations to benefit our region’s residents.”
| 2016 NSSP COMMERCIAL FISHERIES | |||
| Fishery | Number of Fishers | Total Harvest (pounds) | Ex-Vessel Value |
| Crab | 53 | 476,927 | $3,159,946 |
| Salmon | 142 | 1,812,827 | $1,246,959 |
| Halibut | 19 | 65,684 | $328,315 |
Success in the 2016 fisheries can also be traced to the hundreds of individuals who seek employment as seasonal processors, buyers, vessel crew members, and office support. Two-hundred fifty-nine Norton Sound residents were hired in the processing plants in Unalakleet, Nome and Savoonga; at community buying stations in Shaktoolik, Golovin and Elim; and for tender vessel crews, infusing nearly $1.7 million into the region. “NSEDC works very hard to ensure NSSP provides maximum benefit to residents in our member communities,” NSEDC CEO & President Janis Ivanoff said. “We are very proud that our products are harvested from our waters by regional fishermen and processed by people who call the Norton Sound home.”
For more information on the 2016 Norton Sound Seafood Products fishing season, contact William “Middy” Johnson at (907) 624-3190 or middy@nsedc.com
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