The Copper River Program
Within the Copper River ecosystem, salmon are the sustainable "natural capital" that is the key to local economies. Each year an average of 2–3 million sockeye, coho, and chinook salmon return to the system, with about 2/3 being harvested by the commercial gillnet fishery on the delta. The fishery averages $20 million/year in direct revenue to over 500 fishing permit holders, and another $20 million in processing and other secondary economic benefits.
Subsistence and sport fishermen on the upper river harvest over 200,000 salmon each year, with values estimated at between $3 and $5 million, a critical contribution to the upriver economy and culture.
By developing appropriate monitoring, conservation, and protection strategies for wild salmon and the habitat they depend on, supported by long-term scientific observations, we can continue to provide sustainable natural capital for dependent species, especially human populations.
Partners
Copper River Watershed Project
Prince William Sound Science Center
