How Alaskans Protect Their Environment and Their Economy at the Same Time

Image via WikipediaBy Allie Moxley

One of the most magnificent things about the United States is the fact that it has so much open land, so many beautiful mountains and plains and deserts. But as the population continues to explode, more and more of this land is being used for commercial purposes. This causes many environmentalists to worry that in a few short decades, the entire country will be under a layer of concrete from sea to shining sea. But their reasons for advocating conservation laws go beyond the sentimental - there are some real economic concerns with maintaining a healthy environment.

One example of the efficacy of conservation laws is Alaska's fishing industry. A few decades ago, many fish populations in American waters were being driven down by overfishing. Commercial and casual fishers could go out whenever they wanted, wherever they wanted, and catch as much as they could by whatever means they chose. This made for some sketchy fishing practices, and populations began to die off. Some states realized that they needed to take matters into their own hands and protect the fish, and Alaska pioneered the way.

While some of the Alaskan governments reasons for protecting the fish's ecosystem were purely environmental, the conservation laws help keep the state's economy healthy as well. Fishing is one of the biggest industries in Alaska, and if it were to die out, thousands would lose their livelihoods. Entire communities would wither away without income or purpose. So in a certain sense, the very commercial interests who sometimes resist such sustainability initiatives are actually the ones with the most to lose (or win).

What's more, another huge industry in Alaska is tourism. Thousands of people from around the world come to the state every year to see its national parks, its glaciers, its vibrant Native American communities, its remote and isolated islands, and more. If a fish species dies out, an entire ecosystem is touched, and it can create a domino effect that will ruin some of the state's greatest treasures.

So Alaska instituted conservation laws around fishing like limiting the amount that can be caught and when fishers can go out on the waters. The state is now leading the way in terms of environmental efforts, and its fishing industry is one of the strongest in the country.

Alaska's fishing industry leads the world in environmental protection measures. From efforts to improve traceability to strict enforcement procedures, Alaska continually shows how committed it is to preserving the ocean for the next generation.

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