Frequently Asked Questions

What is a fishery?
What does AKFIN do?
What doesn't AKFIN do?
Why was AKFIN created?
Is AKFIN a government agency?
Where does AKFIN get its information?
Where can I find Alaska fisheries data?
Is there something like AKFIN where I live?

What is a fishery?
The term fishery generally refers to fishing efforts centered on either the collection of a particular type of fish or aquatic animal or done in a particular region (such as a halibut fishery or an Alaska fishery). Fisheries exist primarily to provide human food but may also be used for recreational fishing, to collect exotic or ornamental fish or for other products such as fish oil.

What does AKFIN do?
AKFIN consolidates, manages and dispenses information related to Alaska's commercial fisheries. We consolidate data from many sources and distribute it to fishery analysts and economists.

What doesn’t AKFIN do?
AKFIN does not directly collect data about Alaska fisheries. Nor does it maintain resources or information related to recreational fishing activities or Alaska tourism.

Why was AKFIN created?
AKFIN was created to provide consolidated data concerning the state's commercial fisheries. Many different private, academic, not for profit and governmental projects conduct related, sometimes overlapping, work within Alaska's large fishing industry. AKFIN receives information from those who collect the data and consolidates and dispenses it to others who need fishery information.

Is AKFIN a government agency?
No. AKFIN is a  not for profit organization funded by federal grants and managed by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC).

Where does AKFIN get its information?
AKFIN retrieves data through established partnerships with state and federal sources, including the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).

Where can I find Alaska fisheries data?
You can learn more and request data concerning Alaska commercial fisheries on our data information page. 

Is there something like AKFIN where I live?
Fisheries information networks exist for all coastal waters of the United States. They include the Pacific Coast Fisheries Information Network, the Recreational Fisheries Information Network, the Gulf States Fisheries Information Network and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.