Southeast Alaska Conservation Council

Southeast Alaska Natives have relied on customary and traditional fishing, hunting, and gathering activities (subsistence) for centuries. Even today, more than 80% of the region’s rural households, Native and non-Native, engage in subsistence food gathering. In some rural communities, hunting and fishing provide most of a family’s food. Hunting and fishing are important to city dwellers as well. Staples include the 5 species of salmon, 3 species of trout, and Sitka black-tailed deer. Residents also depend on halibut, clams, crab, birds eggs, seaweed, berries, and beach and forest plants.