By Margaret Bauman
Alaska Journal of Commerce

Lack of information about one of Alaska's largest labor sectors is hampering efforts by fisheries-dependent communities to influence public policymaking, build infrastructure and grow local economies, according to a report commissioned by the Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference (SWAMC).

The report, written by Northern Economics Inc., outlines the process and findings of a project SWAMC undertook to seek improvements in the collection and reporting of Alaska's seafood harvesting labor data.

Marcus Hartley of Northern Economics said the Alaska Department of Labor is doing a pretty good job estimating how many fish harvesting jobs there are statewide. “What we don't know is if those jobs are going to Alaskans (or) how many to Alaskans,” he said.

Hartley said the current data also doesn't show whether individuals crewing in one fishery are also crewing in one or more other fisheries as well.

“The lack of thorough and timely labor data for crew members has been a stumbling block for fisheries policymakers, fisheries-dependent communities, the fishing industry and the crew members themselves,” said Wanetta Ayers, former SWAMC executive director. “State and federal policymakers are often in the position of having to make decisions that will impact crew members and fisheries-dependent communities, without having any historical information about the seafood harvesters. In fact, in most cases, policymakers generally know more about the average fish than they do about the average fisher. We can't expect good outcomes for fishers and fisheries-dependent communities under those circumstances. SWAMC and other fisheries stakeholders want to see that change.”

The project report, “Improving Seafood Harvesting Labor Data,” also cites individuals' and communities' inability to readily access federal programs and grant funds that are available to workers in other industries and communities with a more diverse economic base. “This project is not about getting more grant funding,” Ayers said. “It's about creating a level playing field where crew members and fisheries-dependent communities can qualify for programs that are more easily available to others. We want to ensure that policymakers have the tools to fully consider the impacts of their decisions on the seafood harvesting labor sector.”

SWAMC's goals for the project included exploring issues associated with seafood harvesting labor data; collecting information on the current data collection system and past efforts to estimate the seafood harvesting labor work force; defining unfulfilled needs for the data; suggesting new data collection methods or systems; and evaluating potential alternative systems and possible implementation hurdles.

Northern Economics was selected by SWAMC to provide analysis of the existing and possible alternative systems; conduct key informant interviews; facilitate a work group meeting of harvester, community and agency stakeholders; and delineate alternatives for improving collection and reporting of seafood harvesting labor data.

The report lays out four possible paths toward improving seafood harvesting labor data, ranging from a continuation of the current system of customized, batch-processed data collection; modifications to improve the existing system; creating a new system; or adapting the E-landings reporting system to include all fisheries and crew member data.

“SWAMC has made a significant investment to get to this point,” Ayers said. “However, it is clear that this is just a first step. This is an issue for all fisheries-dependent communities. We welcome the support and participation of other coastal communities and fisheries organizations, as well as ongoing collaboration with state and federal agencies.”

The report is currently being distributed to the SWAMC membership, legislators, agencies, fisheries organizations and other stakeholders.

“We know that the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission, the Alaska Department of Labor and NOAA Fisheries are eager to see changes in the system,” Ayers said. “We also know that these agencies and their staffs have made numerous efforts to improve the system and to try and meet some of the needs outlined in the report. However, we recognize that there are organizational barriers and legal and constitutional issues that need to be addressed to improve the system. It's up to fisheries stakeholders to advocate for those changes and generate the support needed to make those changes a reality.”

A complete copy of the report can be downloaded from www.swamc.org. Comments on the report can be submitted to SWAMC at 3300 Arctic Boulevard, Suite 203, Anchorage, AK 99503, faxed to (907) 562-0438, or e-mailed to info@swamc.org.

Margaret Bauman can be reached at margie.bauman@alaskajournal.com.