ITEM TITLE:
#26-54 - Requesting the Governor of the State of Alaska Designate by Proclamation the Area of Prince William Sound Pink Salmon Fishery and Any Other Applicable Pink Salmon Fisheries as an Area Impacted by Economic Disaster in 2026, and Supporting a Recovery Plan for Affected Fishermen
SUBMITTED BY: Martha Barberio, Economic Development Director
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: N/A
Unencumbered Balance: N/A
Funding Source: N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Resolution 26-54.
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
This resolution requests that Governor Dunleavy designate PWS Pink Salmon Fishery as an area impacted by economic disaster in 2026 and establish a financial recovery plan for fishermen. Following approval, the resolution will be forwarded to Governor Dunleavy, Senator Rauscher and Representative Nelson.
The 2026 Pink Salmon season was historically poor. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) reported in its November 6, 2026, preliminary Prince William Sound salmon season summary that the 2026 pink salmon commercial harvest was approximately 2.57 million fish, 81 percent below the preseason commercial harvest forecast of 13.34 million fish.
Locally in Valdez, the impacts were much greater. The 2026 Valdez Fisheries Development Association (VFDA) pink salmon run was approximately 527,000 fish, 95 percent below its preseason forecast of 10.18 million fish.
The fishermen who live and work in Valdez were heavily impacted by the run failure. Many didn’t even enter the fishing grounds in 2026.