Commonly called the “panhandle,” Southeast Alaska stretches 500 miles north to south and includes more than 1,000 islands of the Alexander Archipelago. Deep fjords, spectacular tidewater glaciers and magnificent old-growth forests distinguish this part of Alaska.

Of the 75,000 southeast residents, most live in the larger towns of Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Petersburg and Wrangell. The rest of the population lives in the more than 40 smaller communities and settlements that dot the coast and islands of Southeast.

 Southeast’s fisheries are abundant and fishermen take pride in protecting the waters and habitat which are home to halibut, rockfish, black cod, crab, shrimp, oysters, clams and all five species of Pacific salmon. Southeast Alaskans were successful in banning bottom trawling in their region, a decision that has helped to preserve coral and other seafloor habitats.

A threat to Southeast’s wild fisheries and local economies is the federal government’s plan to allow offshore fish farming in federal U.S. waters, 3-200 miles offshore.   

Community concern over the effects of climate change on the marine environment is also increasing as more and more Southeast fishermen catch non-native fish species.  AMCC is working with communities to share the latest scientific understanding of climate change impacts on fisheries and support community-based action.