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Performance Details

Department of Fish and Game - Sport Fisheries

Mission

The mission of the Division of Sport Fish is to protect and improve the state's recreational fisheries resources.

Core Services

  • Manage wild fish stocks using scientifically and statistically sound research to ensure sustained use by Alaska"s sport fisheries
Arrow GraphicMission Results Core Services
A: Sustain sport fishing opportunities while optimizing social and economic benefits. Details >
  • TARGET #1: Return sport fishing license sales and revenue collection to 2008 levels to ensure excellence in fisheries management and research for the benefit of sport anglers, the state"s economy, and future generations of Alaskans.
A1: Manage wild fish stocks using scientifically and statistically sound research to ensure sustained use by Alaska"s sport fisheries Details >
  • TARGET #1: Increase angler opportunity and participation.

Performance Detail


A: Result -Sustain sport fishing opportunities while optimizing social and economic benefits.
    Target #1: Return sport fishing license sales and revenue collection to 2008 levels to ensure excellence in fisheries management and research for the benefit of sport anglers, the state"s economy, and future generations of Alaskans.

Methodology: Number of licenses issued and net revenue is shown by calendar year and was obtained from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), Division of Administrative Services (DAS), Licensing Section. Net revenue amount includes the surcharge collected on individual licenses for hatchery bond repayment but does not include king salmon stamp sales.
Fishing Licenses Issued by Calendar Year
Year
Resident
Nonresident
Total License Issued
Target
Net Revenue Collected
Net Revenue Target
2023
154,432
-0.52%
345,925
+3.93%
500,357
+2.51%
486,405
0%
0
0%
0
0%
2022
155,241
-22.26%
332,844
+7.78%
488,085
-4.01%
486,405
0%
0
0
2021
199,683
+15.05%
308,806
+129.94%
508,489
+65.17%
486,405
0%
$16,239.1 M
$16,480.1 M
2020
173,558
+7.68%
134,297
-56.16%
307,855
-34.15%
486,405
0%
$12,366.8 M
$16,480.1 M
2019
161,186
+1.10%
306,322
+0.31%
467,508
+0.58%
486,405
0%
$19,992.2 M
$16,480.1 M
2018
159,426
-1.90%
305,372
+2.42%
464,798
+0.90%
486,405
0%
$19,980.8 M
$16,480.1 M
2017
162,513
-20.11%
298,151
-0.90%
460,664
-8.65%
486,405
0%
$18,835.8 M
$16,480.1 M
2016
203,413
+6.85%
300,862
+4.14%
504,275
+5.21%
486,405
0%
$16,893.4 M
$16,480.1 M
2015
190,366
+0.44%
288,915
+5.62%
479,281
+3.50%
486,405
0%
$16,104.0 M
$16,480.1 M
2014
189,540
+1.08%
273,535
+2.73%
463,075
+2.05%
486,405
0%
$15,329.4 M
$16,480.1 M
2013
187,507
+2.06%
266,271
+4.96%
453,778
+3.74%
486,405
0%
$14,936.7 M
$16,480.1 M
2012
183,725
-3.38%
253,694
-1.99%
437,419
-2.58%
486,405
0%
$14,447.7 M
$16,480.1 M
2011
190,148
+1.80%
258,840
+1.33%
448,988
+1.53%
486,405
0%
$14,733.4 M
$16,480.1 M
2010
186,777
-4.05%
255,432
+1.19%
442,209
-1.09%
486,405
0%
$14,641.3 M
$16,480.1 M
2009
194,658
+4.48%
252,427
-15.88%
447,085
-8.08%
486,405
0%
$14,624.5 M
$16,480.1 M
2008
186,311
300,094
486,405
486,405
$16,480.1 M
$16,480.1 M
Analysis of results and challenges: Both sport fishing license sales and participation have fluctuated since 2008. Resident license peaked in 2016 and in 2021 was nearly equal to that peak. However, resident sales have slumped since that time and likely being driven by ongoing restrictions to salmon fishing opportunities. The COVID pandemic played a significant role in the significant loss of non-resident license sales in 2020, but an uptick in overall sales since that time has brought measures back to above target and appears to on track to do it again in 2024, but sales are not yet final for the current year.
Related links:
A1: Core Service - Manage wild fish stocks using scientifically and statistically sound research to ensure sustained use by Alaska"s sport fisheries
    Target #1: Increase angler opportunity and participation.

Methodology: Number of licenses issued was obtained from the Department of Fish and Game, Division of Administrative Services-Licensing Section. The number of angler days is obtained from the Division of Sport Fish in their annual Statewide Harvest Survey report which is conducted to measure sport fishing effort, catch and harvest. Final estimates from a survey are available the year following the actual survey calendar year.
Licensed Angler Participation Target: 5.5 Angler-Days Per License Issued
Year
Participation Index
Index Target
2023
3.5
-5.41%
5.5
0%
2022
3.7
-5.13%
5.5
0%
2021
3.9
-23.53%
5.5
0%
2020
5.1
+15.91%
5.5
0%
2019
4.4
+10.00%
5.5
0%
2018
4.0
-9.09%
5.5
0%
2017
4.4
+12.82%
5.5
0%
2016
3.9
-15.22%
5.5
0%
2015
4.6
-8.00%
5.5
0%
2014
5.0
+2.04%
5.5
0%
2013
4.9
+13.95%
5.5
0%
2012
4.3
0%
5.5
0%
2011
4.3
-4.44%
5.5
0%
2010
4.5
-10.00%
5.5
0%
2009
5.0
+4.17%
5.5
0%
2008
4.8
5.5
Analysis of results and challenges: The division has developed targets of selling 450,000 licenses and supporting angler participation at 2,500,000 angler-days per year. These objectives have been in place since 2005 and together they represent 5.5 angler-days of fishing opportunity (2,500,000 angler-days/450,000 licenses sold) per individual license holder.

Total licenses sold in CY2023 were up from the prior year but angler effort dropped translating into another drop in this index. Sales of 1-day non-resident licenses continues to show record highs with the post pandemic tourism boom which translates into a lower indexe given that a larger percentage of anglers are only fishing for a single day. The contemporary challenge for the division is to return participation in recreational fisheries to the 5.5 angler-day participation threshold which could present ongoing challenges given license buying patterns of visitors on cruise ships only able to fish a single day.
Related links:

Last refreshed: 02/13/2026 05:00 pm