The Alaska Department of Fish and Game manages approximately 750 active fisheries, 26 game management units, and 32 special areas. We work to foster the highest standards of scientific integrity and promote innovative sustainable fish and wildlife management programs to optimize public uses and economic benefits. From making policy and management decisions to providing education and outreach programs, interacting with and involving the public is vital to our mission and goals.
Subsistence fishing and subsistence hunting are important for the economies and cultures of many families and communities in Alaska. Subsistence uses of wild resources exist alongside other important uses of fish and game in Alaska and are especially important for most rural families, who depend on subsistence hunting and fishing as sources of nutrition and cultural practices. An estimated 36.9 million pounds of wild foods are harvested annually by rural subsistence users. Residents of more populated urban areas harvest about 13.4 million pounds of wild food under subsistence, personal use, and sport regulations.
