SSRAA’s Origin

Due to a near collapse of Alaska’s commercial salmon industry in the early 1970’s from consecutive years of low salmon abundance, commercial fishermen in partnership with the state of Alaska drafted legislation that allowed the formation of Regional Aquaculture Associations. The regional associations were allowed to levy an assessment on commercial fishermen’s sale of salmon harvested within the association’s fishing districts to help support and pay off debt on loans for needed infrastructure. Hatcheries were necessary to hatch and raise juvenile salmon for release to the open ocean. This partnership between private not-for-profit corporations and a public entity was unique to Alaska, and success of this ocean ranching program was not assured.

Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (SSRAA) is one of the five original associations incorporated in 1976. In the beginning small groups of committed fishermen joined by a few dedicated citizens kept the vision of SSRAA alive and nurtured the fledgling corporation through the initial “trial years”. Over three decades have now gone by and Alaska’s salmon enhancement program, made up of regional associations as well as other private non-profit hatcheries, collectively brings hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue to the state’s economy. As part of Alaska’s Enhancement Program, SSRAA continues to succeed in producing a greater abundance of salmon to the common property waters of southeast Alaska for the economic and social benefit of all its user groups..